As 2013 makes its entrance a number of federal legislative changes affecting disability recipients will take effect. Included among those changes are the thresholds for what is considered “substantial gainful activity”, the maximum amount allowed for a worker retiring at full retirement age, the SSI federal payment standard and the…
Recently, the Social Security Administration announced in the Federal Register [http://tinyurl.com/bs4rqtw] that there will be a 1.7% increase in Social Security payments effective December 2012. The reason for the increase is due to an increase in the cost-of-living (COLA). Because of this increase, benefits for Social Security disability recipients will…
Effective November 19, 2012 the local Social Security District offices will all close at 3 pm until future notice. These new hours have been made to allow the claims representatives to finish there daily cases without the need to stay after hours. Starting January 2, 2013, the local offices will…
Daylight Savings Time (DST) officially ends Sunday, November 4 at 2:00 am. This means that clocks in most states in the continental United States must “fall back” by one hour. The state which does not observe is Arizona. Outside of the continental U. S., Hawaii, does not observe DST. The…
An injury to an arm or hand seem commonplace. Hunting accidents, car crashes, slip and falls are a few examples of how arms and hands can become injured. Without question, the loss of the use of a hand or in arm may serve as the basis for a disability award.…
The ability to receive Social Security Disability benefits says something about all of us: “The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the…
One case decided by the Social Security Administration concerns individuals with disabilities who are subject to treatment that could lead to a restoration of their ability to work and whether they are required to follow their prescribed treatment plan to remain eligible for disability benefits. The Social Security Administration makes…
While many of those who receive Social Security Disability benefits are American citizens, disabled non-citizens who meet certain qualifications may be eligible for the exact same benefits. If you are a permanent resident and have paid taxes into the Social Security system for the specified number of years or a…
Section 12 of the Social Security Administration’s Listing of Impairments discusses mental disorders. One such mental disorder that falls under the heading is autism. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication and social interaction skills. According to the National Institutes of Health, autism is thought to exist at birth…
According to the National Institutes of Health, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition that causes severe and ongoing tiredness that cannot be improved by simply resting and that does not result from another underlying disorder. The exact cause of the condition remains a mystery, but some have theorized that…