Social Security Disability

What is the Reconsideration Stage in the SSD Process?

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If an initial application for benefits is denied, you can file for reconsideration. In the reconsideration phase, the claim will be reviewed once more by the SSA. If it doesn’t make it past the second review, it requires a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). If your claim enters the reconsideration phase, don’t panic…

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What You Should Know About SSD Claim Time Limits

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Social Security Disability benefits are designed to help those unable to work meet their basic needs with crucial financial assistance. If you have recently become disabled and can no longer support yourself, you may be eligible for benefits under certain conditions. This includes earning enough work credits and applying within Social Security’s claim time limits….

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SSA Cost of Living Adjustment Announced for 2023

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Recently, the SSA announced that the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2023 is 8.7% – the highest increase in payments in decades. This boost in monthly benefits will begin in January 2023. This is the highest the COLA has ever been since 1981, which saw an increase in benefits by 11.2%. For the approximately 70 million…

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How Does Bankruptcy Affect Disability Benefits?

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When you accumulate too much debt and can no longer pay your bills, you may file for bankruptcy to help repay your creditors. This could impact your financial standing in many ways, but fortunately, Social Security benefits are not affected by default by federal law. Social Security Disability benefits are considered exempt assets, meaning creditors…

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What To Know About the Airline Passengers With Disabilities Bill of Rights

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As the pandemic’s impact lessens, more Americans are following through on their travel plans. Unfortunately, with the increased volume of travelers, complaints follow suit, with consumer complaints against airlines up nearly 300% more over pre-pandemic levels. To mitigate this, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently announced actions to help ensure a…

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Disability Benefits to Increase Significantly With Next Year’s Projected COLA

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Social Security Disability beneficiaries will likely be seeing an increase in their payments next year which may be the largest in decades. This is due to growing inflation and the continuously climbing cost-of-living in the United States, which informs the automatic cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. The COLA is based on how any increase in the…

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Why You Should Speak to a Lawyer Before Applying for Disability Benefits

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When you’ve become recently disabled, applying for Social Security Disability (SSD) is a step in the right direction toward getting back on track. Unfortunately, the process of applying alone through the Social Security Administration (SSA) can be overwhelming, discouraging, and confusing. In fact, around 70% of initial SSD applications are denied, regardless of their validity. …

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Do You Qualify for a Fast-Track Disability Benefits Decision?

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When applying for Social Security Disability (SSD), you must quickly familiarize yourself with a handful of new words, phrases, and concepts as you navigate the claims process. One of these to keep in mind is the Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowance Program, which speeds up the claims process for qualifying applicants. Currently, the Compassionate Allowance…

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SSA Field Offices Reopening

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After SSA field offices were forced to close for nearly two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are plans to reopen offices for in-person consultations as soon as possible. The federal agency has reached an agreement with its labor unions to bring 45,000 SSA employees back to its field offices in April.  This follows…

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When Approved For SSD Benefits, Do I Receive Them For Life?

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When applying for disability benefits, or finally beginning to collect following approval or a successful appeal, curiosity may build about the conditions of your monthly payments. For example, a question we are commonly asked is if disability benefits continue forever once approved. Typically, as long as you are disabled, you will receive SSD benefits until…

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