In the United States, over 4 percent of adults suffer from a debilitating mental illness that erodes their quality of life, and makes it difficult to function in society. The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides benefits to those whose mental illness is so severe that they are incapable of working. A nationwide focus on mental health issues […]
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects memory and cognition. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates 5.3 million people suffer from this disease, including 200,000 people under age 65. Many of these individuals face severe and even debilitating cognitive impairments. Fortunately, as any disability lawyer in Chicago knows, Social Security Disability benefits may be available […]
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is the primary source of income for many disabled Americans. Unfortunately, many persons in need of SSI don’t meet the income and asset requirements of the program. In order to receive SSI benefits, in addition to satisfying the age or disability requirements of the Social Security program, an SSI applicant must […]
Repetitive stress injuries are the most common and costly workplace injury in the United States, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In fact, hundreds of thousands of American workers are affected by repetitive stress injuries, which cost more than $20 billion a year in workers compensation. Repetitive Trauma Injuries are those that […]
More employers are asking their employees to pay for their own disability coverage, according to Reuters. Employers are also placing restrictions and limitations on disability benefits for their employees, such as limiting short-term disability benefits and lengthening the waiting period before an employee is eligible for long-term disability benefits. “We are seeing some gradual slide […]
The unemployment rate for persons with disabilities has reached its highest rate since tracking began in 2008, according to a survey conducted by Allsup, a nationwide provider of SSD representation and Medicare plan selection services. The Allsup Disability Study: Income at Risk shows that the unemployment rate for persons with disabilities was more than 85 percent […]
Earlier this year Congress cut the operating budget of the Social Security Administration (SSA) by approximately $1 billion and the cuts are having widespread impacts. SSA offices around the country began closing their offices 30 minutes earlier in August, and field offices in some rural areas have closed their doors completely. The SSA is also […]
If you are unable to work, you are likely eligible to receive social security disability benefits. You should be aware that receiving social security disability income can affect other benefits to which you may be eligible, such as veteran’s benefits and unemployment benefits. SSDI provides income to persons who meet the definition of “disability” and have […]
More than $8 billion in disability insurance payments were made by Center for Disability Awareness (CDA) member companies to over 587,000 disabled individuals during 2010, according to the CDA’s 2011 Long-Term Disability Claims Review. Additionally, CDA member companies approved long-term disability insurance benefits for 139,000 new individuals – a 2.6 percent increase from 2009. Insured lives […]
The process of applying for social security disability benefits – whether Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) – can be complex and confusing. All too often a deserving claim will be rejected due to lack of supporting information or other application shortcoming. A skilled social security attorney can make a significant […]