tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36976870715432511812009-11-30T12:11:18.295-08:00ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-85219719370816394882009-11-30T12:10:00.000-08:002009-11-30T12:11:18.304-08:00

Have you had a healthcare experience that left you feeling confused and wishing you had more time with a doctor? You are not alone. Health literacy is low among all Americans, but especially among those with disabilities. Those with limited English skills also have lower health literacy. This information comes from two recent studies at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. Two factors

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-27687154068295301522009-08-19T07:24:00.000-07:002009-08-19T07:27:15.184-07:00

If your claim for Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is denied (and the vast majority, about 70% of those filed each year, are denied) then you should appeal the decision.This first appeal is referred to as a request for reconsideration, and it is decided by the same agency that denied the initial application, the state disability determination services (DDS).

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-77573415201273081122009-07-15T12:25:00.000-07:002009-07-15T12:30:24.286-07:00

Every decision in Social Security Disability (SSD) and SSI matters is based on a claimant’s medical records, and what they say about his or her ability to work (or not). Because medical records are critical to the outcome of disability cases, some applicants make the mistake of sending in far too much information in an effort to bolster their claims. This is not at all helpful, because it makes

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-45890388339222830342009-07-08T15:41:00.000-07:002009-07-08T15:43:11.318-07:00

If you receive an initial Social Security or Supplemental Security Income disability denial, can you file immediately for your disability hearing with an administrative law judge? Unfortunately, no you must begin what is known as the Social Security disability appeal process and it can be a very time consuming arduous journey for disability applicants. So how does the appeal process work? Well,

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-74052700511199517852009-07-02T11:34:00.000-07:002009-07-02T11:38:49.578-07:00

Most applicants who file for Social Security Disability (SSD) or SSI do so as a last resort—they simply are unable to earn a living due to their physical or mental condition. In many cases their treating physician, the one who is in the best position to evaluate their functional limitations and to give a prognosis (how the impairment will progress over time) agrees that the medical condition is

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-29982733616055525152009-05-03T09:05:00.000-07:002009-05-03T09:08:07.683-07:00

SSI (supplemental Security Income) disability is a need based disability program administered by the Social Security Administration. Like all need-based programs, an individual’s ability to receive benefits depends upon meeting certain income and resource limits. In addition to income and resource limits, an individual must have a medically determinable mental impairment and/or physical

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-66409725087514696642009-05-03T08:51:00.000-07:002009-05-03T09:04:21.648-07:00

Depending on your age, there are different steps you must take to ensure a secure retirement. It’s never too early, or too late for that matter, to plan for the future, especially in today’s economy.If you are in your 20s and 30s you may think retirement is so far out that you do not need to give it serious consideration. But even this early in your career its best to begin laying groundwork for

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-23635631723796245492009-02-23T14:36:00.000-08:002009-02-23T14:38:12.343-08:00

The following article helps you sort through the details of answering an age-old question (no pun intended): Should I collect Social Security at age 62, or if I am able should I wait until later? While many people are in a financial bind that nearly forces them to take their Social Security benefits as soon as they turn 62 to meet their mortgage payments and basic necessities, others can afford

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-10660832162571087202009-02-23T14:32:00.000-08:002009-02-23T14:34:25.431-08:00

SSI (supplemental Security Income) disability is a need based disability program administered by the Social Security Administration. Like all need-based programs, an individual’s ability to receive benefits depends upon meeting certain income and resource limits. In addition to income and resource limits, an individual must have a medically determinable mental impairment and/or physical

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-80499020006756091892009-01-25T14:08:00.000-08:002009-01-25T14:14:40.536-08:00

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

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-64534831417483016842009-01-16T12:52:00.000-08:002009-01-16T12:55:04.188-08:00

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

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-28631469050138324992009-01-16T12:50:00.001-08:002009-01-16T12:51:40.658-08:00

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

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-42196695535647172862009-01-16T12:47:00.000-08:002009-01-16T12:48:29.811-08:00

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

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-30499130334977355052009-01-06T15:17:00.000-08:002009-01-06T15:19:19.349-08:00

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

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-9626107294943489092009-01-06T15:14:00.000-08:002009-01-06T15:16:05.204-08:00

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

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-64546392365078230952009-01-06T15:10:00.000-08:002009-01-06T15:12:59.820-08:00

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

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-5423038377267486812008-12-17T10:50:00.000-08:002008-12-17T10:52:03.133-08:00

Bariatric surgery, also known as weight-loss surgery, involves various surgical procedures of the gastrointestinal tract to decrease nutrient absorption and intake, such as stomach stapling and reducing the stomach size. This type of surgery is oftentimes used for those who are severely obese. Up until recently, Medicare covered bariatric surgery for those with Type 2 diabetes. Now Medicare has

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-23016274994497153912008-12-17T10:43:00.000-08:002008-12-17T10:44:26.845-08:00

If you are about to undertake the process of applying for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) there are a few things to know in advance about whether or not you qualify. There are certain requirements that must be met to be awarded disability benefits. Since the process is so in-depth and can be quite lengthy, it helps to know in advance if you can potentially qualify for disability

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-29825884094466271212008-12-17T10:41:00.000-08:002008-12-17T10:42:10.496-08:00

There are many people waiting patiently in the backlog of Social Security disability claims. While it can take as little as 3-4 months to get an approval for some claims, others take a year, 2 years, or even more. For some, that can turn into a very long appeal process that leaves them without money for food, bills, medicines and housing. In Indiana alone it was estimated that over 65 percent of

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-38529833156277335732008-12-08T12:36:00.000-08:002008-12-08T12:37:54.474-08:00

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has finally become compassionate to those who are waiting unduly long periods to receive their rightful disability benefits. They have just announced their new ‘Compassionate Allowances’ program that will hopefully get the SSA in a position to process disability claims for those with severe illnesses much quicker. The program, which is one element in a

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-74761166620994205832008-12-08T12:29:00.000-08:002008-12-08T12:35:59.992-08:00

Many think there is some secret way to win an SSI hearing, however there is no secret way. Frankly, you can win your SSI hearing by being thoroughly prepared for your hearing before the administrative law judge. Now you may be asking yourself, how can I be thoroughly prepared to win my SSI hearing?You can prepare yourself for your social security disability or SSI hearing by obtaining a Social

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-6361860066990656152008-12-04T14:36:00.000-08:002008-12-04T14:46:51.686-08:00

The social security administration (SSA) considers individuals to be disabled if they can demonstrate through solid medical documentation (medical records) that they have a severe impairment which prevents them from participating in substantial gainful activity (SGA), and that this condition is expected to last for at least 12 months. What does it mean to be unable to “participate in substantial

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-76054003406398150732008-11-18T08:56:00.000-08:002008-11-18T08:58:22.494-08:00

All disability decisions are based on the information contained in a claimant’s medical records. If you have been receiving ongoing medical treatment for a physical mental impairment, and your doctor agrees that you are too disabled to work, then you may assume that you will have little difficulty being approved for social security disability or SSI. However, this is not necessarily the case,

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-62969012164857651462008-11-18T08:51:00.000-08:002008-11-18T08:53:00.315-08:00

Many individuals who apply for Social Security Disability (SSD) or supplemental security income (SSI) are turned down for benefits. In fact, statistics show that about 70 percent of all initial claims for disability are denied, and those that are denied are no more likely to be approved if they file a new application unless they have significant new medical evidence to add to their file, or if

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697687071543251181.post-52965451522350258132008-11-18T08:26:00.000-08:002008-11-18T08:48:56.268-08:00

This question is routinely addressed by disability attorneys and by columnists. However, the simplest way to answer the question is to state that you should apply for social security disability as soon as your medical condition makes it impossible for you to work, or at least work and earn what is considered to be a substantial and gainful monthly income.Individuals who are considering whether or

ssdrchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09949645863844352558noreply@blogger.com