State offered benefits for people in need

With many people struggling, including both those on disability and those who are not, we have found some governmental resources which may be able to help. The link listed below takes you a government site which lists the benefits available by state. We encourage you to search your state to see if there might be some agencies who might be able to provide a helping hand.

For more reading on this see Benefits available by state

As always if you have any questions about SSDI, please visit our website at Disabilitybenefitsalliance.com

Social Security Disability is not the problem in our Economy

There has been a lot of talk about how Social Security Disability is a big problem from the fraud in obtaining it, to the fact that it will run out of money. Here are the real facts. According to his his blog in the Wall Street Journal, Phil Izzo points out the FACT that in 2012, Social Security Disability benefit applications went DOWN. Not only that, the number of approvals were also down, in fact the approvals were at their lowest level since 2008. The approval rate of 33% is much LOWER than the approval rate in 1998 which was 50%. While this may be attributable to the fact that more people are applying with questionable disabilities, it shows that people are not being given a free ride through the system.

When it comes to SSDI and the people applying, there are two factors that play a part. First, the population is getting older so it’s just natural that there might be more people who are disabled; however second, as the economy improves, there will be more opportunities for people, both disabled and not, who are looking for work, therefore as they did in 2012, the numbers should trend downward. Overall, it’s time to stop blaming the countries woes on those people who have paid into the system and now, through no fault of their own, can not work. These people are an easy target.

For more reading on this see WSJ blog on Disability

As always if you have any questions about SSDI, please visit our website at Disabilitybenefitsalliance.com

2013 – Who really gets entitlements

2013 should see many changes in the economy. It’s clear that the deficit is out of control and something needs to be done. While the tax hike on upper income levels was a start, other things are going to have to be undertaken in order to help get the budget to a more manageable level. One of the topics that people discuss reforming are “so-called” entitlement programs. What many don’t realize is that 58% of the money paid out in these “entitlements” goes to middle class families, those earning between $30,000.00 and $120,000.00. Many of these people are not looking for a free handout, but are people struggling due to the recession and dimmer job prospects. It can be argued that this is in fact not an entitlement, but a collection of money that was PAID in by the recipient, i.e. money the government collected from these people during the course of their working years. While it’s true that there may be more people collecting money than in the past, it’s money that’s paid into the system, much like collecting insurance when you paid the premiums for years. Real reform will come when we look at the budget as a whole; and while it may include some reforms in social social security, medicare (which are often lumped together but really are two different type of entitlement programs), it should also include programs where there is a vast amount of waste. If we only focus on reforming the so called safety nets (entitlements), those that are most vulnerable are the ones who will continue to be hurt. For more reading on this see 2013 report on entitlements

As always if you have any questions about SSDI, please visit our website at Disabilitybenefitsalliance.com

Americans are sicker than other nations

Here is an article that was just on webmd. It talks about how our lifestyles are making us sicker as a nation as compared to other civilized countries. Even with better medical care, our nation struggles.

Why we are sicker

Getting information on the Social Security website – 2013

The social security website is full of information if you know where to look. Here are some of the links which you may find useful.

The home page for Social Security is located at, Socialsecurity.gov

To find out about your personal eligibility for benefits based on your work history, you can go to Socialsecurity.gov/mystatement The Statement provides you with a personalized estimate of future Social Security benefits — retirement, disability, and survivors. It also provides your earnings record for your lifetime, allowing you to check to make sure your earnings are posted correctly.

If you misplaced your social security card, you can go to Socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber which will give you instructions on how to obtain a new card.

Socialsecurity.gov/estimator will give you personal estimates of your benefits based on criteria you enter.

Socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly will help you with your application for Medicare while Socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp will help with Medicare prescription drug costs.

Finally, for people who are already receiving benefits, Socialsecurity.gov/pgm/getservices-change.htm allows you to make changes to your online profile, request information or just to check your benefits.

As always, if you have any questions about SSDI, you can get information at our website at Disabilitybenefitsalliance.com

Payments made while waiting for a decision on your SSDI case

Many people do not know that Social Security MAY payout presumptive SSI payments while waiting for the DDS decision on a case. It is interesting to note that these benefits do not have to be paid back if the case is denied. In order to qualify for this payout, the claimant must have one of the following conditions:

amputation of a leg at the hip;

allegation of total deafness; that is, no sound perception in either ear;

allegation of total blindness; that is, no light perception in either eye;

allegation of bed confinement and immobility without a wheelchair, walker, or crutches, due to a longstanding condition excluding recent accident and recent surgery;

allegation of stroke (cerebral vascular accident) more than three months in the past and continued marked difficulty in walking or using a hand or arm;

allegation of cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or muscular atrophy and marked difficulty in walking (for example the use of braces), speaking, or coordination of the hands or arms;

symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); Form SSA-4814 or SSA-4815 is needed;

a physician confirms by telephone or in a signed statement that an individual has a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less; or a physician or knowledgeable hospice official (for example, hospice coordinator, staff nurse, social worker or medical records custodian) confirms that an individual is receiving hospice services because of a terminal illness;

allegation of a spinal cord injury producing an inability to ambulate without the use of a walker or bilateral hand–held assistive devices for more than two weeks with confirmation of such status from an appropriate medical professional;

allegation of end stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring chronic dialysis, and the file contains a completed CMS–2728 End Stage Renal Disease Medical Evidence Report–Medicare Entitlement and/or Patient Registration;

allegation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

As always if you have any questions with respect to this or any other issues with SSDI, visit our website at Disabilitybenefitsalliance.com

Compassionate allowances list – 35 new conditions for 2013

Many people have asked for the list of new compassionate allowances. These 35 new conditions have been added so that people who are afflicted will be fast tracked in their applications for SSDI. PLease note that all paperwork still must be done and all supporting materials must be included. If you have any questions, visit our website Disabilitybenefitsalliance.com.

New Compassionate Allowances conditions:
Adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Adult-onset Huntington disease
Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome
Alveolar soft part sarcoma
Aplastic anemia
Beta thalassemia major
Bilateral optic atrophy — infantile
Caudal regression syndrome — Types III and IV
Child T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma
Congenital lymphedema
De Sanctis-Cacchione syndrome
Dravet syndrome
Endometrial stromal sarcoma
Erdheim-Chester disease
Fatal familial insomnia
Fryns syndrome
Fulminant giant cell myocarditis
Hepatopulmonary syndrome
Hepatorenal syndrome
Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome
Leiomyosarcoma
Malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor
Malignant germ cell tumor
MECP2 duplication syndrome
Menkes disease — classic or infantile onset form
NFU1 mitochondrial disease
Non-ketotic hyperglcinemia
Peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis
Phelan-McDermid syndrome
Retinopathy of prematurity — Stage V
Roberts syndrome
Severe combined immunodeficiency — childhood
Sinonasal cancer
Transplant coronary artery vasculopathy
Usher syndrome — Type I

Changes in Social Security Disability 2013 – Compassionate Allowances

The Social Security administration has added 35 conditions to their compassionate allowances program. This will allow people with these conditions to have their disability claims fast tracked so that a decision will come in days rather than months. You still need to be careful in preparing and submitting paperwork, but this is a welcome sign for many people. If you have any questions, make sure to get advice or have an advocate on your side so that you can get the benefits that you deserve.

Compassionate Allowances for Social Security Disabilities – 2013

6 changes to social security in 2013

Here is an interesting article on how social security will change in 2013.  While there will be a 1.7% increase in benefits, this is a decrease compared to the 3.6% increase that recipients received in 2012.

6 changes to Social Security in 2013

Also, remember there is still time to submit an article to our giveback for the holidays essay.  Please visit www.facebook.com/disabilitybenefitsalliance