Apr
18
2012

Social Security is Going Paperless…For Benefit Payments, At Least

Starting next year, the federal government will begin requiring electronic disbursement of many federal benefits, including Social Security Disability.  While many current recipients of Social Security get benefits electronically, all recipients next year will be required to do so.  Recipients will have the choice of direct deposit or a debit card for those without checking [...]

Feb
28
2012

Why Apply For Social Security Disability If You Are Collecting Benefits From A Workers’ Compensation Claim

You’ve been injured on the job. You are off work collecting temporary total disability benefits. You fully intend on returning to the workforce once your injuries have healed. So, no need to bother with filing for social security disability, right? Wrong. It is important to know that you are eligible to apply for social security [...]

Feb
21
2012

Are Social Security Benefits Taxable?

Tax season is officially upon us and April 15th will be here sooner than you know.  And many people want to know if their Social Security Disability Benefits are taxable.  I am not a tax professional or a tax attorney.  But I am a Social Security attorney.  The answer is that it depends.  It depends [...]

Feb
15
2012

Waiting Time for Toledo Area Hearings Improves

While many cases are still being sent to other hearing offices as well as the National Hearing Center, it appears that some Toledo cases filed less than a year ago are now being scheduled for hearing. Hopefully this progress will continue so that people in the Toledo area including Lima, Findlay, and Sandusky will have [...]

Jan
27
2012

Debunking Common Social Security Disability Myths

(1) Drug and/or alcohol addicts get benefits, why don’t I? As of 1996, it is not possible to receive social security disability benefits based solely on addiction. However, if someone is an active user, determination of their eligibility for benefits will depend on whether their use is “material” to their conditions.  In other words, if [...]

Jan
4
2012

Lima Hearing Site Closed – For Now

As part of their cost savings measures, the Social Security Administration has closed all temporary remote hearing sites.  For us, locally, that affects the Lima area.  Lima, Ohio used to have a temporary remote site where Administrative Law Judges would come in and conduct hearings so that Claimants would not have to travel long distances [...]

Nov
2
2011

A Compelling Reason to Vote

Election Day is upon us and I urge you to vote on November 8th or early vote and to vote NO on Issue 2. If you would like to vote early you may do so this week at your local Board of Elections: We Are Ohio – Action. Issue 2 is the referendum on Senate [...]

Oct
26
2011

Back To School Checklist For Students Turning 18

Parents of high school students turning 18 who receive Social Security benefits must be sure to check in with their local Social Security office to make sure the benefits continue beyond age 18 provided their recipient child is still in school. This information must be provided to the Social Security Administration. Otherwise, monthly Social Security [...]

Oct
25
2011

Social Security Benefits On The Rise

The Social Security Administration announced this week that it is doing something that it hasn’t done since 2009 – give it’s recipients a cost of living adjustment. Social Security really does not have much choice on whether or not to increase benefits. The system as it is set up is based on the Consumer Price [...]

Oct
19
2011

SSA To Require Eletronic Payment Of All Benefits

The federal government has concluded that electronic payments are not simply the best way to receive Government money; rather, they will soon be the only way.  The U.S. Department of the Treasury has a new rule phasing out paper checks for Federal benefits and nontax payments by March 1, 2013.  Moreover, effective May 1, 2011, [...]

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