Reopening a prior claim is one of the neatest things you can do as a Social Security disabiity lawyer. From the “posted one year ago today” file, here is a reminder to check for prior claims. Reopening a prior claim can add substantially to the retroactive benefits payable to the claimant.

Reopening is governed by

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Sometimes in a disability case, the medical evidence lags behind the disability. There is often not a strong medical record as of the day an impairment became disabling. Over time, however, with repeated doctor visits, the medical picture usually becomes clear.

So the problem is: how do you prove disability as of the alleged onset …

It has been a little while since the Best Practices for Claimant’s Representatives was published on the SSA’s website. It is one of those lists that is full of useful reminders, and is therefore worth revisiting every 6 months or so. So please take another look.

One of the best practices is:

ESTABLISH A GOOD WORKING

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A claimant's school records can often provide valuable evidence in a Social Security claim. Obviously, in a child SSI claim, the school records are always necessary. In an adult child disability claim, the school records may help to establish that the disability existed prior to age 22. Likewise, in a case involving listing 12.05…

The SSA has released a excellent set of Social Security Rulings regarding child SSI claims. The Rulings are comprehensive, and offer invaluable guidance regarding determining childhood disability.

SSR 09-1p: Title XVI: Determining Childhood Disability Under the Functional Equivalence Rule —The "Whole Child" Approach

SSR 09-2p: Title XVI: Determining Childhood Disability — Documenting a

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