A federal circuit court of appeals has awarded a widow 30 years worth of past due benefits on her late husband’s claim. The case involved the claim of Dr. Richard Frusher, a Rhode Island resident who applied for benefits based on mental illness in 1975. Social Security denied his claim in 1975 and again in [...]
As I noted this past November, I am starting to see more instances when a judge will want to change the “onset date” for my client’s disability. What does this mean and should you be concerned? Your onset date (called your Alleged Onset Date or AOD by Social Security) represents that date that you allege [...]
Filed under Administrative Law Judges, Disability hearings, Disability Lawyers, Earnings requirements by 
I received a question from one of my blog readers asking about date calculations. I wish I could tell you that understanding Social Security’s date calculations and acronyms was easy but I can’ t say that. I will try to offer some explanation about this confusing area. i got an amended date signed by the [...]
Filed under Earnings requirements, Monthly benefits by
I regularly get questions from readers of my blog and web site about SSI, SSDI and the differences between the two. The biggest difference: you will be eligible for SSDI if you have worked and paid Social Security taxes into the system. Generally to be fully insured, you need to have worked and paid taxes [...]
Filed under Earnings requirements, Eligibility Issues, SSI issues by
I regularly get calls from potential clients who apply for Social Security disability, only to discover that they do not have enough credits to pursue a Title II SSDI claim. In such cases, the only other option would be to pursue a Title XVI SSI claim. However, SSI benefits are usually lower ($674 per month [...]
Filed under Earnings requirements, Eligibility Issues, Multiple Sclerosis and disability, SSI issues by
Back in January, I answered a question from a blog reader about Social Security disability credits. That reader wondered why Social Security had advised her that she had “run out of credits.” You earn credits based on earnings during the approximately 10 year period prior to filing for disability. If you wait too file or [...]
Filed under Earnings requirements, Eligibility Issues, Internet disability resources by
I was diagnosed last Thursday by my neurologist with post traumatic stress syndrome resulting from three MVA’s. I have other related injuries and have tried to do several jobs, after a long career, and cannot do it. Is there any relief for me? I did pay into social security from 1982 to 1989 but from [...]
Filed under Earnings requirements, Mental illness and disability by
I have found your site and have been reading your comments. I have been on SSDI since 2002. I was a registered nurse for 15 years- always working with no lapses. At on point I was working two full time jobs (no sleep). I worked the two full time jobs for about a year and [...]
Filed under Earnings requirements, Lump Sum Awards by
My husband had a spinal cord injury and is totally disabled but SS denied his claim because I(his wife) makes too much money. I make $62,000 a year and we have a child in college. Does this denial make sense? He made about $25,000 per year before the injury. We have gone bankrupt and risk [...]
Filed under Earnings requirements, Eligibility Issues by
Dear Jonathan, I had a question posted several months ago concerning working full-time after being granted SSDI, and I had another related question. I’m currently working full-time as a computer programmer, which is the type of job I had previously. If I were to stop working again because of health reasons, and return to SSDI, [...]
Filed under Earnings requirements, Work attempts by
