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
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
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic illness that affects the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. MS occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering of nerve fibers, known as myelin.
Myelin acts like insulation around electrical wires, allowing nerve signals to travel quickly and efficiently. When myelin
I get calls (and emails). People find the blog and get in touch with a question, which is terrific. The purpose of the blog is to help.
Every now and then someone gets in touch with this question: “I am already receiving disability benefits. I have developed an additional medical condition, and as a result
I recently helped a client over the age of 55 with their initial application for Social Security disability benefits. I get involved early in these cases because the claimant’s past relevant work is often the most important aspect of the claim, and I want to ensure that both the application and the Work History Report
Charles Hall has the details.
At Step 5 of the sequential evaluation, Mr. Jones is 58 years old. He does not have acquired job skills that transfer to a
Social Security has a process for expediting certain disability claims for people with some rare diseases and diagnoses that often have poor outcomes. It is called the Compassionate Allowance program (they abbreviate it as CAL). A list of the conditions which qualify for the program is here.
Although Social Security uses the same criteria
There is an excellent recent NY Times Magazine article by Jennifer Kahn, entitled Chronic Pain is a Hidden Epidemic. It’s time for a Revolution. (the link will take you through the paywall).
Many of my clients experience chronic pain. It is good to see the issue starting to get the attention it deserves from the