As summer comes to an end, children across the Garden State are returning to school. This means streets and roads will now be occupied by large school buses at certain points throughout the day. As parents, when we put our children on a school bus, we are entrusting their safety to the school and the […]
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Updates To SSI Program in 2024 May Expand Access to New Applicants, Increased Payments to Current SSI Recipients
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced a new rule that would expand the definition of what’s considered a public-assistance household. It is anticipated the SSA’s new rule – which is scheduled to go into effect September 30, 2024 – will likely mean more people will be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and current […]
Continue ReadingLights… Camera… Law! Why Hollywood Needs to Hire Attorneys
We have all seen them and they have given us some of the most famous quotes in cinema…but you want the truth? Hopefully you can handle the truth. That truth being that Hollywood has historically misrepresented what it means to be an attorney. Portraying Attorneys in Hollywood Attorneys have been portrayed across Hollywood since […]
Continue ReadingThe “Social” Struggle: How Social Media Use Could Affect Your Social Security Claim
Comedian James Veitch once said, “The Internet gave us access to everything; but it also gave everything access to us.” Truer words have never been spoken. We live in a world in which we have access to endless information, perhaps right on a device kept on us at all times, and with just the click […]
Continue ReadingSocial Security Offset for Long-Term Disability Claims: What You Need to Know
If you were diagnosed with a chronic illness or suffered a significant injury that left you disabled and unable to work, you may be eligible for long-term disability (“LTD”) benefits. Receiving LTD benefits means you get a percentage of your pre-disability income. However, these benefits come with a potential catch – there may very well […]
Continue ReadingDisability Benefits and Multiple Sclerosis
More than 2.9 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), including close to 1 million people in the United States. Disability benefits and Multiple Sclerosis are linked in that MS is considered a “qualifying disability” to receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). MS can also serve as the basis […]
Continue ReadingTreating With Your Current Doctor After an Accident – A Cautionary Tale
Following an accident or injury, can you continue treating with your current doctor in lieu of a physician recommended by your lawyer? Of course the answer is yes. But, it may not be in your best interest to do so. To illustrate, let us say you are an accident victim who was already being treated […]
Continue ReadingVacation Injuries: When Injuries Happen on Your 2024 Summer Vacation
With summer just around the corner, getting hurt on your time off is the last thing on your mind. Imagine you are out for some sun and fun at the Jersey Shore and you trip and fall while walking on the boardwalk! Unfortunately, vacation injuries do happen…more often than we would like. What are the […]
Continue ReadingAppropriate Medical Treatment for Disability Benefits: What You Need to Know
To be eligible, you need records reflecting appropriate medical treatment for disability benefits. Adequate and continuous treatment is critically important to obtain benefits. When a prospective client contacts our firm about pursuing disability benefits, a common issue we encounter is insufficient records about the prospective client’s medical care, records reflecting sporadic treatment, or records indicating […]
Continue ReadingDependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC Benefits): What You Need to Know
The surviving spouse, child, or parent of a military service member who died in the line of duty, or died from a service-related injury or illness, may be eligible to receive a tax-free monetary benefit under the VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation program. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits provide a vital source of financial […]
Continue ReadingMeet the (Four-Legged) Support Staff at Bross & Frankel, P.A.!
Accounting Department: Franny – Accounts Payable Clerk(fierce lover & protector of all store receipts; somewhat bored with her position and often falls asleep on the job) Bruce – Snacks Receivable Clerk(can be found most frequently roaming the office looking for anyone who he can schmooze into giving him snacks) Management Department Mama – CEO & […]
Continue ReadingPotential Impact of Proposed VA Rating Change for Veterans with Tinnitus
Introduction The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is contemplating changes to how the federal agency rates various medical conditions, including tinnitus. The proposed VA rating changes could have a significant impact on new disability benefits claims, considering tinnitus is the single most prevalent disability among veterans receiving disability benefits. For example, in 2022, more than […]
Continue ReadingSuffering from a Disability? Why Honest Communication with Your Medical Providers Matters
Do You Need to Disclose All of Your Symptoms to Your Doctor or Medical Provider? Do you need to tell your doctor everything that is wrong with you? This might seem like a very ridiculous question, with a very obvious answer, – which is OF COURSE! Honest communication with your medical providers is crucial to […]
Continue ReadingQualifying for Social Security Disability Benefits with Down Syndrome
Understanding Down Syndrome Down syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs when an individual has an extra copy of chromosome 21. This additional genetic material affects the physical and intellectual development of the person. There are two main types of Down syndrome: Medically Qualifying for Social Security Disability Benefits with Mosaic Down Syndrome When it […]
Continue ReadingDo Any Conditions Automatically Qualify for Disability?
If you are disabled because of a medical or mental health condition, you may experience some level of financial strain. Fortunately, many programs can provide monthly cash benefits to people with disabilities. This includes Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Both SSDI and SSI are provided to Americans who cannot work […]
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