Back in 2006 or so, the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals changed its name to the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR), as part of a reorganization at Social Security and new regulations. The name was widely panned at the time.
Now, a decade or so later, the Hearings office has been renamed the
The first thing I want to know when I receive a hearing notice for a Social Security disability claim is the name of the administrative law judge (ALJ) who will hear the case and decide the claim. It probably shouldn't matter which judge hears your case, since they all interpret the same rules and would
There are many benefits to being a Social Security disability lawyer. You are able to help people who really need the help, and it is very gratifying when a claimant receives disability benefits.
I recently received a Fully Favorable decision on a claim where, in addition to getting disability benefits for the client, I may
Everyone applying for Social Security disability benefits wants to know when his or her claim will be decided. Since by definition a disabled person cannot work, a long wait for a decision is a real struggle for most disability claimants. However, there are a couple of steps you can take to speed up the disability claim
I received this question from a reader:
What does it mean when an administrative judge requests a review of title and positions from a claimants work record by vocational expert?
It means that the administrative law judge (ALJ) is considering whether or not you can return to your past relevant work at step 4 of
If you qualify for Social Security disability benefits, your minor children are also awarded benefits. These benefits are in addition to your monthly disability payments, and are intended to help provide the necessities of life for your children. If you remain disabled, the children's benefits will continue until their 18th birthday (a child still in
Part of my practice involves obtaining Title XVI benefits for immigrants and refugees. Often, these clients also need legal help with our complicated immigration system, including issues such as asylum, getting a green card, and citizenship.
Now legal representation is available right in Portland, Maine for those seeking immigration-specific legal services. Check out Maine Immigration Attorneys
The frequency of your medical treatment is an important factor in your Social Security disability claim. A diagnosis is a first step, but a judge must evaluate your functional limitations due to your medical condition. And when evaluating the seriousness of your functional limitations, regular doctor visits are helpful. Looking at the cases of mine that
Your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) is the cornerstone of your Social Security disability claim. Unless you meet a listed impairment, the administration's assessment of your RFC will decide the outcome of your disability claim.
The RFC is Social Security's assessment of your abilities to do sustained physical and mental activities on a regular and
The Social Security Administration has published ruling 16-03p, entitled "Title II and Title XVI: Evaluation of Symptoms in Disability Claims." Here is a link to Ruling 16-03p in the Federal Register. It is effective immediately.
The new ruling supercedes Ruling 96-7p, which was entitled Title II and Title XVI: Evaluation of Symptoms in Disability Claims: