tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5533026746681219792008-08-29T12:54:13.162-04:00A personal and topic-oriented blog by a former social security disability claims examiner. Naturally, the blog will focus on social security disability issues and questions, but will also cover general, health, and medical news.Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-81886156265351742452008-08-29T12:50:00.001-04:002008-08-29T12:54:13.190-04:00

Read the article linked at the end of this post and you'll see why so many social security disability lawyers are against non-attorney disability representation companies that A) represent the interests of long term disability insurers and B) represent individuals applying for social security disability or applying for SSI disability. As the article states, Charles Resendez became disabled and

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-28614307552407529512008-08-29T12:46:00.001-04:002008-08-29T12:48:19.907-04:00

Here's a link to an article on worker's compensation. When I first encountered this article, based on the title I thought "Good, this may provide some useful information. However, as I read the article, it quickly became clear that the article takes a negative stance toward injured workers and leans toward workers compensation insurance providers. Despite this, the author of the article, the

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-57161784239942205962008-08-27T11:25:00.003-04:002008-08-27T11:36:24.388-04:00

If you have alleged any type of mental impairment (anxiety, depression, bipolar, manic depression, etc.) you may be required to attend a consultative mental examination. Bear in mind, Social Security disability is based upon residual functional capacity (what you are capable of doing despite the limitations imposed upon you by your condition) rather than specific conditions. So how does Social

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-3240255896879484082008-08-25T15:19:00.001-04:002008-08-25T15:27:11.380-04:00

In order to be approved for disability, you must meet three basic disability criteria: 1) You must prove that you suffer from a medical condition (physical or mental) that is severe enough to keep you from performing work; 2) That your medical condition is expected to last at least 12 months; and, 3) that you are incapable of performing any other work (other than your current job) for which you

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-74922702630722497412008-08-22T18:00:00.004-04:002008-08-22T18:17:23.503-04:00

If you are applying for social security disability or applying for supplemental security income, then you will need at least some cooperation from your treating physician, for all disability decisions are made based on your medical records. However, some doctors are more willing than others to become involved in social security disability cases, and if you have a physician that expresses any

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-3795540051555975182008-08-20T17:52:00.007-04:002008-08-20T18:16:01.674-04:00

Someone recently wrote in a forum that (I'm paraphrasing) "just because you're not able to perform the duties of your last job doesn't mean that you will be considered disabled according to Social Security Administration Standards. How much truth is there in this statement? Actually, quite a bit. The social security disability system (and by extension, the SSI disability benefits system)

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-86925537405990956442008-08-15T20:06:00.002-04:002008-08-15T20:09:31.188-04:00

So you have gone to a social security disability or SSI disability hearing and been denied. What you should do? Don't be discouraged, as many individuals have to go through the Social Security disability process more than one time to be approved for disability benefits. In fact, some individuals have to complete the entire disability process several times before winning disability benefits. What

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-69347410136590563262008-08-15T20:02:00.000-04:002008-08-15T20:04:12.525-04:00

Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidneys caused by lupus, otherwise known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease of the immune system. Marked by high blood pressure, dark urine, weight gain and swelling around the ankles, legs, fingers and eyes, the causes of the disease are unknown and treatments are varied. Severe lupus nephritis is marked by extensive inflammation and

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-8834482008301243512008-08-13T15:49:00.004-04:002008-08-13T15:54:22.095-04:00

According to the blue book (this is a the book that disability examiners use to determine if an individual meets the criteria for disability) a consultative examination is an examination that embodies all of the elements of a complete examination in the medical specialty that addresses your specific disabling condition. The disability blue book goes on to state that a consultative examination

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-89719242162626876822008-08-08T16:12:00.001-04:002008-08-08T16:32:20.181-04:00

The first step to filing a disability claim is to contact the Social Security Administration to schedule a disability interview, which can be conducted by phone or in person. Recently a third method has been added for those individuals who have internet access. If you have internet access, you may go to the Social Security website (www.ssa.gov) and file your Social Security disability claim

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-68065841757571663372008-08-07T16:10:00.002-04:002008-08-07T16:13:29.437-04:00

You have to really wonder about this. As a disability examiner, I recall having cases in which severe headaches, cluster headaches, and migraines were indicated on the disability application. Unfortunately, I don't recall being allowed to approve many of these cases. Why do I say "allowed"? Because, though disability examiners are the individuals who render disability decisions at the initial

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-10755239338211711072008-08-07T16:05:00.003-04:002008-08-07T16:09:28.958-04:00

If you are filing for disability with the Social Security Administration, you should expect that the disability process may be a lengthy one. You may be asking yourself at this point just how long it will take for your disability claim to be approved. The Social Security disability process begins with the filing of your initial disability claim. Generally, initial claims take about ninety days

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-17507741870031097472008-08-04T17:30:00.004-04:002008-08-04T17:49:48.394-04:00

Social Security administers two individual disability programs each with it’s own unique guidelines (though it should be said that the primary difference between the two programs involves non-medical criteria, while the medical eligibility requirements are identical). On this page, I am going to define how each program addresses back pay. As I said earlier, Social Security administers two

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-29216822016884074612008-08-04T17:26:00.001-04:002008-08-04T17:26:38.791-04:00

According to the Disability Evaluation Under Social Security disability handbook (used by Social Security disability examiners to make medical determinations), adult disability is described as an inability to perform any substantial work activity due to any medically determinable physical and/or mental impairment/s that are expected to end in death or have lasted or are expected to last at least

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-15111165378904356062008-08-01T15:57:00.000-04:002008-08-01T15:59:52.740-04:00

Most applicants for social security disability do not realize at the outset of their claim just how long it takes to be approved for benefits, and are ill-prepared for the financial challenges that await them during the disability determination process. While it is true that some disability applicants are approved for disability fairly quickly the first time they file a claim, this is certainly

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-10924245292914776722008-08-01T15:54:00.000-04:002008-08-01T15:55:30.561-04:00

The amount of back pay that disability applicants can collect (upon approval of benefits) varies depending on a variety of factors. For one thing, there is a difference between the amount of back pay a person may collect if they are applying for social security disability (SSD) vs. supplemental security income (SSI) benefits. SSD applicants who are approved for disability benefits are entitled

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-22664824784427274702008-07-29T16:40:00.000-04:002008-07-29T16:42:02.441-04:00

The SSI appeal time can be a lengthy one. As the number of disability claims increases so, too, does the average time it takes to process an SSI appeal to completion. The length of time it takes for an SSI appeal is dramatically affected by what appeal level the SSI claim is at. What do I mean by what appeal level? Social Security has a four level appeal process: reconsideration, administrative

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-20640633203572852982008-07-29T16:36:00.000-04:002008-07-29T16:37:39.154-04:00

How do I start the process of applying for Social Security disability? Social Security has two disability programs: Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability, and both programs use the same disability application process. To apply for Social Security disability you must have a medical or mental condition or a combination of impairments that have either

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-90472497583929157362008-07-25T11:51:00.000-04:002008-07-25T11:54:05.898-04:00

As a former disability examiner and in my involvement in disability representation, one thing I've noticed is this: way too many applicants for disability either put off filing for disability, or, at some point, fail to file their appeals. Why does this happen? I think in either case it is because the individual either believes that A) their chances of winning disability from social security

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-40085431740435898052008-07-25T11:45:00.001-04:002008-07-25T11:48:14.494-04:00

In a forum I visited recently, one of the posters was discussing whether or not to file for disability benefits from SSA (social security administration). However, she seemed to have the idea that, unless her condition was something that rendered her wheelchair bound or unable to live independently (which might be the case for someone with profound mental limitations), she wouldn't qualify for

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-32554253855408498902008-07-21T17:31:00.001-04:002008-07-21T17:34:59.878-04:00

Applicants for Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will probably want to seek legal representation at some point. While it is true that some disability claimants are approved for benefits with little delay upon their first application, the vast majority will have to appeal their case, not once but twice. In fact, nationwide about 70 percent of

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-17804328725189470962008-07-21T17:25:00.001-04:002008-07-21T17:28:38.567-04:00

If you file for Social security disability or SSI (I always mention these two programs together because they are processed exactly the same with regard to determining a person's eligibility to receive benefits), the decision you receive from the social security administration will be a medical determination. What exactly does that mean? Everyone who files can pretty much guess that their

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-32860974577557520542008-07-21T17:19:00.002-04:002008-07-21T17:22:47.442-04:00

Mental conditions can be problematic for a social security disability or SSI case. I base this statement on the fact that I am a former disability claims examiner for the social security administration. What makes cases with mental conditions problematic? Here's a short list. 1. Very often, claimants have never been treated for the mental conditions they have. This is often the case for

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-61963463415731313922008-07-18T10:56:00.001-04:002008-07-18T11:06:19.478-04:00

First of all, for anyone who's not aware, let's define what a social security doctor is. The most literal definition for the phrase "social security doctor" would be: the medical consultant who works with the disability examiner (and is assigned to the examiner's case processing unit) to arrive at a medical determination on a social security disability or SSI disability case. These doctors are

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553302674668121979.post-41863785822549430782008-07-18T10:49:00.002-04:002008-07-18T10:53:00.722-04:00

If you apply for social security disability or SSI and, afterwards, receive a letter in the mail informing you that you have an appointment for an examination, this is known as a consultative examination. It is what many claimants refer to as a social security medical exam. However, it is not conducted by a doctor (or psychiatrist or psychologist as the case may be for a mental impairment) who

Dnewsnoreply@blogger.com