Tag Archives: ssi benefits
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 »
WHAT QUESTIONS WILL THE JUDGE ASK AT MY DISABILITY HEARING?
Are you wondering what questions the judge will ask at your SSA hearing? Don’t worry, an SSA hearing is nothing like a criminal hearing. You are the main witness. But, you will not be grilled with questions like they do to witnesses on television. SSA hearings are not formal. They are held in private…. Read More »
PANCREATIC CANCER & SSD BENEFITS
TYPES OF PANCREATIC CANCER Pancreatic cancer starts in the pancreas, which is an organ in your abdomen behind the stomach. There are two main types of pancreatic cancer: Exocrine Pancreatic Cancer and Endocrine Pancreatic Cancer. You can obtain SSDI and SSI benefits for both types of cancer. However, you can only be paid benefits… Read More »
CAN YOU RETIRE EARLY AND COLLECT SSD BENEFITS?
SHOULD YOU RETIRE EARLY OR COLLECT SSD BENEFITS? Should you retire early or seek SSDI benefits? You cannot do both. Many people who can no longer work due to medical conditions experience confusion about whether to retire early or file for SSD benefits. What option you chose can have serious consequences for your income… Read More »
WHAT ARE JOB SKILLS?
WHY ARE JOB SKILLS IMPORTANT TO YOUR SSD CASE? Job skills, as defined by the Social Security Administration (SSA), refer to the ability, knowledge, and expertise a person requires to perform specific tasks or duties on the job. Assessing your job skills helps the SSA make a decision about your ability to work. If… Read More »
THE MEDICAL OPINION OF YOUR DOCTOR
HOW DOES THE SSA WEIGH THE MEDICAL OPINION OF YOUR DOCTOR? The medical opinion of your doctor should matter more than the opinion of SSA’s doctors. Most people submit a letter or progress notes from their doctor that states they cannot work. Sometimes, they even file for SSD benefits on the advice of their… Read More »
SPINAL DISORDERS & SSD BENEFITS – LISTING 1.15
SSD BENEFITS FOR SPINAL DISORDERS Spinal disorders can keep you from working and result in SSD benefits. Do you have a spinal condition that prevents you from working? To qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits and SSI benefits, the SSA requires you to have a severe medical condition that lasts for at least… Read More »
FIVE MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN APPLYING FOR DISABILITY
Mistakes are made every day by thousands of people who file for Social Security benefits. Below you will find a discussion of five common mistakes that you should NOT make when filing for benefits. If you listen to this advice, it will help you win SSDI and SSI benefits. If you cannot work, then… Read More »
HOW TO BUILD MEDICAL RECORD EVIDENCE FOR YOUR DISABILITY CASE
Medical records are the single most important thing in your SSD case. Building that medical evidence is the best thing you can do to help yourself win SSD and SSI benefits. At Cannon Disability Law, we can help you build your medical records and win your benefits. Unfortunately, many people who apply for SSDI… Read More »
OSTEOPOROSIS & SSD BENEFITS
WHAT IS OSTEOPOROSIS? Osteoporosis is a medical condition that occurs because bone resorption exceeds the rate of bone formation. Bone is living tissue. In order for it to be healthy, it needs to undergo a renewal process. When a person has healthy bone tissue, there is a balance when old bone is broken down… Read More »
DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR BACK PAIN
YOU CAN WIN SSDI & SSI BENEFITS FOR BACK PAIN If you suffer from back pain and cannot work, then you may win Social Security Disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers Social Security Disability Insurance or SSI benefits. If you have worked and paid taxes, then the SSA can pay you monthly… Read More »
MARFAN SYNDROME AND SSD BENEFITS
WHAT IS MARFAN SYNDROME? Marfan syndrome is a genetic connective tissue disorder that can cause severe physical issues. For example, the condition affects multiple body systems, including the skeleton, eyes, heart, blood vessels, nervous system, skin, and lungs. If your symptoms are severe and prevent you from working, then you can obtain SSDI and SSI… Read More »
UNDERSTANDING SSA’S LISTING OF IMPAIRMENTS
WHAT IS SSA’S LISTING OF IMPAIRMENTS? The Listing of Impairments is a list of medical conditions that the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses to determine whether or not you have a severe medical condition. If the medical condition is severe and you prevents you from working for 12 months or more, then you should… Read More »
MENTAL ABILITIES YOU MUST HAVE TO PERFORM UNSKILLED WORK
Certain mental abilities are necessary to do any type of work, even work that does not require skills. Skills have a specific definition that the SSA uses when they are deciding if you can work. The SSA states that a skill is knowledge of a work activity which requires the exercise of judgment that goes… Read More »
NARCOLEPSY & SSD BENEFITS
WHAT IS NARCOLEPSY? Narcolepsy is a neurological condition that impacts the brain’s ability to control your sleep and wake cycles. People with narcolepsy experience extreme daytime sleepiness and may fall asleep suddenly during the day. This can happen at work or even in dangerous situations. For example, you could fall asleep while driving. In a normal… Read More »
DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR BREAST CANCER
SSDI and SSI benefits are available for individuals who have breast cancer. In order to win those benefits, however, we recommend you hire an SSD attorney. Attorneys who practice Social Security law will understand how to obtain the medical records you need to win your case. They will also know how to win your… Read More »
SSI BENEFITS – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
WHAT ARE SSI BENEFITS? SSI benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal income supplement program funded by general taxes. SSI benefits do not come from Social Security taxes. The goal of the SSI program is to provide a monthly payment that helps disabled people, those who are blind, and who also have… Read More »
ARE YOU WORKING? IF SO, ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR DISABILITY BENEFITS?
If you are working, according to how the SSA defines work, then you cannot get paid SSDI or SSI benefits. However, work has a very specific meaning under SSA’s rules. Work is defined by the SSA as “substantial gainful activity.”(SGA). A person who is earning more than a certain monthly amount (after medical work costs)… Read More »
EPILEPSY AND SEIZURES
SSD benefits are available for Epilepsy and for seizures. If your seizure medications do not control your Epilepsy and you are unable to work, then the SSA may pay you SSD benefits. Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income benefits are paid by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA offers monthly benefits to… Read More »
HIP REPLACEMENT & SSD BENEFITS
Hip replacement can result in winning SSD benefits if you are unable to work after surgery. However, you must be unable to work for at least 12 months following your hip operation. Additionally, your hip condition must interfere with your ability to perform your work. Likewise, it must also interfere with your ability to… Read More »
ASTHMA DISABILITY BENEFITS
WHAT IS ASTHMA? Asthma is a type of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) where your lung’s bronchial tubes are inflamed. When you have asthma, muscles in your bronchial tubes constrict due to irritation. Additionally, the inflammation causes excess mucus which narrows the tubes. The muscle constriction and the inflammation in your lungs makes it… Read More »
STROKE DISABILITY BENEFITS
Stroke SSDI and SSI benefits are available, if you are suffering severe stroke symptoms and you cannot work. You must be unable to work for over 12 months in order to win Social Security benefits. You can apply for SSDI benefits and Supplemental Security Income benefits. The two benefits are have different rules. For… Read More »
VOCATIONAL EXPERT TESTIMONY MUST BE BASED ON EVIDENCE
VOCATIONAL EXPERT TESTIMONY Vocational expert (VE) testimony requires evidence at an ALJ hearing. If you have appeared at a hearing before an SSA judge, a VE probably gave testimony during your hearing. VEs are often called by the judge to testify about the number of jobs that are available to a person seeking benefits…. Read More »
BLINDNESS AND SSD BENEFITS
Blindness or visual loss can impact your daily life and ability to work. If you cannot work due to blindness and visual loss, you should file for SSDI benefits. Visual loss refers to a significant reduction in a person’s visual acuity or field of vision. Total blindness means a complete loss of vision or… Read More »
THE ALJ HEARING DECISION
THE ALJ HEARING DECISION EXPLAINED The ALJ hearing decision is important to understand because it will tell you if you won benefits. If not, then it will tell you why you didn’t win. Finally, if you lost, it also tells you what to do next. Most people who apply for SSDI and SSI benefits… Read More »
ARE YOU UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE SSA?
HOW DO SSA INVESTIGATIONS START? How do you know if the SSA is investigating you? Most people who need SSD and SSI benefits are not aware the Social Security Administration can investigate you. However, the SSA does investigate people who apply for benefits. Therefore, you need to know that if you file for SSDI… Read More »
BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER
WHAT IS BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER? Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a medical condition for which SSD benefits are available if you cannot work for more than 12 months due to your condition. To determine if the SSA can pay you benefits for BPD, the SSA will look at all of your symptoms and see… Read More »
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND WINNING DISABILITY BENEFITS
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IS A DISABILITY UNDER SSA’S RULES Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an auto-immune disease that affects the central nervous system. When an individual suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, the disease damages the covers of the nerve cells in the brain. It also damages nerve cells in the spinal cord and optic nerves. This nerve… Read More »
ADHD DISABILITY BENEFITS
ADHD STANDS FOR ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER ADHD benefits may be available to replace your income if you cannot work for more than 12 months. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental condition that usually affects children. However, ADHD also impacts the life of many adults. Symptoms of ADHD include not being able to pay attention or… Read More »
CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE & DISABILITY
WHAT IS CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE? Chronic liver disease is a medical condition that affects the structure and function of your liver. Over time, damage and inflammation of your liver cells leads to liver damage. There are a number of causes of chronic liver disease. These include viral infections, such as Hepatitis B and C,… Read More »
