Author Archives: Dianna Cannon
COMPASSIONATE ALLOWANCES IN 2023
SSA’S NEW COMPASSIONATE ALLOWANCES FOR 2023 In 2023 there were several new Compassionate Allowances added to SSA’s list. The Compassionate Allowances initiative allows Social Security to quickly identify severe medical conditions that meet the criteria for SSD benefits. Because the diseases on the list are so severe, the SSA wants to pay benefits as… Read More »
RAISE THE SSI ASSET LIMITS
SSI ASSET LIMITS NEED TO BE RAISED For years, the SSI savings and asset limits have kept people with severe medical conditions in poverty. SSI or Supplemental Security Income is a benefit for those who have a disability that keeps them from working. However, in order to receive it you must have a severe… Read More »
IDEA Gives Disabled Children the Right to a Good Education
WHAT IS THE IDEA? The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a United States federal law that governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to children with disabilities. The IDEA was enacted in 1975 as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA). However, it was… Read More »
NEW MEDICAL CONDITIONS ON SSA’S LIST
NEW MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT ARE COMPASSIONATE ALLOWANCES Medical conditions which are so severe that you should be paid SSDI and SSI benefits are called Compassionate Allowances. If you have one of these severe medical conditions, then the SSA believes you should automatically qualify for benefits. The Compassionate Allowances program identifies claims that meet Social… Read More »
DISABLED? CAN YOU GET FORGIVENESS OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT?
STUDENT LOAN DEBT AND DISABILITY Student loan debt is almost impossible to pay if you have a disability that keeps you from working. In fact, it is a huge problem to pay any bills when you cannot work due to a severe mental or physical medical condition. Probably, you are going to want to… Read More »
AUTOMATICALLY WIN SSD BENEFITS
12 NEW MEDICAL CONDITIONS ADDED BY THE SSA Automatically win SSD & SSI benefits if you have one of the 12 new conditions added by SSA to the Compassionate Allowances list. On August 15, 2022, the SSA added twelve new conditions to the compassionate allowances program. Compassionate Allowances are a way for SSA to… Read More »
NEW COMPASSIONATE ALLOWANCES
In 2022 and 2021 there were new Compassionate Allowances. The Compassionate Allowances initiative allows Social Security to quickly identify severe medical conditions that meet the criteria for SSD benefits. Because the diseases on the list are so severe, the SSA wants to pay benefits as soon as possible. For example, fatal conditions like ALS… Read More »
SSA CHANGES DISABILITY LISTINGS FOR BACK CONDITIONS
Back disability benefits are, once again, going through changes by the SSA. The SSA changed their listing of medical conditions for people with a back disability. This change should concern to all lawyers and people who are seeking SSD and SSI benefits. When the SSA changes the medical criteria for benefits, it effects million… Read More »
CARR V. SAUL – CAN YOU GET A NEW DISABILITY HEARING?
Can you get a new disability hearing? On April 22, 2021, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in Carr, et.al, v.. Saul, 593 U.S. _,(2021). This is an important case because it holds that some claimants have a right to a new hearing. You can obtain a new hearing if you have an unfavorable… Read More »
CAN DISABILITY BENEFITS BE GARNISHED ?
DISABILITY BENEFITS ARE SUBJECT TO GARNISHMENT FOR CHILD SUPPORT Whether or not your benefits payments can be garnished for child support payments depends on what kind of Social Security benefits you receive. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are based on your work history. When you pay your taxes, you pay into SSA’s insurance… Read More »
MANAGING STRESS DURING COVID-19
Are you having difficulty managing stress during Covid-19? If so, the state of Utah is providing free help to those who need it. Below you will find free numbers you can call. The state of Utah has crisis lines to help you during this difficult time. FREE CRISIS AND HOTLINE TO YOU MANAGE STRESS… Read More »
FIVE NEW COMPASSIONATE ALLOWANCES FOR 2020
In 2020, Andrew Saul, the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, announced five new Compassionate Allowances conditions: Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors GM1 Gangliosidosis – Infantile and Juvenile Forms Nicolaides-Baraister Syndrome Rubinstein-Tybai Syndrome Secondary Adenocarcinoma of the Brain If you have one of the above conditions, you can apply online for disability benefits at… Read More »
BIDEN’S DISABILITY PLAN
Fortunately, the president of the United States has a disability plan. This is good news for the almost 9 million people receiving disability benefits. Additionally, this is good news for 117,000 spouses and 1.5 million children who also receive disability payments through a family member. Individuals who qualify for SSD and SSI need is… Read More »
CEREBRAL PALSY DENIAL
CEREBRAL PALSY & THE UNFAIR DENIAL Cerebral Palsy is a disability under SSA’s regulations, as long as the medical condition prevents you from working. Recently, an ALJ denied a claimant with Cerebral Palsy. He did this even though Social Security’s own doctors opined she could not work. The claimant filed for disability benefits stating… Read More »
CORONAVIRUS AND DISABILITY BENEFITS
UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS AND DISABILITY BENEFITS The Coronavirus is not stopping your disability benefits from being paid. Nor, is it stopping the SSA from deciding disability cases. This is good news for those who are receiving disability benefits. It is also good news for those who are patiently waiting for the SSA to decide… Read More »
SSA IS EXTENDING DEADLINES DURING COVID-19
SSA EXTENDING DEADLINES DURING COVID-19 If you received a letter from the SSA about extending deadlines during COVID-19, you may have some concerns. Do not worry. During this pandemic, the SSA is extending deadlines for requests for information, evidence, or call-in letters whenever possible. The SSA will not take an adverse action because you… Read More »
SSA ELIMINATES INABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH FROM RULES
The Trump administration is considering a new rule that bars a claimant’s inability to speak English as a factor in the disability review process. This is one of several cuts to the disability program that President Trump is pursuing as part of his assault on disability benefits. Or, what Trump considers to be the… Read More »
Procopio, et. al. v. Secretary of Veterans Affairs – Navy Veterans Lose Expedited Review for Agent Orange Exposure During Vietnam War
NAVY VETERANS SEEK EXPEDITED REVIEW OF AGENT ORANGE CLAIMS The Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, held in Procopio, et al. v. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Court of Appeals Federal Circuit 12/08/2019) that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has the authority to stay disability compensation claims until January 1, 2020. This is a disappointing case for Navy… Read More »
SSA ADDS FOUR NEW COMPASSIONATE ALLOWANCES
SSA Adds Four New Compassionate Allowances Conditions On August 19, 2019, the SSA added four new conditions to the list of compassionate allowances. The SSA has a list of conditions they consider disabling. This list is the Listed Impairments. Additionally, the SSA has a list of disabling impairments they consider to be automatically disabling…. Read More »
NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS DISABILITY MAY NOT BE A BARRIER TO WORK
IS DISABILITY A BARRIER TO WORK? On September 5, 2019, the New York Times published Ben Casselman’s article about disability and work. Casselman wrote, employers like Dell, started a program to hire people with autism. Kate Cosway, who has a master’s degree, was chosen by Dell for a 12-week internship, which is now becoming… Read More »
Smith v. Berryhill – U.S. Supreme Court Reverses SSA’s Policy
SMITH V. BERRYHILL On May 28, 2019, the U.S Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Smith v. Berryhill, 139 S. Ct. 1765 (2019), reversing the Sixth Circuit’s judgment. The Sixth Circuit held that an Appeals Council dismissal was not subject to federal judicial review. But, the U.S. Supreme Court held that an Appeals Council’s… Read More »
DISABILITY BENEFITS: SSI OR SSD?
SHOULD YOU APPLY FOR SSD OR SSI DISABILITY BENEFITS? Social Security Disability benefits are monthly payments that support individuals who cannot work a full-time job and have a disability. There are two different SSA programs that pay disability benefits. Those programs are Social Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Although both programs… Read More »
SSA Plans For CDI Units To Expand To Every State
The Social Security Administration plans to expand CDI units to every state. Below please find excerpts of a letter from Nancy Berryhill, Acting Commissioner, dated February 13, 2018, which explains their reasoning that they believe they have saved the agency billions of dollars. ___________________________ Expansion of Cooperative Disability Investigations (CDI) Units Progress Report (February 2018)… Read More »
MENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS WEEK & NAMI
In 1990, Congress officially established the first week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week. They did this to encourage people to work together and educate the public about mental illness. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), raises awareness about mental illness. They do this through public education and providing support to those with… Read More »
WHAT IS YOUR MONTHLY DISABILITY PAYMENT?
HOW MUCH IS YOUR MONTHLY SSD PAYMENT? The Social Security Disability payment benefit amount is different for every person who applies. Because, SSD benefits are based upon the amount you have worked during your lifetime. Everyone has a different work history. Each person earns a different amount of money during their lifetime. Therefore, the monthly… Read More »
NOSSCR STATES BUDGET WILL NOT SOLVE BACKLOG
NOSSCR BUDGET COMMENTS NOSSCR released this article today, indicating that even with the level of funding Obama has requested in his budget, the wait time for a hearing is going to increase for those who have applied for disability benefits. Read NOSSCR’s article below. OBAMA’S BUDGET PROPOSAL President Obama released his Fiscal Year 2017… Read More »
SSA Fraud Investigations Waste Taxpayer’s Money
THE SSA’S FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS The SSA investigates people who apply for SSD benefits. How do they chose who to investigate? Most fraud allegations come from SSA employees. In fiscal year 2014, the SSA received more than 121,000 fraud allegations and more than 58,000 (almost half) of those came from SSA employees. In other words,… Read More »
