The latest statistics on processing times at Social Security hearing offices have been released. The Portland, Maine ODAR is now number 3 in the country, with an average processing time of just 252 days. This is a remarkable achievement. With 5 resident ALJ's and a "guest" ALJ hearing claims by videoconference for the next few
More on ALJ approval rates
The bombshell dropped by The Oregonian newspaper has the network of Social Security disability lawyers abuzz with emails, blog posts and twitter updates. The Oregonian published a searchable database showing approval and denial rates for all the Social Security administrative law judges for the years 2005 to 2008. For those of us concentrating on
The Appeals Council Delivers Again
I just received an Appeals Council decision vacating an unfavorable ALJ decision and remanding the claim for a new hearing. The Appeals Council did the right thing.
This was an unusual case, because there was a obvious error in the judge's unfavorable decision. The judge's decision reasoned that, since the claimant had no records of mental
A Medical Source Statement Helps with Social Security Disability
This question brought a recent visitor to this blog: Does a medical statement from my doctor help with social security disability?
The short answer is YES! A medical source statement from your treating physician regarding your functional limitations is usually the most powerful evidence available for a Social Security disability claim.
It is not just
Welcome from my Twitter Page
Thanks for clicking on the URL on my twitter page.
I am a Maine Social Security lawyer, with offices in Saco, Maine. I live in Kennebunk with my wife and daughter, and our dog Pirate.
I also maintain a legal blog, Social Security Disability Lawyer. The page you are now visiting is
Merry Christmas
Social Security offices around the country (and my office, too) will be closed for Christmas and for Boxing Day. Social Security offices (and my office too) will reopen on Monday, December 29th.
Happy Holidays to all.
Disability is Functionality
Disability is Functionality. That is the observation of Long Island, NY disability attorney Jeffrey Delott in his recent blog article with the same title. Jeff writes:
Claimants always seem surprised to learn that their disability applications have been denied even though their doctors provided a letter stating that their patient is disabled or their
Differentiate your Social Security claim
I am always concerned that a particular claim will not get the attention it deserves at the hearing level, due to the tremendous workload at the Social Security hearing offices. Each administrative law judge decides several hundred claims every year.
Furthermore, the medical basis for disability is often similar from one claim to another. Often, pain
VA doctors should complete Social Security forms
A medical source statement from your treating doctor is a crucial piece of evidence for your Social Security disability claim.
Veterans applying for Social Security disability often receive all their medical care through the VA. It has been a challenge (to say the least) to get VA health care providers to complete Social Security assessment forms.
As
Notable articles from the Blogs of Note
There have been several notable articles recently from the Social Security disability "Blogs of Note" listed on the sidebar of this blog.
- At the Colorado Social Security Disability Law blog, Colorado Springs Lawyer Tomasz Stasiuk has an article entitled "If I have a Lawyer, Why Am I Doing All the Talking?" There is sometimes a misconception