Every other Friday, I highlight articles of note for Social Security disability claimants and their representatives:

• Obama backs away from Social Security in deficits plan by Laura MacInnis and Thomas Ferraro
• Social Security Ruling: Documenting and Evaluating Disability in Young Adults by Tomasz Stasiuk
• Be the ALJ by Gordon Gates
• New Rules Will Require Attorneys

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At both the Portland, Maine ODAR and the Maine Disability Determination Services (DDS), the processing of disability claims has slowed measurably due to budget constraints. My understanding is that both these offices have hiring freezes, so that departing employees cannot be replaced.

This is particularly an issue at DDS, because turnover there was already high.

With the recent multi-million dollar investment by Google Ventures into Rocket Matter, and the apparent success of LegalZoom, there is much discussion about the role and effect of venture capital on legal services. 

There is a long list of reservations about the intersection of venture capital and legal services, and many are watching…

Every other Friday, I publish articles of note regarding Social Security disability.

• Social Security By The Numbers and What Is The Point Of The Appeals Council? by Charles T. Hall
• Social Security will not run out of money by Gordon Gates
• Commissioner’s Statement Is Offensive by Jeffrey Delott
• How can I get a faster decision?

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There has been quite a bit of chatter about a recent report and subsequent Associated Press article stating that the Social Security disability trust fund is running dangerously low. My strong advice to you is not to worry about it. The sky isn't falling.

Negative headlines about Social Security get repeated over and over…

Every other Friday I publish links to articles of note on the topic of Social Security disability:

• Res Judicata and Social Security Disability Benefits by Aaron Rifkind
• Top Reasons for Appeals Council Remands by Gordon Gates
• Social Security lawyers and percent won by Tomasz Stasiuk
• When to File for SSD by Jeffrey Delott
• The Four

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Some Social Security disability claimants do not hire a lawyer because they believe they cannot afford one. However, the SSA-approved contingency fee process means that it does not cost a penny to hire a lawyer, and there is no fee unless a disability or SSI claim is successful. We do not get paid unless you…

Every two weeks, I publish links to notable articles on the topic of Social Security disability. This week I published a rebuttal to a paper suggesting that Social Security administrative law judge decisions were inherently flawed, and that the entire ALJ system should be abolished. Please take a look, because I spent some time…