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In order to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you must first demonstrate that you have a disability. Ultimately, the question of whether you qualify as disabled falls to the Social Security Administration, also known as the SSA. But how exactly does the SSA decide if you are disabled, and what happens if they determine that you do not fit their criteria?
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According to an investigation recently released by the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs, problems related to misdating led to thousands of mistaken payouts on PACT Act claims since the law was passed in 2022. In many cases, these misdated claims resulted in recipients getting more money than they should have, but in other cases, these errors led to veterans missing out on benefits they were otherwise legally entitled to. The report blames the issues on the complexity of the law, which created confusion about when to calculate the effective start date for beginning compensation.
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The Cost-of-Living Adjustment, also known as the COLA, is a critical component of determining how much people obtain from Social Security benefits, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Without it, these benefits would likely become quickly outpaced by growing costs for things like food, housing, and other basic expenses. But what exactly is the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security, and how might it impact you?
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It is estimated that there are approximately five million veterans who suffer from some kind of service-related disability, based on Department of Labor data. However, there is a substantial amount of variation in terms of what disabilities these veterans suffer, including both physical and psychological disabilities. Here are seven types of service-related disabilities that are commonly seen in military veterans who apply for VA disability benefits:
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One of the biggest issues that people suffering from severe medical problems have is knowing when is a good time to consider applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Fortunately, by asking certain questions, you can determine whether you might be qualified for disability benefits. Here are five questions you should ask yourself before applying for disability benefits:
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In a recent decision by the Supreme Court of the United States, it was ruled that the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims was not required to review use of the “benefit of the doubt” standard for most disability reviews. This standard is meant to typically favor veterans in cases where the evidence for or against a disability application is close. The decision means that it may be harder for many veterans to appeal their disability applications if they are denied.
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The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced a partnership with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in honor of its sixth annual “Slam the Scam” day on March 6, 2024. This event is meant to help raise public awareness of Social Security imposters and other forms of fraud intended to target recipients of Social Security benefits, including people receiving disability benefits. Anyone who is targeted by these scams should notify the OIG at oig.ssa.gov.
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Every year, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) receives close to two million applications for disability benefits. However, a majority of these applications are denied, often due to entirely avoidable mistakes that lead to otherwise valid claims being dismissed. Here are five common mistakes that disabled veterans make when applying for disability benefits through the VA:
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While there are tens of millions of Americans with chronic medical conditions, not all of them are eligible for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). That being said, it is not always clear where the line is between ordinary medical conditions and a legal disability. So when exactly does a medical condition become a legal disability according to the SSA, and why is it potentially important?
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Since the passage of the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 (also known as simply the PACT Act), an increasing number of veterans have been able to obtain benefits due to illnesses caused by burn pits. This was a major change for the VA, which often previously prevented veterans from obtaining benefits for burn pit-related illnesses. Here are five things you need to know about burn pits as a veteran:
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Western Suffolk County
44 Main Street
Kings Park, NY 11754
Phone: 631.269.1515
TOLL FREE
1.800.395.7830
MANHATTAN
Appointments available in our Manhattan office.
(One block away from Penn Station)
NASSAU COUNTY
1205 Franklin Avenue
Suite 330
Garden City, NY 11530
By Appointment Only
EASTERN SUFFOLK COUNTY
524 East Main Street
Suite 202
Riverhead, NY 11901
By Appointment Only
(Opposite Social Security Office)
