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Practice notes

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One of the quirky things about disability claims at the initial and reconsideration levels is that Social Security does not send you a letter when you are awarded disability benefits. A denial letter is quickly sent if a claim is denied, but not so with claims that are allowed. A letter is sent…

I have clients who need to use a cane when walking or standing. Often the cane is for balance, but sometimes also due to weakness in the legs, or drop foot. Social Security has policy on the vocational impact of the need to use a cane or other handheld assistive devices (such as a walker).…

I attended a seminar session last year in Austin, Texas on the topic of helping those applying for Social Security disability benefits with their initial applications. The lawyer making the presentation said that, like a rancher, a lawyer should “make money on the herd, not on the cattle.” Translation: Don’t look at the potential…

NOSSCR has developed what it calls a “Hearing Format Election Statement,” which is an excellent one-page, fillable form that contains all four types of hearing modalities (in-person, VTC, telephone, and online video) and allows for a simple way to notify the hearing office of how the claimant wants to appear at their hearing.

Using NOSSCR’s…

  • 38% were allowed after an initial review of the application. That’s a bit more than last year.
  • Just 15% of the claims appealed were allowed at Reconsideration. So 5
…

As dedicated readers know, at Step 5 of the disability sequential evaluation, Social Security uses the Medical-Vocational Guidliness to determine disability. The guidelines, or “grids,” direct a finding of “disabled” or “not disabled” based upon a person’s age, physical RFC, education and past work/transferable skills.

If the medical-vocational guidlines direct a result of “disabled,”…