Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2017
If you receive Social Security benefits of any kind, you are probably familiar with the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). Its purpose is to ensure your benefits keep pace with inflation. The Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2017 is near 0%! Social Security rolls out new COLA information every year, and the […]
New Social Security Disability Mental Disorders Listings
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has finally issued a final rule on revised medical criteria for evaluating mental disorders for adults and children. This rule was issued on September 26, 2016 and becomes effective on January 17, 2017. The rule was published more than six years after the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published in […]
Social Security Disability Benefits for Widows and Widowers
Important Benefits for Surviving Spouses In some circumstances, the Disability Insurance program does allow a claimant to apply for benefits under another worker’s earnings record. One of those circumstances is when a claimant’s spouse has died. Social Security Disability Benefits for Widows and Widowers are an important part of the Social Security Administration’s Disability Insurance […]
Obesity and Social Security Disability Benefits
There is an obesity epidemic in the United States As a result, more people with obesity are applying for Social Security disability benefits. This includes Disability Insurance and SSI disability benefits. Since this is such a widespread illness, it is important to know what it means to be obese and establish whether it is a […]
When did your Disability begin? The Importance of the Onset Date in Social Security Disability Claims.
The onset date of your disability is a very important date in your Social Security Disability Insurance claim. The onset date can determine if you’re even eligible for benefits and can affect when those benefits will begin. It is important for you to know how this date can affect your claim for benefits. This date also […]
Symptoms, Nothing More Than Symptoms?
Are symptoms enough to prove disability? According to a recent ruling by the Social Security Administration, no. On March 16, 2016, the Social Security Administration (SSA) published a new disability Ruling SSR 16 -3p (“Titles II and XVI: Evaluation of Symptoms in Disability Claims”). Effective on that date, it replaced Ruling 96-7p . Ruling 96-7p also […]
Bipolar and Social Security Disability Law in the USA
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institute of Health, 2.6% of the U.S. adult population suffers from bipolar disorder. A full 82.9% of those cases are considered severe, comprising 2.2% of the U.S. adult population. Despite the significant incidence of bipolar disorder and other mental illness, the number of […]
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Changes for 2016
If you receive Social Security benefits of any kind, you are probably familiar with the acronym, COLA. It stands for Cost of Living Adjustment, and its purpose is to ensure your benefits keep pace with inflation. Unfortunately, for the year 2016, there will be no COLA. This is because there was no increase in the Consumer […]
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