Blog posts

Approximately 10 percent of the United States population speaks Spanish as a first language, and these individuals will now have access to a wider variety of Social Security Administration (SSA) services in their native tongue. The SSA recently announced additions to the popular Spanish version of their award-winning website. Users are now able to complete their applications for Social Security retirement benefits, Medicare, and Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Costs online in about 15 minutes, entirely in Spanish.

In light of recent nationwide attention to reform of federal funding for the Social Security programs, we feel that it might be helpful to review some of the fact regarding how such programs, including the SSA’s disability benefits programs, are funded.

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that affects the brain, causing problems with thinking, memory, and behavior. The majority of those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease are over 65, but early-onset Alzheimer’s can develop in people as young as 40. Experts suggest that around 5.1 million Americans may currently have AD.

Under current federal law, disabled Americans who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are eligible for Medicare coverage after two years of entitlement to disability benefits.

Contrary to what many may believe, the law does allow for those who are receiving Social Security disability to work while maintaining their entitlement to benefits in certain circumstances. The most utilized provision is that involving “Substantial Gainful Activity” (SGA.) SGA is defined as a level of work activity that involves significant productive duties, and that pays more than an established monthly limit.

Nearly 28 million Americans have diabetes, and the number is rapidly rising. To help raise awareness of diabetes education and prevention, buildings around the globe lit up blue the evening of November 14th in honor of World Diabetes Day.

This month, people across the nation will take action to raise lung-cancer awareness, as part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month (LCAM). By organizing rallies and fund-raising events, speaking with the media, and distributing educational activities, they hope to bring attention to the devastating disease that kills more people than any other type of cancer. Although LCAM is celebrated nationwide, only Maine and New Jersey have officially proclaimed November as LCAM. A campaign run by the Lung Cancer Alliance hopes to result in many more states making the declaration.

The South East Michigan Health Information Exchange, based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, has recently announced that it has been officially tested, approved, and is now functioning as part of the Nationwide Health Information Network Exchange.

Residents in Washington, D.C., who are dependent on IDA (Interim Disability Assistance) while they wait to be accepted for Social Security Disability Insurance had a scare when D.C. Mayor Gray recently announced a potential budget cut on the program which threatened to take those benefits away.

To consolidate and clarify the policies and criteria it uses to determine disability status in young adults, the SSA has released an official ruling, known a SSR 11-2p. This document contains answers to questions about how the SSA determines if a young adult, ages 18-25, qualifies for SSDI or SSI and how they will continue to be evaluated once they are receiving benefits. The following is a detail of what the ruling covers regarding young adults and disability.