Everyday People Matter
On September 12, 2018, the U.S. Census Bureau released a report on poverty and earnings in America, emphasizing the major issues facing many Americans. The data showed that 39.7 million Americans lived in poverty in 2017, comprising 12.3% of all Americans, down 0.4% from 12.7% in 2016. The report also showed that the U.S. poverty rate has decreased since 2010,…
The Social Security Board of Trustees recently released their report for 2018. The report has few surprises for disability benefits attorneys–it predicts a 75-year deficit of 2.84% of payroll and that the trust fund will be depleted by 2034. However, the report released in June 2018 also estimates that disability rolls are dropping and will continue to decline in the future.…
The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides disability beneficiaries a number of tools to help them take charge of their benefits, including the Social Security Disability Calculator. This detailed calculator can be used not just to determine past benefits you received but also to estimate the benefits that you may be eligible for in the future. This calculator is available in…
If you are applying for Social Security disability benefits or are already receiving benefits, it is imperative that you create a my Social Security account. This is one of the most important tools that will help you manage your transactions. Opening an account is free. It is also easy and quick. To create an account, log on to SocialSecurity.gov/myaccount and select…
Older Americans, ages 65 and older, are increasingly filing for bankruptcy, with the rate more than tripling since 1991, according to a study from the Consumer Bankruptcy Project titled “Graying of U.S. Bankruptcy: Fallout from Life in a Risk Society.” Between 2013 and 2016, 12.2% of individuals ages 65-74 filed for bankruptcy annually versus 2.1% in 1991. This trend cannot…
Many Americans are currently satisfied with the growing economy. Unemployment is down. Currently only 3.9% of Americans list themselves as looking for work today; down from 4.9% in October 2016. Typically, in periods of low unemployment, wages are expected to increase. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, today’s real average hourly wage is $10.76 per hour. In October of…
Georgia does not require employers to provide for paid sick leave. Paid sick leave is not only important for an individual’s health, but also for one’s financial security. There are 34.2 million employees in the private sector in America without paid sick benefits. This not only affects the health of these individuals, but also their likelihood of living in poverty.…
New federal legislation will increase oversight of representative payees who manage Social Security disability payments made to beneficiaries. In most cases, Social Security disability payments are handled by the beneficiary himself or herself. However, in some cases, beneficiaries may be incapable of handling their own financial decisions. In such cases, a representative payee manages payments on behalf of the beneficiary.…
To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), applicants must be unable to perform any “substantial gainful activity” that pays $1,180 a month or $14,160 annually. This is roughly the income a minimum-wage American worker makes per year. Also, their condition must be expected to last at least a year or until death. The analysis of the data from the…
A major issue facing the Social Security program involves a lack of meaningful and current legislation to improve the programs changing and expanding needs. In 1982, under the Reagan administration, Congress passed a bipartisan series of payroll tax increases in order to ensure funding . Since then, Congress has failed to pass significant changes to the Social Security program, with many…