Social Disability Lawyer Blog

Stay up to date with the latest news in the world of social disability law provided by the Los Angeles based Law Office of Irene Ruzin.

Calculating your Social Security Disability in 2021

Calculating your Social Security Disability in 2021

If you're applying for SSDI benefits, then your disability paycheck amount depend on your average lifetime earnings before you became disabled. Unlike Supplemental Security Income (SSI) which is purely a need-based disability programme, the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) programme is purely a merit-based insurance programmer. The SSA d...

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Average Indexed Monthly Earnings for SSDI 2021

Average Indexed Monthly Earnings for SSDI 2021

How much you earned throughout your lifetime before your disability is the key factor in determining your disability payments. Although the severity of your disability does not affect this amount, income from other sources can. Unlike the supplemental security income (SSI) which is purely a need-based benefits programe, the social security disabili...

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Work Credits for Disability Benefits | 2021

Work Credits for Disability Benefits | 2021

In order to be eligible for SSDI one must be 'insured' by the SSA, i.e., possess enough work credits along with having paid FICA taxes to qualify. The Social Security Administration has both medical and non-medical requirements for a person to be eligible for receiving the social security disability benefits. One of the financial conditions for qua...

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Rules for the Trial Work Period for SSDI in 2021

Rules for the Trial Work Period for SSDI in 2021

Previously in 2020, any month in which a claimant's earnings exceeded $910 was considered a Trial Work Period (TWP). In 2021, this amount has been raised to $940 by the SSA. What is Trial Work Period? The Trial Work Period is the grace period granted by the Social Security Administration to its claimants who want an attempt to re-try to gain entry ...

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SSDI for veterans in 2021

SSDI for veterans in 2021

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides expedited processing of disability claims for veterans. If you are a veteran, you can file with a US Department of Veteran Affairs Compensation rating of 100% Permanent & Total (P&T). Military Service and Social Security Disability for US Veterans The SSA has been covering veterans with an i...

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Social Security Disability Surveillance

Social Security Disability Surveillance

Applying to a disability benefits program has gotten stricter after Trump administration's policy of social security administrators carrying out undercover surveillance of claimants to rule out fraud. Undercover Surveillance by Disability Investigators People who have applied for social security disability claims often find themselves under thoroug...

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The Social Security Red Book for The Blind

The Social Security Red Book for The Blind

The Social Security Administration has special incentives for people with partial or complete blindness. When you apply for disability, the SSA will assign a disability examiner (DE) to analyze the 'severity' of your vision loss. The Social Security has special rules in the Red Book for the Blind for people with significant vision loss. If you have...

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SSDI Rules for 50 to 54 Age Bracket | Grid Rules

SSDI Rules for 50 to 54 Age Bracket | Grid Rules

When it comes to social security disability benefits, age DOES matter! But, we have good news. If you have medical evidence to prove that your disability has a direct affect on your daily functioning, regardless of your age, then you are as much eligible for the SSDI benefit as any other person. Why Age Matters in Winning SSDI Benefits? American jo...

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President Biden’s Disability Plan Proposal

President Biden’s Disability Plan Proposal

President Biden's Disability Plan for 2022 could mean extra funds to improve SSDI benefits for the 74 million beneficiaries on the verge of bankruptcy due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year (2021) on July 26, America marked the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This ADA law has been protecting people with disabilities ...

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Does Autism Qualify for Disability

Does Autism Qualify for Disability

Social Security offers disability benefits for people with autism disorder having symptoms such as communication problem, trouble understanding what other people think and feel. Autism spectrum disorder affects how the brain processes information. People with autistic disability may have serious repetitive behavioral patterns, difficulty communicat...

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Does Social Security Administration offer SSDI Benefits for Psoriatic Arthritis?

Does Social Security Administration offer SSDI Benefits for Psoriatic Arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis develops after the condition psoriasis actually begins. However, later stages may involve joint pain, stiffness and swelling including the red patches (psoriasis) that appear on skin. It can affect any part of your body, including your fingertips and spine, and can range from mild severity to extremely severe. Meanwhile disease ...

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How To Prepare Documentation Evidence For Your Disability Application/Interview

How To Prepare Documentation Evidence For Your Disability Application/Interview

Navigating through the complicated web of your disability application requirements may seem like a daunting task – and rightfully so. Claims for the social security disability insurance benefits have skyrocketed over the last two decades, due to the exponential increase in the eligible number of people aged over 50 years of age. SSDI application re...

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SSDI for Claimants With Hearing Loss

SSDI for Claimants With Hearing Loss

Approximately 4 million Americans have experience hearing loss at some point in their lives. Being the third most common condition in the Unites States, getting SSDI benefits for loss of hearing ability is more crucial than any other condition. The Social Security Administration has a special section for claimants with a disability in hearing sense...

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Stimulus Checks for SSDI Dependents, VA Beneficiaries

Stimulus Checks for SSDI Dependents, VA Beneficiaries

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the biggest economic rescue plans in the US history. This stimulus check package is the largest-to-date in the whole COVID crisis. New Stimulus Payment According to the IRS, SSDI beneficiaries who have the required work credits are set to receive upto $1400 in stimulus payments. For eligible married couples...

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The Role of Vocational Expert in Your Disability Hearing

The Role of Vocational Expert in Your Disability Hearing

The disability hearings are critical of what evidence you may give to the administrative law judge (ALJ) to win your disability benefits. The testimony of your vocational expert plays a decisive role in the hearings. What is a Disability Hearing? Approximately 68% of SSDI applications are denied at the initial stage. However, that is not the final ...

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What Do You Need From Your Doctor To File For Disability Claims

What Do You Need From Your Doctor To File For Disability Claims

If you're applying for disability to Social Security Administration (SSA), you'll need your doctor's statement showing that you have been in fact unable to work for the last 12 months or more. You can take help from your doctor through getting them to fill the 'medical source statement'. While the SSA will at most times require a doctor's statement...

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Social Security Disability for Inflammatory Arthritis Disorder

Social Security Disability for Inflammatory Arthritis Disorder

Inflammatory arthritis is a collective term used for the inflammation of the joints. Factors behind the onset of arthritis may include a variety of factors such as age, injury, excessive wear and tear, obesity, and infections. Rheumatoid Arthritis vs Inflammatory Arthritis as a Disability Understanding how joints work help us understand how arthrit...

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Stimulus Relief Package 2021

Stimulus Relief Package 2021

To-date, the IRS had delivered upto 164 million stimulus payments worth $386 billion during the COVID-19 relief package signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021. This relief bill was passed by the Congress under the famous American Rescue Plan Act containing upto $1.9 trillion funds offering economic assistance to millions of individuals. Third ...

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Disability Benefits for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Disability Benefits for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is when body's defense mechanism gets upset and starts targeting the joint linings of own body. This may result in muscle and bone deformity, particularly targeting both knees, wrists and both hands. It also affects the skin, heart, lungs, eyes, blood or nerves. It can also cause bone erosion, making it impossible to carry out ...

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4 Things Social Security Beneficiaries Should Not Do

4 Things Social Security Beneficiaries Should Not Do

Earning social security disability benefits is like winning a merit-based lottery, with a chance of 1 in a million. However, while most people learn to remain vigilant about the rules while they're in the process, many disability beneficiaries simply forget to follow the rules, once they have won the SSDI benefits. The unfortunate part is, your SSD...

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