I just got a fully favorable ruling from an ALJ, but the onset date has been amended. Without going into a huge amount of confusing detail, I was supposed to get a partially favorable for a closed period, instead I now have a fully favorable with onset date starting Nov. 15, 2007. To prevent losing [...]
Filed under Appeal issues, Disability hearings, Work attempts by 
I recently responded to a question on Yahoo Answers about a disease called Dupuytren’s Disease. Dupuytren’s is a disease of the connective tissue in the palm of the hand. The tissue becomes rigid and immobile, causing the patient’s hands to become fixed in a bent condition. The person asking the question wanted to know if [...]
Filed under Disability hearings, Strategies for winning by
I have more than one disability, should I focus just one or provide info on all to help my case? Fibromyalgia, heart problems, sleep apnea and extreme fatigue, and bi-polar depression. –Darlene Jonathan Ginsberg responds: Darlene – good question. At the initial and reconsideration stages, your claim will be reviewed by an Adjudicator who works [...]
An attorney named John wrote me with the following question. The email address he used was not valid so I decided to answer his question on my blog. The question: I have a client who would like to know if he can work while waiting for his SSDI benefits to be approved? Here is my [...]
Filed under Disability hearings, Work attempts by
Recently I tried a disability case that demonstrates the importance of testifying clearly about your activity limitations. My case involved a gentleman with chronic back pain. During our pre-hearing meeting in my office two weeks prior to the hearing, I reviewed with my client the likely questions that would be asked by the judge at [...]
Filed under Disability hearings, Strategies for winning by
Dear Jonathan, Hello. I have a question concerning my court hearing please. On May 17th, 2007, I went to my disability hearing. 2 months later I contacted them to find out my status and they told me the decision was made the day I went to court. I continued to wait and still heard nothing. [...]
Filed under Delays, Disability hearings by
With delays in Social Security disability cases reaching three years, it was inevitable that settlement advance funding would be adapted to include Social Security disability cases. Yesterday, a company called AnyLawSuits.com purchased a site review from me through Reviewme.com, which is a marketplace that allows website owners to purchase blog reviews. I thought that AnyLawSuits.com’s [...]
Filed under Delays, Disability hearings by
Mr. Ginsberg, I am a dwm 45, no children, no criminal record, no drug/alcohol problems. I have been diagnosed to have Major Depression, Generalized Anxiety, Schizoid Personality Disorders. I have had 23 jobs in the last ten years with several gaps of unemployment. I have had two psychological tests with conflicting results but were all [...]
Filed under Disability hearings, Mental illness and disability, Strategies for winning by
Yesterday, I appeared with a client at a video hearing with a judge from West Virginia. This was actually our second hearing – the first hearing was held in August, 2006. My client applied for benefits in July, 2003, which means that his case has been pending over 3 1/2 years. During that time, my [...]
Filed under Disability hearings, Strategies for winning, Vocational Experts by
I have a question. My attorney’s paralegal called me last week and told me that my attorney and an administrative law judge will meet to discuss my case (without me) in an effort to make a decision quicker. She said that if the law judge ruled in favor of my case, that would be it. [...]
Filed under Disability hearings, Strategies for winning by
