Legal FAQs
WHAT HAPPENS IF, AFTER I APPLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILTY (BUT BEFORE I AM AWARDED BENEFITS) I CAN RETURN TO FULL TIME WORK?
You can return to work if you have been unable to work for a year and your claim is pending. You must notify Social Security that you are amending your claim to a “closed period”. In other words, you should tell Social Security that you were disabled from the date you stopped working until the…
Read MoreHow Long Do I Have to Be Unable to Work to Receive Disability Benefits?
How Long Do I Have to Be Unable to Work to Receive Disability Benefits? This is a commonly asked question that I receive as a Social Security Disability Lawyer. Consider it a One Year Rule. Technically, you have to be off work at least six months for a condition that lasts for at least…
Read MoreWhat are Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits?
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSD or SSDI) is a payroll tax-funded benefit insurance program of the US government. It is managed by the Social Security Administration and is payable to individuals who are disabled and have paid enough Social Security taxes into the system to be “insured”. When you stop working, your eligibility for these…
Read MoreWhat is Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy is a right provided by Federal law to people in debt who need relief from their creditors and an opportunity to get back on an even financial footing. A decision to file should be made only after determining that bankruptcy is the best way to deal with your financial problems, and this article cannot…
Read MoreWHAT DO I DO IF MY SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION IS DENIED?
To file an Appeal of a Reconsideration Denial, you can file your Request for Hearing and Disability Report online at ssa.gov/appeals or contact your local Social Security office for an in person appointment. You need to file the appeal within 60 days of the denial of the request for reconsideration. So do not wait. If you are…
Read MoreHow long does it take to get a Hearing in front of a Social Security Judge?
Obtaining a Hearing in front of a Judge will take longer than the first two stages of the Social Security process. From the time you file a Request for Hearing, it can take a year or as long as two years to appear in front of a Judge. Partially it depends on the backlog of cases in…
Read MoreDO YOU HAVE TO REAPPLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS IF YOU FILE YOUR APPEALS MORE THAN 60 DAYS AFTER THE DENIAL OF YOUR CLAIM?
It is very important that you file an appeal within 60 days of any Denial you receive from Social Security. (SSA may give you a couple of extra days for the Denial to be received by mail, but you do not want to rely on this). You never want to start your claim again by…
Read MoreIf You Are a “Person of Interest” in a Crime and The Police Ask You To Come in For an Interview, Do You Go? NO!!
I had a client call me last week with a problem. Her nephew was being accused of assaulting a neighbor. There were no witnesses to the alleged event, so it was her nephew’s word against the word of the alleged victim. The reason that my client called was that the Police called the nephew and…
Read MoreNow that Irene has passed, how do I get the Insurance Company to handle my damage? Part I
So, you woke up the day after Hurricane Irene blew through (if you could sleep through the wind and rain) and the house is still standing (most of it, anyway.) Or, you were evacuated and you came back to assess the damage to your home, motor vehicles and all of your most beloved personal possessions.…
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