Reopening a Social Security Disability Application

Did you give up on an earlier application for Social Security disability benefits after it was first denied? If the answer is yes, it may be possible for your attorney to reopen the earlier application, which could provide you with significant additional past-due benefits. Time Limits for Reopening Your attorney may request that your prior […]

How to Describe Your Physical Limitations to the Judge at Your Social Security Disability Hearing

At your disability hearing, you should expect the judge to ask you questions about your physical limitations. Specifically, the judge will want to know how long you can stand and sit, how far you can walk, how much you can lift, and so forth. You need to be aware that there is a built-in problem with the way these questions are […]

Dire Need Requests for a Social Security Disability Case

Almost everyone who has filed a hearing request is shocked to hear that in the Albany, NY area the backlog is around 9 months.  That means that it takes about 9 months from the date that you file your hearing request until the date your hearing is scheduled. Almost all claimants ask if there is […]

Qualifying for Social Security Disability Benefits

People often wonder if they are disabled enough to apply for and receive Social Security benefits. To be found disabled, you must be unable to do any substantial work because of your medical condition, and the condition has lasted (or is expected to last) for 12 months or is expected to result in death. Federal […]

Submitting Your Application for Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income Benefits

You should apply for disability benefits as soon as you become disabled since it can take a while for the application to be processed. You can submit your claim over the phone, online, or in person. Here’s how to do it: Call the Social Security Administration (SSA) at 1-800- 772-1213 Inform the representative that you want to apply for Social […]

What Is A Social Security Disability Dire Need Case?

After a Social Security denial, a formal hearing request must be filed to put your case in line to be heard by an Administrative Law Judge. The problem is that hearings in the Albany, NY area usually take between 8-12 months to be scheduled. The Social Security Administration has defined a dire need situation which […]

GAF Scores And Social Security Disability

If you have a pending Social Security Disability claim and a portion of your claimed disability is from a psychological condition, a GAF assessment may benefit your case. GAF stands for Global Assessment of Functioning and is a numerical value arrived at by your mental health provider. GAF scores range from 0 to 100; the […]

Can My Social Security Disability Check Be Garnished?

Even if a wage garnishment order has been filed against you, your Social Security Disability check is exempt from garnishment. This is regardless of whether or not the Court has issued such an order. There is one exception to this rule and that is that only the federal government may garnish a portion of your […]

The Importance Of Mental Health Professionals In Your Social Security Claim

In my Social Security Disability practice in Upstate New York, it is common for claimant’s to have both physical and psychological conditions. Many times, a primary care physician treats and prescribes medications for both the physical and psychological aliments. While a medical doctor can prescribe certain medications for mental illnesses, we strongly recommend that our […]

What Types Of Benefits Result In A Social Security Offset?

In general terms, disability benefits which a claimant receives under a Federal or State program can be used in calculating a Social Security offset. This means that if such public disability benefits are being paid, it is possible that the amount of a Social Security benefit could be reduced. Private pension payments or private disability […]