Is the New Social Security Disability System dead?

For those who aren't aware, the social security administration implemented a new program called DSI quite a while back. DSI stands for disability service improvement and the alleged point of the program was to improve the system for individuals who apply for either social security disability or SSI.

The "improvement mechanisms", we'll call them, were designed (again allegedly) to 1. reduce the time required to get a decision on a claim prior to the hearing level, 2. improve the accuracy of decisions prior to the hearing level, and 3. reduce the time needed to actually get to the hearing level.

If you haven't heard of DSI, that's because it was only rolled out in the SSA boston region, which is essentially the new england states.

Will you ever hear of DSI if you live outside of these states? That is the 64,000 question. And, from the beginning, my feeling was "probably not", due to a whole host of reasons. I won't relist my rationale on this issue, but, suffice it to say, I have written about twenty pages on this blog as to why I think DSI is unworkable, pie-in-the-sky nonsense that does not improve the system and, instead, makes the system potentially more hostile to claimants.

Here's an interesting thread on the subject at SSA connect, titled "Is the new disability system dead". I certainly hope so myself because, in my estimation, it wasn't going to offer any advantages to disability applicants, particularly those who are denied for disability and need to appeal.

Is the new disability system dead




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Google and You

I was very glad to read this story. And the story is -- Google will begin routinely discarding stored information that might potentially compromise the privacy of its users. My hats are off to them for making this decision. However, I doubt the decision to no longer store user profile information indefinitely is completely altruistic. It was, after all, the fact that Google did this that allowed the U.S. Department of Justice to subpoena information from the search engine giant. Needless to say, this caused the raising of eyebrows among those who would rather that the hungry eye of the federal government not be allowed to roam at will. Well, you can't give up in a subpoena what you don't have in the first place.

When in doubt, purge the data




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Does Giuliani like Chavez more than he lets on?

You really have to wonder about politicians. It turns out that the law firm in which Rudy Giuliani is a named partner...is lobbying for Citgo, a venezuelan-owned company controlled by the Castro-wannabee, Hugo Chavez. Is Giuiliani lacking in character because of this? I won't address that question. However, I do wonder about the character of his firm.

Rudy, is it true?











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Approved for Social Security Disability after the Medical Exam

Here's a question I encountered recently and it went something like this: "What are the odds of being approved after they send me to a social security disability medical exam?

Actually, there is no real correlation between being sent to a CE (CE stands for consultative examination and this is generally what people are referring to when they use the term "social security medical exam") and being approved, or denied, on a disability application or disability appeal.

These types of examinations are usually scheduled by disability examiners (the individuals who work at state agencies and make decisions on claims for the social security administration) and are also scheduled by administrative law judges (the individuals who conduct disability hearings. Why are they scheduled? Usually for two reasons. Either to investigate a claimant's functional capabilities (mental or physical) when no records exist to document this, or to provide recent medical record documentation if a disability claimant has not been seen by a medical provider in quite some time.

By and large, social security medical exams have no bearing on the outcome of a disability case. And they are typically scheduled so the adjudicator can fulfill his or her duty to fully investigate a claimant's allegations (the reasons cited for being disabled) and to satisfy the requirements of "recency" (evaluating a claim on the basis of recent medical evidence). Having said that, though, a couple of things should be pointed out.

1. It is "generally" true that after a CE has been attended, a decision on a social security disability or SSI disability case should be forthcoming (the private doctor who conducts the CE is usually allowed ten days in which to submit his CE report to either the disability examiner or the judge).

2. Failing to go to a CE can have an adverse effect. This can be labeled as a failure to cooperate and a case can actually be denied on this basis.




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John Inman dead at 71

I was not glad to read the news, but I was glad to see the story, simply because recognition was given to a wonderful comedic actor who has passed away. John Inman was one of the lead actors in a seventies british sitcom titled "Are you being served". I first started watching the show in the early eighties, and caught it on PBS reruns. PBS, before the plethora of cable shows that would come in later years, provided an introduction for many people of my generation to british comedy, which, needless, is quite a bit different from what we generally get to see here. Which is exactly the reason why so many british shows are copied and rebirthed here (Three's company was one of those).

John Inman




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I had a feeling this would happen

An official of the Iranian government has lashed out at the movie, 300, which depicts the exploits of the three hundred Spartans who made a stand at the battle of Thermopylae against the persian empire.

Well, since the Iranians are the modern-day successors of the Persian empire and since the persians of the fim were cast as decadent sycophants following a deluded despot, I figured the movie would ruffle some feathers in Iran. Turns out I was correct.

Nuttier than a can of Planters




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Mexico objects to border incursion?

This is some of the craziest stuff I've ever read. The mexican government is angry that U.S. border patrol agents crossed into mexican territory while trying to contain a fire in Arizona? Wow, these buffoons really, really take the cake. What's the bug up the mexican government's rear end? The fact that the U.S. government is beginning to pay more attention to the problems of illegal immigration, assuredly. Why does this upset the mexican government so terribly? Because they're addicted to exporting their poor to the U.S. instead of having to deal with their poverty problems directly. Of course, their failure to do so falls squarely on the backs of U.S. taxpayers and also mexican citizens who are struggling to find a better way of life.

Mexico objects to alleged border incursion over fire




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The check is in the mail

I read an interesting AP article posted no Yahoo news which stated that the state-owned Russian company that is handling the construction for Iran's first nuclear power plant will be delaying the reactor's launch due to payment delays.

Payment delays? Perhaps the Iranians are stretched financially. Interestingly enough, the monthly payments are only 25 million. For the Russians to be in sore need of such paltry amounts and for the Iranians to have trouble coughing it up says quite a bit. Perhaps even that Russia is bowing to international concerns over Iran's nuclear program.




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Social Security Disability Claim Denied the Second Time

"My social security disability claim was denied for the second time, what do I do?"

I've come across this question enough times to know that, before I can give the individual an answer, I need them to clarify what they meant---because the answer to the question will depend on whether the questioner meant to say:

A. They were denied on their second social security disability application .

OR

B. They were denied on their first appeal, which they filed following a denial of their social security disability (or SSI) application.

The distinction is very important, but, unfortunately, more than a few individuals get confused in this area. In fact, some individuals do, in fact, believe that when they file a brand new disability application that they are filing an appeal.

This is absolutely not the case. A new disability application is simply a new disability application and has nothing to do with a prior application. And, in most cases, it can disadvantage a claimant if they decide to start over with a new application.

Why? Because, by doing so, they give up their right to file an appeal. And appeals are almost always the best route to follow, because by following the appeal system, a claimant can get their case before a judge and, typically, have their best chance of being approved for social security disability or SSI disability.

So, what is the answer, or, rather, what are the answers to the question?

Well, if an individual is denied on a disability application, they should file for the first appeal that is available to them. This is known as a reconsideration in most states and in other states this is known as a review. To request this appeal, simply contact your local social security office and request the appeal (so they can send you the proper forms) or, if you have representation, have your lawyer submit your appeal paperwork for you.

If an individual is denied on this appeal (which is usually what most people mean when they state they have have been "denied for the second time"), then the next course of action should be to request a hearing before an administrative law judge.




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Veterans, Disabilities, and Inequities

Lately, more information is coming to light regarding disability claim backlogs within the veterans administration. As I've said before, its not surprising that the federal government would not have the forethought to get the proper resources in place for vets. That seems to be the same approach they take to everything else, including the social security disability and SSI benefit programs operated by SSA.

Here are a few relevant links:

Veterans are facing serious inequities in compensation for disabilities
Growing Claims Backlog Frustrates Veterans
VA Disability Claim Backlogs Mirror SSA Backlogs




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Coulter on her way out?

I don't know if the writer of the article linked below is right about Ann Coulter's star finally having fallen. However, I do know that you only get but so much mileage out of being a flamethrower. Ms. Coulter's hero, Senator McCarthy, learned that lesson decades ago. I guess we'll see what happens to her along the way. Frankly, though, I've never understood the fascination that segments of our society seem to have for this individual. I've flipped through her books and found no great reflections of logic or insight. I've listened to her and found her to be lacking as an orator.

Ann Coulter




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How do you spell Hypocrisy?

Some might say that you spell it G-r-i-n-g-r-i-c-h. The article linked below regards former congressman Newt Gingrich and his invitation to deliver the commencement address at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. What's very interesting is that Reverend Falwell seems to deal fairly well with the fact that Mr. Gingrich was cheating on his wife while he was occupying the high office of Speaker of the House of Representatives. The hypocrisy element? Speaker Gingrich was engaged in his affair while simultaneously pursuing an impeachment against then-President Bill Clinton. As we all know, of course, that impeachment was birthed from the Clinton-Lewinsky affair. The Gingrich revelation reminds one strongly of pots and kettles that are black.

Hey, its ok. She's my wife now"




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Disability Requirements - are they the same in every state ?

I spoke to a person recently who applied for social security disability, was denied, filed an appeal, was denied again, and then filed a request for a disability hearing (this is the second appeal that is available to SSD and SSI claimants).

Her concern was this. She had already waited six months for a hearing (hearings can easily take a year or longer to get scheduled---sometimes up to two years, depending on where you live) and was thinking of moving to a different state to be closer to relatives. Were the requirements for social security disability the same in every state, she wondered.

Answer: Yes, social security disability and SSI are federal disability programs and, when it comes to the principles of adjudication (decision making, or issuing a judgement), they operate the same way in every state.

What are those requirements? Here's another page from this blog that explains the disability criteria that applies to both programs -- Requirements and Criteria for Social Security Disability. And here's another page that may be useful -- Qualifying for disability

What should you do if you have requested a disability hearing and plan to move? After you have moved, contact social security and advise them of your move, updating them with your new address and contact information. Also contact the hearing office where your case is currently at and advise them of your move so they can transfer your file to the hearing office that now has jurisdiction over your case.




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For the sake of the family jewels, don't be a jackass

A couple years ago, I watched the first Jackass movie. Yes, some of it was funny, though, it really didn't take too long before the whole jackass schtick got a little boring. The thing that amazed me, however, was the apparent disregard these guys had for their physical bodies. I've injured my own back and my hand and, as a result, spent a fair amount of time recuperating and in pain. Pain, quite frankly sucks, especially when it keeps you from engaging in your routine daily activities, work and otherwise. Therefore, for this reason, I would never intentionally put myself in harm's way. OK, offer me a million bucks and maybe I will. However, in today's world, a million isn't what it used to be, so I probably wouldn't put myself in too much harm's way for a million. You get the drift, right? You should never enage in weird, potentially harmful stunts, especially when there is no rationale for doing so. I think most of us would agree with this.

Enter two idiots, one of whom sprayed the lighter fluid and lit the flame and the other who suffered burns to his hands and genitals.

Jackasses for real




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Obama barking up the wrong tree

You have to wonder about some politicians. Senator Barack Obama recently made statements in Iowa on the campaign trail that he supports relaxing restrictions on aid to the Palestinians. I honestly don't think that's something that will play well to the American electorate for a couple of reassons. Palestinians cheered in the streets the day after nine eleven. Palestinians also elected, as their government, a terrorist organization. And these facts are indisputable. Do innocents in Palestine suffer due to aid restrictions? Of course. But with regard to presidential race politics, I doubt Mr. Obama will get much mileage out of statements like this, particularly at a time when U.S. troops are committed to the field in Iraq. And, in fact, he may find that such statements are effectively used against him later when the race heats up.











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300 Spartans save Western Civilization at Thermopylae

I'm no reviewer but every once in a while I like to post my thoughts about the latest film I've seen. Last night, I saw 300, a highly stylized (think graphic comic book novel) account of one of the most important battles in Western civilization; so important, in fact, that it's been argued that the battle of Thermopylae may have saved Western civilization. In short, 300 spartans, the personal contingent of the king, Leonidas, defended the pass at Thermopylae against the entirety of Xerxes' persian horde. And they did this to the last man.

The movie was very graphic and presented in a way that reminded me of the approach taken by the producers of Sin City. The movie was also fairly faithful regarding the historical event, even down to the statement attributed to Leonida: "Eat a hearty breakfast, for tonight we dine in Hell".

Several things the movie did not point out or make entirely clear (even a good movie can't cover everything, of course) are as follows:

1. Aristomedus did not have a particularly good time when he returned to Sparta from Thermopylae. The Spartan way did not allow a soldier to leave a battlefield unless he was victorious or dead. Despite the fact that Aristomedus was sent away on the order of Leonidas, he was shunned for a year until the battle of Plataea when the Spartans lead a large host against the persians.

2. Leonidas and the three hundred went to Thermopylae to defend the Spartan people and Greece in general. However, the Spartans were remarkably different than the rest of the greeks; so different, in fact, that they bore little resemblance to the way we typically think of the classical greeks. Sparta had no literary tradition and spartans did not write. Even their legal code was communicated in an oral tradition.

3. The Spartans eventually faded as a power because their numbers were too few. They simply did not inter-marry with the helots who also lived in Laconia. As a result, after the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC, in which they suffered substantial losses, their power diminished.

4. Spartan women enjoyed more privilege than other greek women. They were allowed more independence, received as much education and held more wealth. In fact, women owned only a little less than half the land in Sparta.




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Applying for SSI Disability for a Child

I recently read something interesting in a forum. A mother stated that she had applied for SSI for her child. Due to her income, the claim was denied. However, she applied again at a later date and the SSI application was approved. Due to the level of her income, the monthly benefit amount was very low, only about thirty dollars. However, that didn't matter to her because she received medicaid for her child.

Now, what happened on her child's SSI disability application? It may be that the first disability application was not even medically reviewed and was simply denied to her income. This is known as a technical denial and such denials are issued fairly quick since a case of this sort will not be sent off to a disability examiner (meaning medical records will not be gathered and will not be reviewed).

She indicated that she filed a new application after the first one had been denied. I usually advise individuals to file an appeal instead of filing a new ssi disability application. However, in cases where a technical denial for SSI has been issued, there really is no point in filing a disability appeal (because there's really nothing to appeal).

This individual's case illustrates a couple of useful points. One is that you shouldn't take no for an answer when you apply for disability, even when you're filing for a child. Second, in the case of children, the monetary benefit is not always the only consideration. Sometimes the medical coverage is a factor that is just as important, if not more so.




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Senior Citizens and Dementia

A while back I read an article that kind of struck me. It focused on senior citizens and the risk of dementia. According to the article, loneliness may be a factor that increases the risk of dementia. That doesn't surprise me at all. Individuals who experience loneliness are more likely to experience higher stress levels. And, in fact, that turns out to be the mechanism the article speculates about---that individuals who experience chronic and protracted loneliness may also experience higher levels of stress hormones that put them at risk for a higher incidence of various medical problems, including an accelerated aging of the brain.

There's no doubt about it. Humans are social creatures and most need social interaction to be healthy, whether they're six or sixty.




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Genes cause children to misbehave?

Possibly, according to findings published in the journal, Child Development. The study involved 2,051 children and examined whether marital conflict played a role in the conduct of children.

The researcher's conclusions? That marital strife is less a factor for producing disruptive behavior than one's genetic inheritance.

What does that imply? Not really sure. Perhaps that, when looking for a life partner, a person should not choose someone who tends to be volatile and on a short fuse, both for the sake of their prospective marriage and for the sake of their future child's inherited characteristics. But, then, when it comes to looking for a mate, isn't this obvious?




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If Denied Social Security Disability ...

If a disability claim with the social security administration is denied, there are always those same three options. A claimant can decide to no longer pursue their case (in other words, they can give up). They can decide to start again with a new claim for SSDI (social security disability insurance) or SSI. Or, they can appeal.

In almost every situation, you'll want to file an apeal on your disability claim. Two basic facts regarding social security disability and SSI disability are that:

1. The majority of cases are denied at the application (initial claim) level.

2. Claimants who pursue their cases to the disability hearing level have a dramatically better chance of winning disability benefits (it is possible to win benefits at the first disability appeal step, known as a review or reconsideration, however only a small percentage of cases are approved at that level) .

Obviously, most applicants who are denied for disability should pursue the appeal process and have, as their goal, obtaining a date for a disability hearing And this, of course, means not giving up on a claim, and filing appeals instead of filing new applications.




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Disability Case Backlog at the VA

According to the first paragraph of this article, veterans of the military are suffering financial hardships and even bankruptcy while they wait on their disability claims to be processed.

This sounds a lot like the situation regarding the social security disability and SSI disability case backlog. In fact, it sounds remarkably similar. The VA has over 400,000 pending disability cases and over a hundred thousand that have been pending for more than six months.

I guess in general the processing of disability claims is not a high priority for the federal government.

Backlog of disability cases hard on veterans




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Seems everyone is going to the Moon these days

Here's a BBC article on the Chinese space program. According to it, the chinese would like to make a moon landing within fifteen years. Two things popped into my mind as soon as I began to read this article. One was the fact that if China manages to do this by 2022, that will be fifty three years since the U.S. landed its moon mission. My second thought, though, was this: would we even be able to do this today? I remember reading a few years ago that the archived blueprints for the saturn V boosters had been lost. I'm not implying that we'd need the saturns again. Technology has moved quite a bit since those days. However, doing a moon shot would take something different than simply orbiting shuttles. I wonder if we might develop (assuming we get to Luna again) some sort of an ntermediary vessel to leave from the International space station, land on the moon and then return. Doing that, of course, involves a whole other set of variables. Perhaps a straight shot to the moon makes more sense. But if it ever happens that way again, it will definitely require big boosters.

Which brings up another issue. Combine the chinese building large boosters with their penchant for transferring military technology to rogue nations. Doesn't sound like a good recipe. I predict that the chinese entry into space will have a very uplifting effect on the NASA budget, as well as the military space budget.

China and the final frontier




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Is it ok to give a bad restaurant review?

According to this article, food critic Craig LaBan visited a popular steakhouse owned by Alex Plotkin and dared to write that the meat he consumed was "miserably tough and fatty".

Now Mr. LaBan is being sued for his savage attack on Mr. Plotkin's cuisine. Wow. Remind me not to eat there. I'd hate to get a tough one, blog about it, and then served with a lawsuit.

miserably tough and fatty strip steak."




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Social Security Disability Lawyer Resources

I've written quite a few pages on this blog about social security disability lawyers, simply because the nature of the social security disability and SSI disability system is that, if your claim is not approved at the initial claim level (the application level), you will need to pursue the disability appeal process. And for most claimants, to get a positive resolution, this will usually mean pursuing a case at least as far as the social security disability hearing level where one would be advised to get representation.

Here are a few prior pages written on the subject of obtaining representation.

Representation on a disability Claim from a Social Security Disability Lawyer
Finding your Social Security Disability Lawyer
Social Security Disability Lawyer - can you afford one?
Social Security Disability Lawyer - can one help you win a disability case?
Will a Social Security Disability Lawyer decline taking your case?
Lawyers for disability - can they improve your chances of winning?
Social Security Disability Lawyer information - things you should know






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SSI Application for Disability Benefits

What is SSI disability, how do you file for it, and how do you win SSI benefits?

SSI stands for supplemental security income and disability benefits through SSI are mandated through title 16 of the social security act. SSI disability is, in most respects no different from social security disability benefits.

How are the two programs the same? With both SSI and SSD, you file an application with the social security administration and your case goes off to a state agency that has the responsibility of determining whether or not you are disabled according to SSA guidelines. In most states, this agency is known as DDS, or disability determination services (in some states, it is known as the bureau of disability determination or the disability determination division).

For both SSI and social security disability, the disability criteria is exactly the same. There are no differences whatsoever. And in either case, if a claimant is denied, they may utilize the same appeal system.

Now, how are the two federal disability programs different?

Here's how. SSI is a need based program available to disabled children and to adults (who either do not qualify for SSD or qualify for SSD but would only receive a small monthly SSD benefit amount). As a need based program, SSI takes into account certain factors that social security disability does not. For instance, SSI considers the assets you may have. Currently, to meet the non medical qualifications for SSI, an applicant cannot have more than two thousand dollars in countable assets.

With social security disability, there is no asset provision for eligibility.

Another distinguishing difference between SSI and social security disability is the counting of family income. With social security disability, the income of a spouse is irrelevant. However, with SSI the income of a spouse may be deemed (in other words, counted partially) and this may affect one's eligibility to receive SSI benefits. Likewise, a child who is disabled may or may not be able to receive SSI based on the income level of his or her parents.

A final and very important difference between filing an SSI application for disability versus a social security disability application is this:

You cannot actually submit an SSI disability application online at the social security administration website. Yes, you can submit information, but this only counts as a lead (yes, this is what field office staff actually call this) and someone from a local social security office will have to contact you about getting an SSI disability application started. In other words, if you think you are getting an SSI application started when you use the social security administration website, you're really not and you are not receiving the benefit of protective filing.

When it comes to SSD, or social security disability, the matter is completely different. You can actually file online at the SSA site and have it count as an application with protective filing.

However...even if you do this you will still, in most cases, have to be contacted by a local social security field office to A. clarify information, B. fill in gaps you might have left with regard to your application, and C. Be notified that release forms (SSA-827 release forms which are used for gathering your medical records) will sent out to you and that these need to be returned.




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Communism and Collectives

Here's an odd thought. I am currently watching reruns of Star Trek Voyager on the Spike network (who ever would have thought that we'd have a tv network with that name). Voyager is without a doubt my favorite incarnation of Star Trek since it embodies a lot of the spirit of the original show (ST:TOS) and manages to effectively blend humor, adventure, great fight scenes, and Gene Roddenberry's time-honored use of the morality play propped up against a science fiction background. And, to my mind, Voyager exceeds the original series in many ways.

Anyways (as Nacho Libre might attempt to segue), at this point in the Spike rerun of Voyager, Kess has left the show and Seven of Nine has become one of the show's regulars. Seven of Nine, of course, is a former borg and simultaneously an example of the apex of female development.

As a former borg, she often makes reference to the borg collective, an assemblage of beings who no longer possess true individuality but, rather, think with one mind and act with one mind. The collective seeks perfection and, to further this goal, the ships of the borg collective go around assimilating the technological and biological distinctiveness of other civilizations by assimilating them.

Now, here's the odd thought. If the borg were real, they would be the only example of communism actually working, because, as we know, in reality it does not work. It never has. And what is interesting about the borg collective is that, to get it to work, all individuality must be snuffed out. I guess the russians and the maoists just weren't good enough at wiping out the human spirit of their citizens, though, unfortunately, they were fairly successful at ruining millions of lives, mostly of innocents.




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Other Posts:
Social Security Disability SSI and MS, or multiple Sclerosis
Can you get disability benefits if you have never worked ?
Social security back pay
SSI disability
Social Security Disability SSI New York

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With these guys, there's always a fall guy

Scooter Libby joins a cast of historical characters who share one thing in common: they were all fall guys in Republican administrations. Libby's fate is reminiscent of Admiral John Poindexter and the Nixon gang. My question is, why do these guys always have to have scapegoats? Why can they simply never say "the buck stops here". Possibly because Truman said that and he was a democrat?

The buck stops with the scapegoat




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Social Security Disability SSI and MS, or multiple Sclerosis
Can you get disability benefits if you have never worked ?
Social security back pay
SSI disability
Social Security Disability SSI New York

---

Encroaching totalitaranism in France

The French. I like their food, the fries and cheese in particular. But would I want to live in a country that views free speech so differently than we do? No way.

I have to admit, I was a little shocked when I read the first few lines of this article. Here's the gist of it: the french government is intent on criminalizing the reporting of acts of violence by individuals other than professional journalists.

Wow. I guess it really isn't more than a skip and a hop from socialism to totalitarianism. Here's a scary excerpt from the article linked below----

"The government has also proposed a certification system for Web sites, blog hosters, mobile-phone operators and Internet service providers, identifying them as government-approved sources of information if they adhere to certain rules."

I guess, in the future, it may suck to be a blogger in france. Now that I think about it, I don't even like their cheese.

Losers





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Other Posts:
Social Security Disability SSI and MS, or multiple Sclerosis
Can you get disability benefits if you have never worked ?
Social security back pay
SSI disability
Social Security Disability SSI New York

---

Disabled - Social Security Disability ?

I came across a page on a site that mainly seems to concern life insurance. However, some of the statistics regarding social security disability seemed interesting.

According to the site, about half of all disability claims filed with the social security administration between the years 1992 and 2001 were denied. Is this true?

Actually, the denial rates for social security disability really depend on a couple of factors.

One of those factors is the state you live in. Yes, social security disability is a federal program. However, despite this, denial rates differ dramatically between the various states. In general, the southern states of the U.S. tend to have rates of denial that are significantly higher than the rates of denial in the northeast. Why is this? No one has ever been able to "put the finger" on the reason why.

However, few would argue with the fact that a "culture of denial" exists in many of the state agencies that perform disability determinations for the social security administration (each state has at least one such agency, and usually these are called DDS, or disability determination services). And it is certainly not improbable that, in some states, this predisposition toward denying claims is stronger than in others.

Another factor that plays into denial rates is the level at which a claim is at. More than half of all social security disability claims that are heard by federal administrative law judges are approved, while approximately seventy percent of all initial disability applications are denied (meaning, of course, that if you are denied, you should appeal your case, with the goal of getting your case heard by a judge at a disability hearing).





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Other Posts:
Hearings for social security disability - how do you get one
Will I have to go to a mental exam if I apply for disability?
Representation on a disability Claim
Will my child receive money if I get approved for SSI

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Will my child receive money if I get approved for SSI?

The answer to this question is no. In the case of social security disability benefits, if an individual is approved for disability, their dependents may potentially be eligible to receive auxilliary benefits based on what they contributed to the social security system, via their work activity.

However, this is not the case for SSI. The children of SSI recipients will not quality for such benefits. In fact, the only way for the child of an SSI recipient to receive a monthly benefit is for that child be approved for SSI disability.




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Other Posts:
Hearings for social security disability - how do you get one
Will I have to go to a mental exam if I apply for disability?
Representation on a disability Claim
Will my child receive money if I get approved for SSI

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Will your child receive money if you get approved for disability ?

This is a fairly common misconception, largely because it happens to be true in a percentage of cases. If an individual gets approved for social security disability, their dependents may (or may not) be eligible to receive auxilliary benefits.

However, this is not guaranteed and really depends on the earnings record of the individual who has been approved for SSD. In other words, whether or not a child may receive benefits will depend on what a parent paid into the system.





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Other Posts:
Hearings for social security disability - how do you get one
Will I have to go to a mental exam if I apply for disability?
Representation on a disability Claim
Will my child receive money if I get approved for SSI

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How long for a Disability Review?

I came across a statement in a forum in which the poster was feeling anxious because her continuing disability review (CDR) had taken more than three weeks.

Is three weeks too long for a review of a social security disability or SSI disability claim? No, not at all. Which brings, of course, the question: how long does it take the social security administration to review a disability claim?

Answer: on average, it takes just about as long to review an SSDI or SSI disability claim as it takes the social security administration to make a decision on an initial claim or a first appeal. And the reason for this is that the process does not change. In other words, the case will be sent to a disability examiner who will have to request medical records and wait for them to arrive before a decision can be made. And, of course, the process can be lengthened if the individual for whom the disability review is being conducted also has to be sent to a consultative medical exam (individuals are sent to such exams when additional medical information is needed).

So, how long does it take social security to review someone's disability case? As with an initial application for disability benefits, it can take weeks or months. On average, applications, of course, take about three to four months to process.




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Other Posts:
Social Security Disability SSI and MS, or multiple Sclerosis
Can you get disability benefits if you have never worked ?
Social security back pay
SSI disability
Social Security Disability SSI New York

---

Do they investigate you when you apply for disability ?

Someone in a discussion forum asked this question:

"When you apply for disability, do they investigate you? Do they send someone to follow you and see if you really are disabled?"

Some might find this question humorous. However, it is a reasonable question. After all, when it comes to workers compensation claims, a claimant may find themselves at the other end of a camcorder, being recorded as they take out the trash or bring in the groceries.

Fortunately, as social security disability and SSI are federal disability benefit programs, there is no profit motive to rear its head in the evaluation process. In other words, if you file for SSD or SSI benefits, the social security administration will not dispatch "hired goons" to watch your various activities.





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Other Posts:
Will I have to go to a mental exam if I apply for disability?
Representation on a disability Claim
Can you say the wrong thing during a social security consultative medical exam ?

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Can you say the wrong thing during a social security consultative medical exam ?

I read this statement in a forum recently:

"I have a CE examination for SS disability this evening. I am scared to death that I may say the wrong things".

For those who may not be aware, the term CE stands for consultative examination. A CE is sometimes referred to by disability claimants and potential disability claimants as a social security medical exam.

Why are CEs scheduled and will you have to go to one if you apply for social security disability or SSI?

Answer: consultative exams are generally scheduled by the social security administration when it becomes necessary to obtain additional medical record documentation. Most often, "additional documentation" is required when a claimant has not been seen by a doctor for quite some time or when it becomes apparent (to either a disability judge or a disability examiner) that a claimant may have a condition, mental or physical, for which they have not received treatment.

Now, back to the concern voiced by the poster. Can you say the wrong thing during a consultative exam? Actually, you can and this is how. If the physician performing the medical exam (these are private doctors who do not work for the social security administration, but, rather, are contracted to perform these examinations) inquires about your functional limitations or pain, you should not minimize your limitations or the pain you may feel.

Claimants, of course, should never exaggerate the extent to which their impairments affect them, but nor should they play down their limitations because this may work against them.

By the same token, when you see your own doctor, be sure to indicate how your condition affects and limits you as your doctor's notes will become part of your medical record history---and these medical records will be reviewed when your social security disability or SSI disability claim is evaluated.





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Other Posts:
Will I have to go to a mental exam if I apply for disability?
Representation on a disability Claim
Can you say the wrong thing during a social security consultative medical exam ?

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Representation on a Social Security Disability Claim

Do you require representation on a social security disability or SSI disability claim and, if so, when should you get it?

Answer: No. No one actually requires disability representation when they apply for disability benefits or file an appeal. The system is set up so that you can "go it alone" if you decide to do so.

So, let's rephrase the question. Should you get disability representation and, if so, when should you get it?

Answer: If you've been denied on your social security disability claim, you would probably be well-advised to find someone to handle your case. If your denial occurred at the first appeal level (called reconsideration or review), you should get a representative (a lawyer or non attorney, either will do) because the next appeal will involve appearing at a hearing to be held by a federal administrative law judge.

And if your denial occurred at the application level, you may wish to look into representation simply because most first appeals are denied (about eighty-five percent of them get turned down).

Should you get "early social security disability representation"? That is, should you try to find someone to help you before you even get denied? It depends on the individual claimant. Some claimants will benefit from receiving assistance on their claim from the very start, though others may choose to wait until later in the process.




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Other Posts:
Will I have to go to a mental exam if I apply for disability?
Representation on a disability Claim
Can you say the wrong thing during a social security consultative medical exam ?

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When do you become a liability?

When do you become a liability? I guess when you make comments such as the ones attributed to Ann Coulter in the article below. Whether you like her, hate her, vote democrat, or vote republican, it should be obvious to all that this flamethrower is not helping the party she claims to support.

Ann Coulter brays again

Actually, one of the posters at the bottom of the page sums up Coulter quite nicely. "Our reactions to her must make her feel giddy. To be ignored would be her worst nightmare."






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Other Posts:
Will I have to go to a mental exam if I apply for disability?
Representation on a disability Claim
Can you say the wrong thing during a social security consultative medical exam ?

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Disability Backlogs, SSA Budgets, Touchy-feely journalists, and Bamboozling Politicians

Will the social security administration be able to hire more workers in the upcoming fiscal year? At this point, no one really knows. What's fairly evident, however, is this fact: extreme disability claim backlogs are here to stay for the forseeable future. And to even keep them from continually rising in the short term would require the type of budget commitment that, thus far, has not been seen. Of course, what that means for social security field offices is not enough warm bodies to do the work. And as SSA is hit with more attrition, it means even fewer warm bodies to do larger amounts of work.

Here's a quote from Charles Halls' blog and a link to a post that concern SSA funding.

"This, along with attrition of employees who cannot be replaced, will cause backlogs to increase significantly throughout the agency between now and September 30."

Hall on SSA budget

And here is a link to an article on the disability backlog problem in Ohio.

Shocking backlogs

Sadly, its fairly clear that the writer of this short article has little understanding of how the social security disability system works. No amount of "vigorous intervention" by individual politicians will ever have an appreciable impact on backlogs. Only one entity can "right the apple cart" and that's congress. How does Congress do this? By increasing the SSA budget to allow for the hiring of more employees. It's that simple.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to get people to understand the problem when those who write about the problem have no real insight into the problem and, even worse, are so easily bamboozled. For instance, one of the politicians referenced in the brief article above (Shocking Backlogs), Republican Sen. George V. Voinovich of Ohio, mentions in a different article ( Ohioans struggle to survive awaiting disability benefits) the fact he held a hearing in March, 2004 about the disability backlog problem. And he states ""Almost three years after the hearing, I understand that despite progress in some areas, much work remains to be done," Voinovich wrote."

Is he serious? Much work remains to be done? How about---

A. Increase the budget and

B. Hire the right amount of staff for social security field offices and hearings offices so that

C. People don't go bankrupt while they wait on you clowns to do the right thing.





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Other Posts:
Will I have to go to a mental exam if I apply for disability?
Representation on a disability Claim
Can you say the wrong thing during a social security consultative medical exam ?

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Ghost Rider...How about "Sleep Walker" instead

Have you ever been to a movie where it seemed as if the only thing on the principal actor's minds was "where's my check?". I've seen more than a few movies of this variety and, unfortunately, Ghost Rider, falls squarely into the category.

That's it. That my review in total. The movie just plain sucks. However, here are some comments by film reviewers.

...a sodden listless mess

Ghost Rider is the worst movie I have ever seen

In any case, the movie is $120 million worth of computer-generated spaghetti thrown at the wall. What sticks is a colorful, mesmerizing, at times breathtaking mess





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Will I have to go to a mental exam if I apply for disability?
Representation on a disability Claim
Can you say the wrong thing during a social security consultative medical exam ?

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Reasons to buy a Boston Acoustics MicroCD system versus a Bose Wave system

Actually, there's only one reason in my book and it's this. I just bought a Boston Acoustics MicroCD system and this morning I lost the remote. Pretty easy thing to do, really, since its a credit-card sized remote. Luckily, however, as irritating as it would have to have not found the remote (you can infer by that that I did, in fact, find the remote), at least the player would still have been functional minus the remote.

Not so with the Bose. To achieve that minimalist look, the Bose is made sans external controls. In other words, you lose that remote and you are totally screwed.

Other reasons to buy the Boston Acoustics system over the Bose: sound quality that is just as good, great connectivity for hooking up to a television, and a caddy for your remote. The remote also has a magnet on the back so it will stay securely in place when you put the caddy/door in the up position.





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Other Posts:
Will I have to go to a mental exam if I apply for disability?
Representation on a disability Claim
Can you say the wrong thing during a social security consultative medical exam ?

---

Will I have to go to a mental exam if I apply for disability?

I recently found this statement in a forum.

"They may also ask you to go to see a shrink to determine if depression is a factor with your inability to work. Do they expect that one should be not depressed over all of this?"

Actually, it would be unusual for anyone who has to apply for disability to not experience some level of depression. The process is long, confusing, and somewhat adversarial. And most claimants, at some point in the disability evaluation process, are subjected to severe stress as a result of the financial implications of having to wait for months or years for a favorable resolution on a social security disability or SSI claim.

Will you have to go to a mental exam if you apply for disability?

Examinations that are required by SSA are known as consultative examinations, or CEs for short. Consultative exams are scheduled by disability examiners at the inital claim and first appeal levels, and by administrative law judges at the hearing level.

Why are they scheduled? In most cases, because a claimant has not been to a doctor recently. And in other cases, a consultative exam (often referred to as a social security medical exam) may be scheduled because a claimant's records indicate the possible existence of a condition for which a claimant has never received treatment.

So, to answer the question, a claimant will sometimes be sent to a psychological or psychiatric consultative examination:

1. if they've not been treated for their condition recently.

2. if there is no evidence that they've ever been treated for a condition they may have "potentially" have (for this reason, an applicant for disability benefits who does not allege a mental condition but shows signs of having a mental impairment, however scant, may be sent to a psychological exam (IQ testing), a psychiatric evaluation, or a mental status exam).

3. if additional information of a specific type is missing from the claimant's medical records (xrays, for instance).

Note the phrase in item 2: Potentially have. What do I mean by this? Here's what I mean---if a disability examiner or judge sees in your personal physician's notes the simple statement "patient seems depressed", then the adjudicator (the examiner or judge) may be obligated to send you to a mental consultative exam even if you do not claim to be depressed on your application and have never sought treatment for depression.

In fact, many disability claimants are very surprised when they are informed that they must attend a mental exam when they have filed for disability on the basis of a purely physical impairment, such as rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative disc disease, or heart problems.

However, a disability examiner or judge may be obligated to schedule a mental exam simply to ensure that the claimant receives full consideration for their impairments...even impairments they do not believe they have.




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Other Posts:
Will I have to go to a mental exam if I apply for disability?
Representation on a disability Claim
Can you say the wrong thing during a social security consultative medical exam ?

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Social Security still viable?

If you're of an age where news regarding the strength of the social security retirement program grabs your ear more and more, then this article may not be particularly appetizing.

Here's a quote from the artice: "Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and two federal commissions have suggested that Congress consider raising the early and full retirement ages as one way to improve Social Security's finances."

And here's another one: "We don't all have a great job like Alan Greenspan," who's 78, Cusack says."

And here's the link to the article:

The effect of early retirement and longer lives on social security





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Will I have to go to a mental exam if I apply for disability?
Representation on a disability Claim
Can you say the wrong thing during a social security consultative medical exam ?

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Bridge to Terabithia -- they really don't make too many movies like this anymore

I saw a movie a few days ago that turned out to be something other than what I thought it would be. The title of the movie (and book) is "Bridge to Terabithia".

I won't give out any spoiler details. But I will say that this movie is a good example of how a heartfelt story can trump special effects. And I say that because the previews for the movie showcased the special effects leading me to believe this film was something completely different. But, as it turns out, I'm very glad it was something different.

This movie should be good kids ages 8-15 and adults as well.

Here's a review of the movie by one of my favorite movie reviewers:

Bridge to Terabithia






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Other Posts:
Social Security Disability - losing your home while waiting to be approved
Will an attorney really improve your chances of winning disability?
Mistakes to avoid on Social Security Disability and SSI Cases

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Over twelve thousand disability cases backlogged in Ohio

Here's a line from the article linked below:

"The wait in Columbus seemingly was spurred by retirements of key staff members"

As I've said before many times before on this blog, the problem with the social security disability and SSI disability system is essentially a personnel problem (and, thus, a budget problem). Without enough people filling chairs (administrative law judges, hearing office personnel, social security field office personnel, and disability examiners), the work will simply not get done.

The problem is most severe, of course, in social security field offices and this is why---many of those employees, claims reps and service reps, are eligible for retirement. And as they retire, guess what? Are replacements being hired? No. The work of those who retire is simply being redistributed to the remaining workers, effectively making their lives miserable, and making them more likely to retire if they are eligible to do so (and, as we said, many are).

Here's how it goes: weekly meetings at social security offices are held to reassign workloads, motivate workers, and determine how to improve efficiency when the simple truth of the matter is that X number of people can only get X amount of work done.

Most social security officer managers, of course, do not have the backbone to simply say what the problem is, even though they know full well what the problem is, a lack of hiring to replace workers who have quit or retired. However, their reasons may be justified. After all, unlike a business, they don't have the authority to hire as the need arises, and neither do their bosses. Everything is tightly controlled from the top down (top down management approaches tend to result in inadequate responsiveness to changing demands and requirements and, in a business setting, can lead a company down the path to ruin).

Of course, the top of the hierarchy does not begin with the office of the commissioner of the social security administration, but, rather, with the group that funds SSA--and that is congress.

Columbus, Cleveland face huge backlog of disability cases






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Other Posts:
Social Security Disability - losing your home while waiting to be approved
Will an attorney really improve your chances of winning disability?
Mistakes to avoid on Social Security Disability and SSI Cases

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Hearings for social security disability - how do you file for a hearing

Hearings are an important step in the social security disability and SSI disability claim process for this basic reason: if you were turned down on your disability application, the hearing level represents your best chance for getting approved. While seventy percent of initial claims for SSD and SSI are denied, more than half of all disability hearings are won by claimants (the win rate rises to sixty percent for those who are represented).

How do you file to get a hearing? The process is very simple. After a case has been denied at the first appeal level (known as a reconsideration or review), a claimant may request their second disability appeal. This is called a request for hearing before an administrative law judge. To file this request, you only need to contact the social security office where your originally applied and state that you wish to appeal your most recent denial. They will then send you the appropriate appeal forms which you should immediately file and return.

A hearing must be filed for or requested within sixty days of the date of the reconsideration denial (known in some states as a review). However, you shouldn't wait at all. The hearings process is very slow and you shouldn't allow it be any slower than it already is.





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Other Posts:
Social Security Disability - losing your home while waiting to be approved
Will an attorney really improve your chances of winning disability?
Mistakes to avoid on Social Security Disability and SSI Cases

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Disability and Food Stamps

Again, some more very bad information from a forum:

"If eligible, you might also want to apply for Food Stamps. That will need to be paid back out of the lump sum check, but you will have some benefits while waiting."

Absolutely incorrect. The social security administration's disability programs (social security disability and SSI disability) have absolutely nothing to do with programs administered by the department of social services, such as food stamps. In fact, as a former disability examiner and as a former food stamp caseworker, I can definitively state there is no connection between these two programs. Moreover, individuals who receive this type of assistance are never required to pay anything back.

Good grief. Sometimes you have to wonder about these forums.





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Other Posts:
Social Security Disability - losing your home while waiting to be approved
Will an attorney really improve your chances of winning disability?
Mistakes to avoid on Social Security Disability and SSI Cases

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Rats at KFC and Taco Bell (literally)

I can't guarantee this link will be good for long since local news sites sometimes discard pages. However, if this link is no longer valid by the time you get to this page, simply go to www.youtube.com and plug into the search window the words "rats", "kfc", "new York", and "taco bell". I'm sure you'll find several copies of this video.

Caught On Video: Rats Invade NYC KFC






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Social Security Disability - losing your home while waiting to be approved
Will an attorney really improve your chances of winning disability?
Mistakes to avoid on Social Security Disability and SSI Cases

---

SSA Forum is now dead. RIP

I have to say that the moderator of this forum was a little contentious and irritable and, generally, did not provide much "positive" for the members of the forum. However, some of the forum's members, some of whom were current or retired social seurity field office claims reps or DDS examiners, provided excellent information, based on FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE (from their work within the social security disability system), to other forum members.

It would have been nice, of course, if the operator of this forum had kept it going. But I guess that was not to be.






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Other Posts:
Social Security Disability - losing your home while waiting to be approved
Will an attorney really improve your chances of winning disability?
Mistakes to avoid on Social Security Disability and SSI Cases

---

Social Security Disability and Losing files

Losing Social Security Disability files? Does it happen? Yes, without a doubt. I've spoken to a few dozen individuals over the last few years who were notified by the social security administration that their file had been lost. And, unfortunately, in many instances, this notification came after an applicant for social security disability or SSI had been waiting for quite some time on a decision at the application level or first appeal level.

When a disability claimant's file is lost, it has to be "reconstructed". And, in the past, this could be prove to be quite irritating to a claimant who was asked to complete new paperwork to replace lost paperwork. Fortunately, the use of E-files provides a safeguard against lost files, because now there is an electronic record. In other words, short of a systemic and pervasive data loss catastrophe, there's really no way to lose a file...unless your file is simply one that has not been scanned yet and migrated into the e-dib system.






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Social Security Disability - losing your home while waiting to be approved

Here's a link to a thread in a forum regarding an individual who is fifty, has throat cancer, is losing his home, and is still waiting on social security disability. Regarding the home issue, this is not an uncommon story and I've spoken to quite a few individuals who have had to worry about this while waiting on a decision about their social security disability claim.

Thomas, throat cancer






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New Blogger - Crap!, Argh! and $&%#& all rolled into one

If you do a search online using phrases that include sub-phrases such as "I hate new blogger", "new blogger sucks", "new blogger ruined my template", and "switching from blogger to wordpress", you'll probably find quite a few tirades about new blogger and the many ways it does, indeed, truly suck.

How does new blogger suck? Let me count the ways. No, I can't count that high (meaning it really sucks).

Let me begin by saying that I, like thousands of bloggers using blogspot (aka blogger) did not want to switch to the "new blogger". I had already been fooled once before by "new coke" and, wisened by that experience, I had no desire to be let down again.

Ahh, but google can be persistent and, unfortunately, persistent in a gangland mafia sort of way. One day, I tried to login to my blog, and was greeted with the blogosphere equivalent of "convert or die". So, to gain access to my blog, I did as the google mafia underlords bade me. I converted to to the new blogger.

Advantages to New Blogger? None that I can see. Disadvantages? Loads and loads and I won't go into most of them because the mere discussion of them tends to raise my blood pressure and that's presently too high as a result of the one problem with new blogger that I will discuss.

A friendly warning for other bloggers using blogspot. Check the source code of your pages. It could be that your pages have been inexplicably set to noindex, nofollow. This is an instruction for search engine bots to not index your webpages. Yes, if this set of instructions appears in your webpages they will gradually, as googlebots scour the web, doing their periodic caching of pages, begin to disappear. Not exactly what any blogger wants, I'm sure.

How do you know if this is happening? Well, if your blog pages go missing, that's a sure clue. However, you should check your source code. And I don't mean checking your template source code. Check the source code that that has been outputted to your produced pages. If you see noindex, nofollow on top of those pages you should take a deep breath...because you'll need it to scream as loud as you can.

The fix? Go back to your template and delete the blogmetadata tag at the top of your template source code. This will eliminate the occurrence of the noindex nofollow instructions being outputted to your pages. Unfortunately, this will also delete all your meta data. However, if you don't use a feed that may not be a problem. If you do use a feed or have other reasons for keeping meta data on your blog pages, simply copy your template source code BEFORE you make any changes and tuck this away as your safety code, in case you need to revert back to it. Then delete your blogmetadata tag from within your template window and then HARDCODE the metadata that you want to keep into your template source code. This should allow you to keep replicating the meta data that you want while eliminating the noindex, nofollow crap.











Other Posts:
Social Security Disability - losing your home while waiting to be approved
Will an attorney really improve your chances of winning disability?
Mistakes to avoid on Social Security Disability and SSI Cases

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Reports of lights in the sky seem to be accelerating

Unidentified flying objects. Lately, there seem to be an unusual number of reported sightings of UFOs. Is something really happening in the skies above...or is the level of tension in the world contributing to more occasions of visual phemonena being translated into UFO sightings? I'm not a psychologist and I haven't been privvy to first-hand sightings. In most instances, I would say that UFO "sightings" can be attributed to normal circumstances that yield a rational explanation. But I would also say "never say never".

Callers from four southern Somerset County towns reported seeing strange lights in the sky Wednesday night.



Additional information on Social Security Disability at www.disabilitysecrets.com









Other Posts:
Social Security Disability - losing your home while waiting to be approved
Will an attorney really improve your chances of winning disability?
Mistakes to avoid on Social Security Disability and SSI Cases

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More Frequently Asked Questions about Social Security Disability and SSI

Because social security disability and SSI are federally administered programs, they are standardized. In other words, if you need to apply for either type of benefit (note: SSA will determine which benefit program you may be eligible for), it makes no difference whether you file a claim in New York or California or Illinois or Texas or Florida or Ohio or New Jersey or Indiana or Michigan or Wisconsin or Pennsylvania...you get the point.

Unfortunately, however, despite the fact that SSD and SSI are standardized programs, the level of confusion that exists regarding the filing of applications and the filing of appeals is fairly immense.

This is another archive page for this blog and some of the posts may be helpful in answering either general or specific questions that you may have regarding obtaining disability benefits from the social security administration.

Additional information on social security disability at www.disabilitysecrets.com


Medical Conditions
Social Security Disability SSI questions
What you need to have when you file for disability
Partial Disability and Social Security Disability SSI
Why anyone can be represented on a disability or ssi claim
What are you paying for when you get a disability lawyer
Florida Disability Lawyers - Advice on Disability Claims
How to get approved for SSI disability
Is it hard to get approved for disability with Chronic Fatigue ?
Will the severity of a condition determine if you can get approved for disability ?
Is it easier to get disability if you are older ?
Can you change disability lawyers if you are not satisfied ?
How much information should you put on a disability application ?
Should you appeal a disability denial if your condition is improving ?
Is it easier to get disability if you are over fifty ?
Filing a disability claim - don't procrastinate, get it done ?
Disability Benefits based on back problems - degenerative disc disease
Hearings for disability
How long does it take to get a disability hearing scheduled ?
Can I afford a disability attorney for my claim ?
Can I win my disability case?
Can I improve my chances of winning disability ?
Can I win disability if I don't have health insurance and don't go to the doctor ?
If I get approved for disability will I get back pay ?
The social security disability process for disability claims
Will I get approved for disability if my doctor supports my claim ?
How bad should my condition be before I file for disability ?
Calling a congressman or senator for assistance on a social security disability claim
Mistakes to avoid on Social Security Disability and SSI Cases
A disability claim tip: Never never never call the social security 1-800 number
Obesity and Social Security Disability
Attorney for a disability Claim
Disability Claim denied
How to get disability
Disability Applications
How much can I earn and still receive Disability benefits ?
What is the difference between Social Security Disability and SSI Disability ?
How does Social Security decide if I am Disabled ?
Getting a Disability Lawyer - Information for Disability Claims ?
Do disabled children qualify for benefits?
How do I Apply for disability Benefits ?
How to get Approved for Disability - Information on disability claims
Appealing a Denied Disability Claim
What to do after a Disability Claim is Denied
Can you receive VA disability Social Security Disability and SSI ?
Disability Appeal Deadline
Disability Lawyers and Finding YOUR Disability Lawyer
SSI Claim for Disability benefits
Social Security Disability SSI and Pain
Discussing Social Security Disability in forums Part I
How long is the Social Security Disability Evaluation Process?
Social Security Disability Lump Sum
Statistics on Social Security Disability SSI Backlogs
Is Medication an Issue for Social Security Disability
Free Legal Representation for Social Security Disability or SSI claims
Will my disability case be reviewed after I am awarded disability benefits?
Checking the credentials of a Social Security Disability Lawyer
Disability Benefits for Mental Illness (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression)
Overpayment owed to Social Security Administration
The Social Security Disability Back Payment Lump Sum
A reconsideration with the Social Security Office
If your disability reconsideration is denied
How much can you make from work and still be allowed to apply for disability?
Anyone know a good SSD attorney around here?
Anyone know a good SSD attorney around here?
Can your doctor get you on social security disability?
Disability Secrets