Posts under ‘Building a Case’

I have worked with a number of people who have gone back to school while applying for Social Security disability benefits. This may be going to (or back to) college, trade school, or just getting more training. Generally, Social Security wants to see people getting on with their lives and trying to find a way [...]

Social Security usually increases Supplemental Security Income benefits annually. Since 2007, SSI benefits have increased from $623, to $637 (in 2008), to $674 (in 2009).
Sadly, Social Security is not increasing SSI benefits for 2010. SSI benefits are staying at $674 for individuals and $1,011 for couples.
This is the first year in a decade that [...]

When a disabled individual receives Social Security disability insurance benefits (also known as DIB, SSDI or Title 2 benefits), their spouse or minor children may also be eligible to receive Social Security benefits. These benefits paid to the spouse or minor child are called “auxiliary benefits.”
Wait a minute, I’m on SSI, but my kids didn’t [...]

Even though you live with your pain every day, the Social Security technician or the disability examiner doesn’t know what you are going through, and they won’t know, unless you can tell them. You may feel like yelling,
You don’t know what I go through every day!
And you would be right. No one really knows what it [...]

If your spouse dies leaving you to take care of his or her children under the age of 16, you may be entitled to Mother’s and Father’s benefits (commonly called parent’s benefits) under Social Security.
These are separate from the benefits the children may be entitled to based on the death of their parent.

If you have a long-standing history with your doctor, it is often a good idea to speak with your doctor early on during the Social Security disability application process.
Here are some things you should discuss:

Let your doctor know that you are applying for Social Security disability benefits.
Ask your doctor if he or she feels that [...]

Under Social Security regulations low birth weight babies may qualify for Social Security disability (Supplemental Security Income – SSI) benefits.
It is important to note that Social Security does not specifically consider whether the child is premature or not. Social Security considers the birth weight of the child:
“Low birth weight” is defined as a birth weight [...]

Yes. Under some circumstances, Social Security can immediately start Social Security disability benefits, and continue to pay benefits for up to six months, while the state agency component of Social Security makes a formal decision of whether the child is disabled. These are called “Presumptive Disability” cases.
Basically, Social Security is saying that the child is [...]

If you are looking at your Social Security exhibit file and you notice that all the exhibits are numbered with a letter in front, such as “B1A, B2A, B1B, B2B,” etc, this means that you are looking at the “B” file — a file for the second application for Social Security disability benefits.
In other words, [...]

My previous article discussed how Social Security makes it easier for people over 50 years old to receive disability benefits, even if they can still perform some kind of work.
I am 49 years old! I am about to turn 50. Isn’t that close enough?
It might be. If you are within a few months of an [...]

As part of my series on how to prove you are disabled and eligible for Social Security disability benefits, my latest article, “Winning Social Security Disability Benefits After Age 50” is now on Dallas Texas Social Security disability attorney Bob Kraft’s P.I.S.S.D. (Personal Injury Social Security Disability) website.
Click the link and check it out!

If you are between 18 years old and 50 years old, you are in the most difficult age range to get Social Security benefits.
Before you turn 18, Social Security uses the “child” standard for disability evaluations.
After you turn 18, though, Social Security uses the “adult” standard. You have to show that you are unable to [...]

Now that I know the critical dates and the medical history I review the work history. Social Security reviews cases using the 5 step sequential evaluation process. At step 4, if you are still able to do any of the jobs you performed in the last 15 years before you became disabled, you can be denied [...]

What’s the next thing to review in the Social Security exhibit file after the medical records?Check these critical dates: Alleged Onset Date (AOD) & Date Last Insured (DLI)!
The E section usually contains for two documents that provide this information:

“Disability Report – Field Office”
“Disability Report – Appeal”

These reports also tells you whether Social Security thinks there should be [...]

One of my colleagues in the fight to help disabled individuals get their Social Security disability benefits, attorney Johnathon Ginsberg, tackles whether you have to submit unfavorable medical evidence to Social Security.
I see this frequently in cases where there was a workers’ compensation case. “Company doctors” often minimize symptoms and generate records indicating that [...]