The Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) oversees hearings and making decisions on social security disability claims. There are currently three offices that serve residents of New Jersey and eight offices that serve residents of Pennsylvania. Each office holds hearings in front of administrative law judges (ALJs) that conduct hearings and impart decisions on social security […]
Continue ReadingRecent News
Can I Be Fired While on Disability Leave?
If you take leave from your job due to a disability, the last thing that you want to worry about is whether your job will be waiting for you when you return. Yet far too often, individuals who are out on disability leave find themselves in a precarious position when it comes to their employment. […]
Continue ReadingNew Jersey, Pennsylvania, & National Disability Statistics
Health is something that many of us take for granted. Yet for individuals with disabilities, having a medical or mental health problem can affect daily life in dramatic ways. As our health status can change in an instant, understanding more about disability is vital to our overall safety and well-being. Disability Across the United States […]
Continue ReadingInsurance Companies Using Surveillance to Deny Disability Claims: Is It Legal?
Many of us view our insurance policies as something that is always there to protect us, and our insurers as an extension of that protection. Yet in reality, insurance companies are a business. Their job is to make a profit — not to give away money. Insurance companies that offer long-term disability insurance are no […]
Continue ReadingHow to File Taxes When Receiving Social Security Disability Payments
It may be a cliché, but there is some truth in it: the only things that are certain in life are death and taxes. But what happens when you are approved for Social Security disability benefits? Are you required to file taxes? Do I Have to File Taxes for My Disability Benefits? The Internal Revenue […]
Continue ReadingERISA Subrogation and Reimbursement
Being approved for disability benefits can be a challenging process, whether you are seeking long-term disability (LTD) benefits through work or Social Security disability benefits. For many people, seeking LTD benefits first makes sense, particularly because qualifying for Social Security can be a lengthy process. One of the concerns that may arise with seeking both […]
Continue ReadingHow Long Does a Social Security Continuing Disability Review Take?
Learn more about social security disability: How long will a review take? Do you need a disability benefits lawyer to help? If you receive Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA), you are already familiar with how complex the process can be. Applying for, and being […]
Continue ReadingAetna Disability Claim Denials
Buying long-term disability insurance is a way of hedging your bets — of making payments every month to ensure that even if you get sick, have an accident or otherwise become disabled, you’ll be covered. Yet far too often, major insurance companies like Aetna deny legitimate claims for benefits all so they can turn a […]
Continue ReadingStrategies for Winning Your Social Security Disability Hearing
If the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies your application for Social Security disability benefits, you have the right to appeal this decision. There are several levels of appeal, starting with a reconsideration determination. If the SSA denies your request for reconsideration, the next step is to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). […]
Continue ReadingNew Jersey Veterans Resource Guide
There are more than 340,000 veterans living in New Jersey. These brave men and women have sacrificed so much for our freedom and our safety, and yet too often, they are left alone deal with the aftermath of their service. Among the 340,000 veterans living in New Jersey are over 53,000 veterans with disabilities. In […]
Continue ReadingHow Can I Prove to the SSA that I Can’t Do Sedentary Work?
The process of applying for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA) can be confusing. To qualify, you first must have worked in jobs in which you paid into Social Security. Then, you must have a condition or combination of conditions that meets the SSA’s definition of disability. The SSA follows a five-step sequential […]
Continue ReadingWould a Dire Need Letter Help My Disability Appeal?
Applying for disability benefits can be a long and frustrating process. It typically takes the Social Security Administration (SSA) 3 to 5 months to make an initial determination on an application. If the initial appeal is denied, a Request for Reconsideration may take another 6 months. If the request for reconsideration is denied, then a […]
Continue ReadingPoor Form! Why bad form letters get in between you and the work needed to win your disability claim.
Social Security has one true love. That love is form letters. There’s nothing scandalous about this statement. The SSA is an enormous government agency responsible for administering complicated benefits to millions of Americans. That said, they’re not very good at it. Most of the calls we have with our clients are productive. We’re getting updates […]
Continue ReadingDo You Have to Answer Insurance Company Requests for Documents?
When you are filing a claim for long-term disability benefits, it can seem like you spend all your time gathering paperwork. Do you have the right to say no? Or do you have to answer insurance company requests for documents? In this blog post I will discuss the various kinds of papers and documents that […]
Continue ReadingLawyers should stop bragging about “success rates”
100% success rate, 97% win rate! We win 9 out of 10 of our cases! You see it everywhere. Attorneys are proud of how many injury compensation or disability cases they win. But, what are they really advertising? Are they suggesting that by hiring them you have a 97% chance of winning your case? Are […]
Continue Reading