Social Security Increase Will be Low, Once Again

For a second year in a row Social Security increases will be historically low.  Preliminary figures put the raise at about 1.5 percent.

Next year’s raise will be smaller because consumer prices haven’t gone up much in the past year, according to figures from the government. The exact size of the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) won’t be known until the Labor Department releases September’s inflation report.

 

The report was supposed to be published on October 9th, but the news media has stated that the government shutdown delayed it. The COLA announcement is made in October, so that Social Security and other benefit programs have time to adjust their January payments.

 

While the shutdown has delayed and halted several projects, reports, and payments, social security benefits haven’t been affected. The Social Security Administration hasn’t indicated whether raises will be delayed because of the shutdown either.

4,000 SSDI Cases Will Have to Be Heard "All Over Again" Due to Bias By Judges in Queens

A lawsuit alleging that five administrative judges in Queens, N.Y. were biased against Social Security Claimants has been settled by the federal government.

 

Under the terms of the settlement approved by Chief Judge Carol Bagely Amon, the five administrative law judges will undergo new training and will be monitored for 30 months. 

 

The SSA has not provided any figures about exactly how many cases in Queens will get a fresh hearing. But the lawyers who fought the lawsuit on behalf of plaintiffs in Queens estimate that there are at least 4,000 cases that are eligible for a new hearing based on the period of the settlement agreement, which states fresh hearings for all claims denied by the five judges between Jan 2008 and the date of the settlement.

"Thousands of disabled workers suffering from financial hardship and declining health will now receive long overdue consideration of their claims, said Emilia Sicilia, director of the Disability Advocacy Project at the Urban Justice Center.

 

Plaintiffs’ case was proven based on statistics. The rejection rate for the Queens ALJs was the highest in New York State and the third highest in the nation. The rejection rate for Queens was twice as high as the adjacent borough of Brooklyn. Both boroughs are located on Long Island, NY.

 

Also, the Queens ALJ approval rates for applicants who were immigrants and had been low-income citizens were very different from those who came from a higher income bracket.

What is the "Onset Date" in a Social Security Disability Case?

Even when you are represented by a lawyer, it is good to be aware of some of legal terminology used by lawyers and judges in Social Security Disability cases.  One of the terms that I have noticed that many of my Social Security Disability clients get confused with is the term "onset date" or "disability onset date".

 

The "disability onset date" or the "DOD", as some disability examiners call it, is the date when a claimant has enough medical evidence to prove that he or she meets the definition of disability under the Social Security rules.  The definition of disability under Social Security is very strict and is very different from other programs.  No payments are payable under Social Security for partial disability or for short term disability (less than 12 months).  Therefore, it is important to note that the onset date is not necessarily the date when a person was diagnosed with an illness or condition or, when the person began to feel sick or limited by a disease or physical injury.  The onset of disability is the date when the condition finally prevented the claimant from working. 

 

There is often a gray area as to when a condition prevented a person from working.  This is why Administrative Law Judges (ALJ's) often raise this issue at the hearing.  At this point, I find that it is very helpful if my client is fairly well acquainted with Social Security rules, particularly with the term "onset date".  Judges often may request that a different (usually later) onset date be used in order to allow a favorable decision.  Amending the onset date at the hearing is in some circumstances something positive.  In many instances, an amended onset date results in a favorable decision.  However, the claimant gives up past due benefits owed between the original onset date requested and the amended onset date. 

60 Minutes Story About Social Security Disability was Inaccurate and Misleading

I was going to spend part of this afternoon writing a Blog rebutting the shameful attacks made in last night’s 60 Minutes story.  The television segment sought to portray Social Security Disability beneficiaries as freeloaders who are gaming a system that is “ravaged by waste and fraud”. 

However, as I was preparing to write, I was “interrupted” by a visit to my office from Carlos, a client who has an SSD hearing coming up this November.  (I have changed my client’s name for obvious confidentiality reasons.)  Before Carlos came to my office, I thought that I was going to write a blog pointing out all the statistical reasons why there has been an increase in Social Security Disability claims.  Among other things, I was going to explain that 60 Minutes misrepresented the number of Social Security Disability beneficiaries and that the reason for the increase in claims stems from demographic changes in our society. 

More importantly, I was also going to explain that it is inappropriate to use mere anecdotal statements to criticize a program as important as SSDI.  As an advocate for the disabled, I maintain that it is incorrect to draw broad conclusions from a few sensational stories of fraud or abuse.  Then, as Carlos’ visit was about to end, it occurred to me that instead of writing about numbers and statistics, I should write a blog that gives Mr. Kroft, Senator Coburn, and the rest of the CBS crew a taste of their own medicine.  Why not write a Blog about Carlos’ ordeal with the Social Security Administration?  Why not blog about a real life anecdote of what an SSD claimant goes through?  This is precisely the most important perspective that the 60 Minute story failed to portray.  It is appalling that they did a piece criticizing Social Security Disability claimants without interviewing a single disabled person.

As I helped Carlos get out of his chair and ushered him carefully to the front door for fear that he might fall, I became and angry and wondered: “Why isn’t Steve Kroft here filming this?  Why doesn’t he come over to Hartford and Springfield and film the dozens of Carlos’s that are desperately waiting to receive benefits?  Why doesn’t Kroft have the courage to stand in front of people like my client --who lives in constant pain and has obvious difficulties walking--, and ask in his FoxNewesque and arrogant tone: “Hey Carlos, isn’t it really easy to get SSDI benefits?”  

The story that Kroft would get from people like Carlos is far more convincing that the campaign of hate waged against the disabled by a few powerful figures like Senator Coburn.  Carlos’ story is the farthest thing from that of a person who is trying to “game” the system.  Before Carlos became injured, he was a driver of eighteen wheeler trucks.  He put in many hours of overtime, driving all over the snowy roads of Western Massachusetts and Worcester County.  (He got badly injured in an accident.  His shoulder is now almost completely frozen.)   He is the proud father of two children.  No one can call him a freeloader.  In fact, after driving trucks, he went to school to learn how to be a diesel mechanic.  He eventually found a higher paying job fixing large trucks.  Unfortunately, he got reinjured shortly after starting the mechanic job and, after thinking it over for a long time, he had no other option but to apply for disability.

As Carlos was leaving, he asked the usual litany of questions that most my clients ask me: why do people like me have to wait two years to get to a hearing?  Do you think we will win the case?  Will I get food stamps? 

I should not have to listen to these questions all by myself.  Is there anyone from the news media willing to join me?  Forget about CBS; they have lost all credibility.  Are there any responsible journalists brave enough to listen to the questions raised by those who have been abused by the Social Security Disability bureaucrats?  Are they willing to talk to thousands of people like Carlos whose voices are not being heard?

Important note: Michael Hiltzik a Pulitzer winning business columnist for the LA Times has written an outstanding article debunking the baseless allegations made by 60 Minutes and Republican Senator Tom Coburn.  Please read: “60Minutes” A Shameful Attack on the Disabled.

How I Win Social Security Disability Benefits for Claimants Over 60

The Social Security Administration acknowledges a basic precept of the human condition: the older we get, the harder it is for us to perform certain types of work and re-adapt to the requirements of a new job. In fact, Social Security Disability law provides special guidelines for persons over 60 who are seeking disability benefits. Here are some of the basic strategies that I use to win Social Security Disability Benefits for claimants over 60.
 
Social Security Disability rules regarding age are contained in the Medical Vocational Guidelines, which are rules used by the Social Security Administration to determine whether an applicant can adapt to a new job. Social Security Disability Lawyers commonly referred to these rules as: "the Grids".

Once a person turns 60, the Grids play a pivotal role in the Social Security Disability Process. In many instances, the Grids specifically establish that certain applicants qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits as a matter of law. For example, if your condition limits you to sedentary work but have not had a “sit down” job in the past 15 years and you are 60 or older, you have very good chance of winning benefits.

Age makes a huge difference in determining disability. Based on the Grids, a person that can only do simple sedentary work at 48, will loose, but would have a much better chance of obtaining Social Security Disability Benefits at age 60.

Social Security Rules call claimants between 60 to 65: “Claimants Closely Approaching Retirement Age”.  In determining whether a person is disabled, Social Security must determine whether the claimant who is unable to perform the work that he or she has performed in the past, has skills than can be transferred to another occupation. SSR 82-41 sets forth a very strict transferability standard in situations where a Claimant is Closely Approaching Retirement Age (60 to 65 years old).  SSR 82-41 states:

 [T]here must be very little, if any, vocational adjustment required in terms of tools, work process, work settings, or the industry.

[J]ob duties of their past work must be so closely related to other jobs which they can perform that they could be expected to perform these other identified jobs at a high degree of proficiency with minimal amount of job orientation.

Therefore, a claimant who is over 60 is likely to be found disabled if he or she needs to take special training or has to make special job adjustments in order  to find a new job.

 

As an attorney, I use the legal presumptions contained in the Grids to help persons over 60 win their Social Security Disability Benefits. If you are considering filing for Social Security Disability Benefits or would like to know how your age might impact the possibility of obtaining benefits, feel free to call me at (855) WIN-Ramos or (855) 946-7266  and ask for a free case evaluation. You may also fill the brief questionnaire at the top right corner of this page and submit it to my office. I will try to get back to you within 24 hours.

Social Security Announces New Mobile Site for Smartphone Users

Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, announced that the agency is offering a new mobile optimized website, specifically aimed at smartphone users across the country.  People visiting the agency’s website, www.socialsecurity.gov, via smartphone (Android, Blackberry, iPhone, and Windows devices) will be redirected to the agency’s new mobile-friendly site. Once there, visitors can access a mobile version of Social Security’s Frequently Asked Questions, an interactive Social Security number (SSN) decision tree to help people identify documents needed for a new/replacement SSN card, and mobile publications which they can listen to in both English and Spanish right on their phone.

“We are committed to meeting the changing needs of the American people and the launch of our new mobile site helps reinforce our online presence and adaptability to advances in technology,” Acting Commissioner Colvin said.  “I encourage all smartphone users looking for Social Security information to take advantage of our new mobile site.”

In addition, visitors to the new mobile site can learn how to create a personal my Social Security account to get an online Social Security Statement, learn more about Social Security’s award-winning online services, and connect with Social Security on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest. For people unable to complete their Social Security business online or over the telephone, the agency also unveiled a new mobile field office locator. The new mobile office locator has the capability to provide turn-by-turn directions to the nearest Social Security office based on information entered by the person.

“With significant budget cuts of nearly a billion dollars each year over the last few years, we must continue to leverage technology and find more innovative ways to meet the evolving needs of the American public without compromising service,” said Acting Commissioner Colvin.

Each year, more than 35 million Social Security web page views come via smartphones.

Social Security is Now Accepting Claims for Same Sex Couples

Following the recent U.S. Supreme Court Decision in United States v. Windsor, the Social Security Administration has announced that it will begin processing Social Security claims for same sex couples.      
In the coming weeks and months, the Social Security Administration will be working with the Department of Justice to develop and implement additional policy and processing instructions. If you believe you may be eligible for Social Security benefits, we encourage you to apply now to protect you against the loss of any potential benefits.  Applying as soon as possible will establish a “protective filing date”; while waiting to file might end up costing benefits to claimants.
However, it appears that it will take a long time before the SSA establishes a new policy for processing these claims.  Anything that the SSA does must first be approved by the Department of Justice. 
SSA’s website has a link to information for same-sex couples: www.ssa.gov/doma/.