Everyday People Matter
There are certain medical diseases or conditions for which Social Security disability claims can be processed quickly under a program called Compassionate Allowances. Recently, the Social Security Administration made the decision to increase the number of conditions that are covered under the program. About 35 new conditions were included in the program, and the list now consists of a total…
The use of software that uses electronic health records in the processing of Social Security claims could speed up the process of processing the claims, and reduce the amount of time taken to determine whether an applicant is eligible for a claim. According to a new report, the system was developed by researchers at the Wright State Research Institute in…
Sufferers of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) seek to promote awareness of this chronic respiratory condition during the month of November. COPD encompasses bronchitis, emphysema, and other lung diseases. Symptoms include chronic cough, shortness of breath and fatigue. COPD is characterized as obstructed airway through the lungs. This inflammation usually will worsen over time. COPD is also the third leading…
Now that the election is over, and we know that the Affordable Care Act is here to stay, Georgia must decide whether it intends to expand its Medicaid program. This summer, the United States Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act as constitutional, but left open the possibility for states to opt out of expanding their Medicaid program. Budget analysts…
The Social Security Administration is so overrun by pending claims that officials are unable to conduct adequate reviews of applications, compounding problems at the already beleaguered agency. A report released recently by congressional investigators revealed to Georgia social security claims lawyers that officials at Social Security are frequently overworked, and often, award disability benefits without conducting a proper review of…
The month from September 15 of October 15 is being marked as National Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the uniqueness of the Hispanic culture and the Hispanic community in the country. Social Security benefits are even more essential for members of the Hispanic community. The one thing that most Social Security attorneys already know is that Hispanics tend to have…
With all this election-year talk of “victims” and “47 percentages,” many Americans are understandably concerned about the state of Social Security and their continued eligibility for benefits. Last month, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which is a nonpartisan policy group working on policy and public programs that affect Americans in low and moderate income groups, released a report…
The Social Security administration has launched an online tool that is meant to help people who receive Social Security benefits to view their statements. The Social Security Statement tool allows you to access information if you can create a Social Security Account. You can create this online account at the Social Security Administration website If you have a Social Security…
I had an interesting meeting last week with Sheila Zipf of the non-profit Bobby Dodd Institute in Atlanta. The Bobby Dodd Institute (BDI) is “committed to reducing the unemployment rate by helping people with disabilities and disadvantages overcome barriers to work.” BDI works in partnership with governmental agencies and private enterprise to help train and place people with disabilities. BDI…
Dr. Frank Shelp, (pictured below) Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Development stepped down last month after three years overseeing a department overhaul. The new commissioner is Frank Berry, former CEO of View Point Health in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Shelp oversaw the overhaul of Central State Hospital in Milledgeville as well as the closing of other state mental…