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 [...]
My colleague, San Francisco California Social Security disability attorney Geri Kahn, publishes an interesting and thoughtful Social Security disability blog that I read regularly. This past April, she published a post that should be required reading for all disability applicants. Entitled “Four Misconceptions About the Social Security System,” Geri succinctly discusses several issues that lead [...]
Filed under Back problems and disability, Strategies for winning by 
Here is a question I received from a multiple sclerosis patient who is preparing to apply for Social Security disability and is hoping to win her case early. Jonathan, First, I want to thank you for putting valuable information about the SSDI process online. I was diagnosed with MS in 1993. I recently left work [...]
If you haven’t already noticed, physicians are working harder for less money. I expect this trend to continue, especially with the government getting more involved in setting prices for services. In the Social Security disability world, we rely on doctors to provide medical records and to assist attorneys in identifying specific work limitations that limit [...]
Filed under Strategies for winning by
Attorney Joel Ban, a Utah lawyer who handles both Social Security disability and Veterans Disability claims recently posted a concise and informative article on his blog describing the similarities and differences between the two programs. Joel points out that a VA disability rating of 70% or higher can help your Social Security claim – this [...]
On October 13, 2010, SSA announced new rules effective on November 12, 2010 that will allow SSA personnel to fast track disability claims. Now there are two programs that will allow SSA personnel to quickly approve cases there the medical evidence for disability is overwhelming. The first program is called the “compassionate allowance” program, and [...]
In my practice, I always try to schedule an in-office, in-person meeting with my client prior to his/her hearing. Usually, I try to meet a week or two before the actual hearing date to discuss the hearing procedures and to practice answering the questions that are likely going to be asked. I want my client [...]
This past February, Social Security issued a press release announcing that it was adding thirty-eight (38) medical conditions to its “compassionate allowance” program. SSA describes its compassionate allowance program as follows: Compassionate Allowances are a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that clearly qualify for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability [...]
Filed under Delays, Starting the disability process, Strategies for winning by
Doctors play a pivotal role in the social security disability process. Their contributions of expertise and documentation provide insight to an applicant’s mental and/or physical condition, and this insight may prove useful when a social security adjudicator is reviewing a claimant’s file. In essence, what a doctor’s contributions to a claimant’s disability file can influence [...]
Filed under medical records, Migraine Headaches and disability, Strategies for winning by
This afternoon, I tried an SSDI case involving a 53 year old woman claiming disability based on diabetes and associated complications. In reviewing the record it appears to me that my client had been diabetic for several years prior to her diagnosis and has most likely suffered permanent vision and nerve damage. Unfortunately her medical [...]
