Where is Social Security Headed?

No one really knows the future of Social Security. It appears as though the system is headed for a hard crash of bankruptcy, and while there are many suggestions for slight improvement, there are not many suggestions for significant restructuring and reform. Some are afraid that as time moves on and the system digs a deeper financial crisis, our government will try to nationalize our current private retirement accounts, similarly to Argentina’s attempt.

The following article takes a look at the Wall Street Journal story about Argentinean president Kirchner’s attempt to make it through the financial crisis by privatizing retirement accounts and confiscating money from workers so that the government can keep on its feet for a little while longer.

The article also takes a look at an article from US News & World Reports called “Would Obama, Dems Kill 401(k) Plans?”, an academic proposal that the US privatize 401(k) retirement plans, many are worried that this will end up on the US Congress floor.

The Future of Social Security?





For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center

Social Security Evolves Into Cyberspace

Remember the olden days when you had to wait in long lines at the Social Security office, hold on the telephone for ‘the next available representative’, and get your benefits estimate through the post office? Times are changing and the Social Security administration has finally caught up with the times. For those of you who are web-savvy, or even if you are not web-savvy but have access to a computer, you can now estimate your benefits, access your earning record, fill out your retirement application, and receive Social Security news and important changes, all from the warmth and comfort of your home.

The newest addition to the Social Security administration’s online tool box is the ‘Online Retirement Estimator’. This handy little estimator is easy to use. You simply answer a few questions that will identify you, and the estimator pulls up your earnings record to give you an estimate of your retirement benefits. From there, you can play with the numbers and dates of retirement and see as many different estimates as you like. Want to retire at 62? Check the estimated benefits with a few clicks. Want to see how much more money you will receive if you wait until you are 70 to retire? You can do that too. The estimator is a great online tool for knowing exactly where you stand, and where you can stand with a few tweaks, in just a matter of moments. You can find the estimator at: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

Another wonderful evolution available online is an improved, online retirement application. The application is said to be simple, easy and automated. You can fill out the questions which are only applicable to you, and when you are done click ‘sign now’ to be finished with the entire process. No more losing paperwork or postal mailing. This process takes away mailing time and makes for a quicker, less stressful application process. The online application can be found at: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/r&m2.htm.

Last but not least, you can also stay abreast of Social Security news, events, changes to the website, and changes to important SSA information by subscribing to updates or receiving the newsletter ‘Social Security eNews’. With this information, you will never miss another change in benefits, new law passed, or important news item. You can find the updates subscriber page from the Social Security homepage: http://www.socialsecurity.gov and the eNewsletter at: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/enews.

Social Security is finally taking advantage of the ease and convenience of cyberspace.

SSA resolves to make retirement planning easy



For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center

Social Security: Hold Out for Later

Most people look forward to age 62 so they can retire and start collecting Social Security benefits. Unfortunately, not many people even know how much they are going to receive upon retirement, and even less know how much they would receive if they waited a mere eight years. The truth is that they would receive up to 75 percent more at age 70, than the amount they will receive at age 62.

This article is a wealth of information provided by a recent survey that polled 61 year olds about their education on Social Security benefits, and their planned actions. The survey was held by Fidelity Investments. The article highlights those who have no retirement plan, those who are planning to retire at age 62, those who have no idea how much they will be receiving upon retiring, and those who need to take their Social Security benefits as soon as possible to meet basic necessity costs. The article also discusses investment options, such as dividend-paying blue chips.

Social Security Desperation


For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center

What Are the Chances of Winning an SSA Disability Appeal?

The chance of winning a SSA disability appeal depends greatly upon what level of appeal your disability claim is at. Roughly, thirty-five percent of initial SSA disability claims are approved, which means that sixty five percent of all individuals, who apply for Social Security disability, are denied. If an individual decides to pursue disability they should appeal their initial SSA disability denial.

The first level of SSA disability appeal is the reconsideration request appeal, and quite frankly an individual’s chance of winning their disability appeal at this level is limited at best. Statistics suggest that only ten to fifteen percent of all reconsideration appeals result in an approval for Social Security disability benefits. Many wonder why are the approval rates so low at the reconsideration appeal level. Very few initial SSA disability decisions are overturned at the reconsideration level because the same state disability agency makes reconsideration appeal decisions, which, means that the same disability rules and guidelines are used to make a reconsideration appeal decision as an initial disability determination. The only difference between an initial disability decision and a reconsideration disability appeal decision is that the reconsideration is sent to a different disability examiner. If the initial disability examiner did not make an error according to SSA disability rules and guidelines its unlikely the individual has a good chance of winning their disability appeal.

Truthfully, the request for reconsideration appeal is just a stepping-stone to the more important administrative law judge hearing appeal. Statistics suggest that more than fifty percent of disability claimants win their Social Security disability benefits at this appeal level. Administrative law judges have more flexibility in making their disability determinations than state disability agency examiners, thus more individuals are approved for Social Security disability at this appeal level than any other level of the Social Security disability process.

The chances of winning your disability benefits depend upon your use of the Social Security appeals process, if you follow the process to an administrative law judge hearing your chances of winning Social Security disability benefits are good.



For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center

Why was I denied social security disability?

It is easy to blame an outdated system and backlogged claims on the amount of Social Security disability denials. It is also easy to blame a lack of SSA funding and a lack of administrative judges and disability examiners on the high amount of denials. While all of these issues are part of the problem, the most common reason for a disability denial of an initial claim is the lack of proper medical documentation.

On top of that, the second most common reason SSA claimants are not approved is their lack of knowledge about the social security appeals process, or an unwillingness to appeal their denial and ask for reconsideration in a timely manner. While it may seem the system is against you when you receive your denial, chances are that you can take steps to make the social security disability approval process much easier and quicker.

No matter what the many ‘issues’ with the Social Security administration system are, all cases are decided on medical evidence. This means you will need to provide 100 percent accurate medical documentation, make sure that your medical records are delivered to your disability examiner and also, make sure that your doctor has provided all information in your medical records that will be needed to make an approval. This means they will need to document your disability and provide clear outlines of what you can or cannot do because of your disability.

If you have experienced issues in receiving quality, routine care for your disability you might want to take advantage of free clinics, the emergency room, or sliding scale physicians. Without proper medical documentation your case cannot be approved. Making sure that you have supplied your disability examiner with everything they need to make a decision can help your case move along at a faster rate. Consider calling your examiner to ask them if they need anything else from you. It may seem like a lot of extra work to make calls and gather medical records and documentation, but it may save you months or even years of waiting.

If you initial claim has been denied (and nearly 70 percent are) the next thing you need to do is file a disability appeal. An unawareness of this process or simple procrastination can cause your case to be pushed back months or even years. If you do not file your appeal within 60 days of receiving your denial you will have to start the process all over again at the beginning: a new claim. If, however, you do file an appeal for reconsideration, you may be among the 15 percent that are approved at this level.

If your initial claim has been denied and your appeal for reconsideration has also been denied, you will need to file a second appeal. While all of the time and paperwork for appeals can be frustrating, over 60 percent of claimants that appeal a second time are approved, so do not give up.

Denials can be frustrating and stressful, especially when you are without an income and trying to pay medical bills. It may make you feel like giving up. Regardless, keep pressing on. Making sure you provide proper medical documentation and keeping a timely, close watch on your appeals process can make all the difference in the world.



For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center

Seniors Happy With Medicare Drug Coverage

The prescription drug benefit for Medicare, called Part D, is making a lot of seniors very happy. In fact, this may be the best government program implemented in the last decade. According to a national survey, the rate of satisfaction for the Medicare Park D prescription drug benefit is 92 percent overall. The survey was held on the phone by RetireSafe, an organization that represents, educates and advocates for older Americans.

The following article gives an in-depth outline of the study and the results of the phone survey held by RetireSafe. The article also provides statistics about how many seniors are satisfied with their Medicare medicines, how many feel the plan is easy to use, and how many think their costs are manageable, as well as how many reported they could afford those medicines and the percentage of older Americans that shared that they no longer skip their medicines now that they are on the Medicare drug plan.

New Survey Shows Seniors Overwhelmingly Satisfied With Medicare Part D



For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center

Compassionate Changes to Social Security Benefits for the Disabled

Some wait months, but many wait years for the final ‘approved’ verdict on their Social Security disability benefits. The wait can be excruciating. Many go bankrupt, lose their homes and must depend on family and friends to carry them through the wait. Some people have died while waiting for a hearing. Fortunately, some new changes may make the backlog move a bit quicker, especially for those with certain rare diseases and forms of cancer.

This article talks about a new Social Security disability benefit approval program called Compassionate Allowances: list of 50 diseases and cancers that will qualify people to automatically get their benefits with confirmation from a medical source. The article lists some of the rare diseases and forms of cancer that are covered by the program, and also outlines some other changes that have been made by the SSA, from video hearings and electronic files to the Quick Disability Determination (QDD) program.


Fast track for disability benefits



For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability Benefits Resource Center