In a recent regulatory proposal, Social Security finally (forced by the courts) admits what many of us knew to be true in our hearts: Law firms are real, and Social Security law firms often use more than one person to help represent someone filing for benefits. I know I know. This doesn’t sound like something […]
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Government Report States the obvious: VA denies minority veterans’ claims at higher rate
In a surprise to exactly no minority vets fighting for benefits, a recent GAO report found that black veterans had the lowest approval rates among all racial and ethnic groups for their VA compensation claims. Even with that cynicism out of the way, the numbers were pretty surprising. The analysis, which spanned 10 years, showed […]
Continue ReadingWhat To Know About the NFL Players’ Disability Lawsuits
We learned this week that a group of former NFL players has sued the league based on an alleged pattern of denying disability benefits for both physical and psychiatric limitations. Living in the world of disability law, this doesn’t sound surprising, since it’s what I handle every day against the government and private and employer-sponsored […]
Continue ReadingWorkers’ Compensation vs. Short Term Disability
If you are unable to work due to an injury or illness, you may be wondering if you can get some type of benefits to cover your lost income. For many workers, there are two options for disabilities that are limited in duration: workers’ compensation and short-term disability benefits. While both are meant to help […]
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 ReadingQuick rundown of SSR 18-3p: Failure to Follow Prescribed Treatment
In this brief video, I talk about a new ruling Social Security published on October 30, 2018, making it harder for people struggling to follow their doctors’ treatment advice to obtain disability. The key takeaway – if a doctor prescribes treatment, it’s critical that you talk to that doctor if, for any reason, you can’t […]
Continue ReadingDoes the dropping of the “Asperger’s Disorder” diagnosis impact children’s SSI disability benefits?
According to the Associated Press, the diagnosis of “Asperger’s disorder” is being dropped from the upcoming revision to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual being worked on by the American Psychiatric Association for publication in May of 2013. However, parents of children or adults suffering from the impairment currently defined as Asperger’s have little reason to worry […]
Continue ReadingDisability Insurance: More Important Than Life Insurance?
By David S. Bross, Esquire While most Americans insure their lives and material assets, like their homes, cars, etc., many overlook the need to protect their most valuable asset — the ability to earn an income. According to Kenneth Podell, CLU, a financial advisor with Mass Mutual, insurance claims studies indicate that the odds of […]
Continue ReadingAre You “Insured” For Social Security Disability Benefits?
By David S. Bross, Esquire Julia Robertson (a pseudonym) is a 42 year-old mother of two. After earning her associates’ degree in nursing, she worked full time as an RN for several area hospitals for 14 years. When she decided eight years ago to stop working so that she and her husband could start and […]
Continue ReadingHow to Succeed in Your Disability Claim While Saving Your Life
By David S. Bross, Esquire In previous columns, I have offered mostly “nuts and bolts” instructions for filing and succeeding in disability claims. Here is a modest suggestion, which I think, kills two birds with one stone: LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR. This strengthens your chances of winning when you make a disability claim, while also […]
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