Everyday People Matter
In a recent report by the Kennedy-Satcher Center for Mental Health Equity, Georgia earned a “D” on mental health and addiction treatment equal to that for physical health. This corresponded to a score of 60/100, an evaluation based on Georgia’s statues that ensure equality of physical and mental health treatment. The report stated that more than 1 in 6 Georgians…
In the last month, I have received two very threatening calls on my cell phone from a person purporting to represent the Social Security Agency. The caller threatens me with criminal prosecution if I do not hang up and call another number. Admittedly, I did not not call the number because I do not want to engage with fraudsters. Even…
Early onset dementia or Alzheimer’s is a relatively rare type of dementia that typically strikes people below the age of 65. Approximately 5% of people currently diagnosed with dementia in the United States are believed to be suffering from early onset dementia. In most cases of early onset dementia, symptoms begin when the person is in his 40s or 60s. It’s…
The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines your name as a combination of your first and last names. The agency does not consider middle names or suffixes. Typically, the agency will consider your legal name to be as it appears on your US birth certificate. If you were born in a foreign country, then the name provided on your immigration documents…
A woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. Cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy can lead to extreme fatigue, and gainful activity is usually impossible during this time. Certain types of breast cancer, including unresectable or inoperable breast cancer, qualify for expedited processing of disability claims under the Compassionate Allowances program.…
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently added Superficial Siderosis of the Central Nervous System to its Compassionate Allowances program. This is a neurodegenerative condition that causes bleeding in the brain. Those with this condition suffer from deposits of hemosiderin in their brain or spinal cord, which can cause chronic bleeding. This often results in loss of hearing and progressive gait ataxia, the loss…
The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not require you to schedule an appointment to file for disability benefits or to appeal a disability case. However, an appointment can help save time on the processing of your claim. To cancel or reschedule an appointment, you can contact the SSA by calling 1-800-772-1213. Their hours of operation are weekdays between 7 am-7 pm.…
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently added Megalencephaly-Capillary Malformation Syndrome to the list of disorders and conditions included in its Compassionate Allowances program. This program allows expedited approval of disability benefits claims. Megalencephaly is a condition that is characterized by overgrowth of tissues in the body and abnormalities of the tiny blood vessels in the skin. A person who suffers…
Fibrolamellarcancer, a rare type of liver cancer, was added to the Compassionate Allowances program in August 2018. This program by the Social Security Administration (SSA) outlines a list of conditions and diseases that warrant an accelerated processing of claims. The Compassionate Allowances program currently includes 233 conditions, including five new conditions added in August 2018. Fibrolamellaris one of the rarest…
Tetrasomy 18p is a very rare chromosomal disorder that can lead to neurological impairment, muscular abnormalities, and a number of other complications that can severely impair the quality of a person’s life. The Social Security Administration recently added this condition to its Compassionate Allowances program. Typically, persons have two 18 chromosomes, and both of these will have a short arm…