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Social Security wait times for disability determinations are excruciatingly long. Initial application and appeal decisions vary in processing times, and waits may differ depending on the local office. Below is an idea of how much time, on a national average, it takes for an applicant to receive a decision from the Social Security Administration (SSA). […]
Social Security Disability Wait Times Read More »
There are four levels of appeal if your initial disability claim is denied. Most of the time youhave the option of submitting a new application rather than appealing, but if you have a strongdisability claim and a detailed initial application you should consider appealing your case. As shown in the snapshot below, only 38% of
Why you need to appeal: Current SSA Disability Benefit Approval Rates Read More »
In 2023, a news investigation shed light on the high overpayment rates Social Security has made to its beneficiaries. Up until March 2024, Social Security’s practice to recover the money was to take 100% of a person’s monthly benefit until the overpayment was paid in full. This was the case even if Social Security was
SSA Overpayment Collection Rate Change Read More »
Starting on June 8, 2024, SSDI/SSI disability applicants will only have to provide SSA with afive-year work history instead of the previous fifteen-year requirement. SSA looks at Past RelevantWork (PRW) to determine what job skills an applicant has, and what if any of those skills aretransferable to other jobs. The rule change benefits applicants in
New Change to SSA’s Past Relevant Work Benefits Claimants Read More »
On October 12, 2023, the Social Security Administration announced that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase 3.2 percent in 2024. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by more than $50 per month starting in January. Social Security beneficiaries will see the 3.2 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning in January
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Changes for 2024 Read More »
The U.S. Treasury announced that Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Social Security retirement and survivors and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will qualify for automatic payments of $1,200. From the US Treasury Department. These payments do not come from the Social Security Administration. Recipients should receive the automatic payments by direct deposit, Direct Express debit
Social Security Disability Benefits and COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments Read More »
In Part I of this multi-series blog post we discussed that the Social Security Administration offers a variety of return to work incentive programs for you to try returning work without losing your benefits. Trial Work Period (TWP) was the focus of the last post. This month we discuss the Extended Period of Eligibility. Extended
Claimants often ask: Can I try to return to work without losing my Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits? The answer is YES! The Social Security Administration offers a variety of return to work incentive programs for you to try returning work without losing your benefits. In this post, I discuss the Trial Work Period
New research by Mathematica’s Jody Schimmel Hyde and April Wu confirms what many of us in the Social Security Disability field, already know. That is, older applicants (defined as 50 or older) struggle in the labor market if they are denied Social Security Disability benefits and try to return to work. This disproves the common
Applicants Denied Social Security Disability Benefits Struggle in the Labor Market Read More »