Deaf, Hard of Hearing, & Blind Resource Expo
This Friday, June 3, 2011, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and Independence Center, in partnership with the Access 2 Sign Language and Sign Language Network present the Deaf / Hard of Hearing / Deaf Blind Resource Expo.
The expo will be held at the Independence Center at 729 Tejon Street in Colorado Springs between 9 am and 1 pm. For more information, contact Angela at 719-471-8181 V/TTY or 719-358-2513 VP.
Social Security benefits increase coming in 2012?
After a two years freeze in Social Security benefits, a thaw may finally be coming. The Baltimore Sun reports:
The Social Security trustees’ annual report released this month estimates that the cost-of-living adjustment in next year’s checks will be 0.7 percent. The increase, which will be announced in October, could be higher, depending on where prices head in the coming months.
So, we won’t know for sure until October and the increase may be as small as 0.7 percent, and not put into effect until 2012. Hurray(?)
UPDATE 10/18/11: The 0.7 increase was the only news of an increase in 2012 for a long time. AP reports a real cost …
Should I make a video for my Social Security disability case?
Some of my clients want to make a video for Social Security showing their disability. It’s a tempting idea. What’s could be a better way of showing how a conditions disabling, than by simply letting the judge see for himself. However, there is a downside to using videos in Social Security cases that people often overlook.
Here are the pros and cons of using video in a disability case:
Social Security hearing: should I bring notes?
It is natural to be nervous when preparing for your Social Security hearing. The judge may ask when you worked certain jobs, the procedures you have undergone, which doctors treated you for your impairments or your medications. There’s a lot of facts to keep track of. Wouldn’t it help to bring a notebook with this information?
Honestly, I don’t believe bringing a notebook to a hearing is helpful. Or, more specifically, I believe the negatives outweigh the positives.
How much does Social Security pay in Auxiliary benefits
In addition to paying disability benefits for disabled individuals, Social Security also provides benefits for their minor children and also the spouse (if taking care of children under 16 year old). Note: these auxiliary benefits are only available if the disabled individual is receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI aka DIB). There are no auxiliary benefits (no benefits for spouses or children) for individuals on Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Ok. How much can a spouse or child get in auxiliary Social Security benefits?
All eligible dependents can receive up to 50% of the wage earner’s (typically the disabled individual’s) benefits. However, the combined total of all auxiliary benefits cannot be above the family maximum.
My child is graduating high school, will my other children’s Social Security benefits change?
This question comes up in the comments from time to time.
My children receive Social Security auxiliary benefits because my spouse is disabled. My oldest is graduating high school next month. Social Security has told me that my oldest’s benefits will be stopped.
Will my other children’s benefits go up?
Fortunately, the answer is often, “YES!”
Here is Social Security take on this issue from their FAQ page:
Social Security Family Maximum for disability benefits
Social Security pays benefits to spouses and children of disabled parents. The requirements for spouses and children are discussed the linked article.
However, as many parents discover, there is a cap on auxiliary benefits. Taken directly from Social Security:
Benefits are payable to spouses and children of disabled workers, but such benefits are limited. The family maximum for a family of a disabled worker is 85 percent of the worker’s Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME). However, it cannot be less than the worker’s PIA nor more than 150 percent of the PIA.
Note: rather than trying to figure out …
