Category Archives: SSA News

Social Security in the news

38 conditions added to Compassionate Allowance program in Social Security disability cases

Thirty-eight additional medical conditions have been added to Social Security’s list of conditions which qualify for fast-track Compassionate Allowances in Social Security disabilty claims. The addition of these new conditions expands the scope of Compassionate Allowances to a broader subgroup … Continue reading

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Obama calls for $250 payments to seniors – Yahoo! News

Remember the earlier post about the 2 year freeze (2010 & 2011) on cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security beneficiaries and how it would result in a net decrease in benefits because while benefits may stay the same, Medicare premiums are … Continue reading

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Social Security benefits decreasing in 2010 and 2011?

The news has been going around for some time that there will be no cost of living adjustment in Social Security benefits (including retirement and disability benefits) for the next two years, 2010 and 2011. However, it looks like the real … Continue reading

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Social Security News

The “Social Security Hot Topics” Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program provided quite a bit of information about the state of Social Security. More judges on the way: 150 new judges already hired in 2009. 20-30 additional judges to be hired … Continue reading

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Second National Hearing Center opens with more on the way

  Social Security has opened a National Hearing Center (NHC) in Albuquerque New Mexico. This is Social Security’s second NHC — a hearing office which only handles video hearings.  Albuquerque initially will hear disability cases for Kansas City and Portland, … Continue reading

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Seniors may have to give back $250 stimulus payment

Everyone is waiting for the one-time $250 economic stimulus payment from Social Security. However, some seniors may have to give the money back! Social Security beneficiaries received notices last month that they soon will be getting a $250 check courtesy … Continue reading

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Furloughs (further) delay Social Security disability decisions

We all know Social Security cases take too long. Well, get ready for more delays!  In spite of increasing number of new claims for disability, Governors around the nation are requiring disability examiners (the very people who make the decisions … Continue reading

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Watch out for Social Security stimulus scams!

Timegoesby has a post up about scams popping up to scam you out of your Social Security stimulus payments.  Scam artists saw an opening and immediately began targeting consumers, including elders, to “help them qualify” for the payments. By email … Continue reading

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Email claims Social Security is voluntary and tax deductible – true or false?

An email is making the rounds purporting to be a “history lesson” on Social Security for “young whipper snappers” who “weren’t taught or just didn’t know” the following truths about Social Security.  In case you doubt any of these, the email … Continue reading

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Social Security Stimulus: are children eligible?

I was recently asked if children who receive Social Security benefits are eligible for the one time $250 economic recovery stimulus payment. Originally, it looked like the answer was “no.”  When this article was written in March 2009, the SSA … Continue reading

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How much can I get in SSI benefits in 2009?

If you are on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or applying for SSI, you should know that Social Security’s SSI benefits have increased.  For 2008, the Federal Benefit Rate (the maximum you can receive in SSI) is $674 for individuals and … Continue reading

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What is Social Security doing with the Economic Stimulus?

  What is Social Security doing with its share of the economic stimulus? Building a huge data center, of course! Using a hefty down payment from the newly signed economic stimulus law, the Social Security Administration has embarked on a $750 … Continue reading

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Social Security stimulus payments coming in May

You may have already heard that part of the Obama’s stimulus package is a one time payment to recipients of Social Security. The payment will be $250 and it was just revealed that everyone entitled to receive a payment should have … Continue reading

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Increase in Full Retirement Age increases disability claims

  Here’s an interesting tidbit I came across on Notes on Social Security Reform citing the University of Michigan Retirement Research Center winter newsletter: Does the Rise in the Full Retirement Age Encourage Disability Benefits Applications? Evidence from the HRS by Xiaoyan Li and … Continue reading

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Gordon Gates on “the 11 Percent ALJ”

Social Security attorney Gordon Gates wrote about a Social Security Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who only approves 11 percent of cases. In trying to find some insight in to how this ALJ could only approve 11% of cases when most … Continue reading

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