Social Security uses an electronic claim file for its disability claims. Representatives can upload records, forms, and correspondence directly into the file. It is a terrific system, and is appreciated particularly by those of us who have been doing this long enough to know what it was like using the old paper claim files, circa
Nociplastic pain syndrome
Chronic pain medical terminology is evolving, to reflect ongoing medical research. The latest term to enter my orbit as a Social Security disability lawyer is nociplastic pain syndrome. Nociplastic pain is a type of chronic pain characterized by altered pain processing in the nervous system, where pain is experienced despite the absence of clear
DDS delays are worsening
Disability Determination Services (DDS) are the state agencies that make initial and reconsideration determinations for Social Security disability and SSI claims. That is where the medical records are ordered and the claim is evaluated by a disability adjudicator.
For quite a while, there has been a bottleneck at DDS for claims awaiting medical review, and
Disability claims are spending months and months at Staging at DDS
Once the field office processes an initial claim for Social Security disability or SSI, the claim gets sent to DDS for a determination. DDS assigns a disability adjudicator who manages the claim. That person will order medical records, send forms to the claimant for completion, and ultimately will make a determination of whether or not
Avoid Tech Drama: Use Microsoft Teams with Your Client Before the Hearing
Social Security disability hearings are often held by video, using Microsoft Teams. While the shift to video hearings has improved scheduling flexibility and allowed many cases to move forward without long delays, it has also introduced a layer of technology that can catch clients—and sometimes representatives—off guard.
Many claimants have never used Microsoft Teams before
Disability Denial Letters
When Social Security denies a claim for disability benefits at the initial or reconsideration level, the SSA provides a personalized “Explanation of Determination,” usually on the last page of the denial letter. The rest of the denial letter is a form letter. Often my first contact with a prospective client is after that person has received
Electronic Folder now provides access to Sections A and B at Initial and Reconsideration levels.
A long-awaited improvement to the Social Security e-file has arrived. The Electronic Folder now provides access to Sections A and B at Initial and Reconsideration levels. This is great news for Social Security disability Representatives, and also for the staff at local Social Security field offices.
Having access to the A section of the folder
New Chief Judge at Portland Maine Hearing Office
Judge Mary Hubert has joined the Portland hearing office as Chief Judge. Judge Hubert replaces Judge Paul Martin, who had been serving as interim Chief Judge. Judge Martin has returned to his previous post at the Manchester hearing office.
Judge Hubert was serving previously at the SSA hearing office in Valparaiso, Indiana.
A year for an initial determination
I have a client with a claim for disability benefits that has been pending at the initial level of review for over 365 days. That is just too long.
This client applied online with me in my office, on April 10, 2024. The claim was sent to DDS on June 7th. After 3 months in
ALJ announces Fully Favorable decision at the end of the hearing
My hearings this week with an administrative law judge (ALJ) to determine medical eligibility for Social Security disability benefits followed the usual pattern: opening remarks by the judge and then the claimant’s lawyer (me), the claimant’s testimony, and then testimony of a vocational witness regarding the claimant’s past relevant work, and whether various functional limitations