Elizabeth's blog

After you receive an award letter for disability benefits, your online account will tell you the decision as well. Usually, the letter will tell you the condition(s) you were approved for, as well as the frequency with which you can expect medical reviews of your disability to take place. The letter should also inform you of your established onset date. This is the date that the Social Security Administration (SSA) determined you became disabled. This date might or might not be the same as you thought you became disabled.  

Disability benefits should be used for daily necessities rather than luxury items. This means you should use it for food, clothes, essential transportation, and necessary recreational activities. However, they should not be used for gambling on the horses or excessive amounts of alcohol or expensive meals in a restaurant. You should put some thought into how to best use your disability benefits before you find yourself in a situation where your pockets are empty because you haven’t used the money wisely. 

Veterans who are eligible for both VA benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) can receive both types of payments independently of each other. Whatever the VA benefits a veteran receives does not have any impact on the amount of SSDI benefits possible for them. The SSA calculates the amount of benefits it pays to SSDI recipients on a complex formula that takes into account work history, the severity of the disability, regional cost of living and other factors.

Are you applying for disability benefits? If so, it is wise to consider enlisting the help of a Social Security disability lawyer. 

Although veterans often qualify for disability benefits, this is not always the case. There are various reasons the Social Security Administration (SSA) may deny a veteran’s application for disability benefits. This overview will cover what those reasons may be, what to do if the SSA denies your claim for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, and how hiring a lawyer may improve your chances of receiving an approval.

Do you have a close family member who is struggling financially as a result of having a disability? If so, be aware that various programs exist which may provide the support they need. Noteworthy examples include the following:

Social Security Disability Benefits

Two federal programs offer disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA) for which your family member may be eligible:

The Social Security Administration is considering making changes to the way that benefits are calculated which could help our country’s most vulnerable populations by (1) increasing their benefit amount and (2) removing restrictions that currently could make food insecurity worse for people who are disabled. Right now, people who are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits have strict limitations that they must abide by in order to receive their full benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Will Social Security run out? One of the hot-button issues for both Democrats and Republicans as a result of the Midterm Elections is Social Security reform. Both parties want to make changes to the existing structure of Social Security because, as it currently stands, the program will be depleted in less than 20 years. However, both parties have very different ideas of what changes need to be made to keep Social Security viable. 

If you have become paralyzed during your time in active military service, you should be eligible to receive veterans’ benefits. You may also be eligible for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration.

April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month. Esophageal cancer makes up approximately 1% of all cancer diagnoses in the United States. However, due to the increase in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the rate of esophageal cancer is on the rise.