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What is an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)?

ALJ is an acronym for Administrative Law Judge.  An ALJ is appointed by and works for the federal government’s Social Security Administration.  If your initial Social Security Disability application and request for reconsideration are both denied, you may file a request for a hearing before an ALJ. The ALJ hearing your case is an unbiased […]

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Social Security Prefers Disability Claimants Be In Treatment

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The fact that claimants should be in treatment, and be compliant with that treatment, is a critically important rule of the Social Security Administration.  This rule is based around the idea that the person filing for disability benefits appears most reasonable if they are doing everything they can do to get better, and even treatment […]

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Disability Rights Shouldn’t be a Political Issue

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Our national census tells us about 54 million people in the United States are living with a disability, which is about 1 in 5 Americans.  CNN’s research shows over 65 million Americans are taking care of family members with a disability.  One out of every four veterans returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq are returning […]

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You will Receive a Decision on a Disability Claim in 90 to 120 Days

Not necessarily.  Ultimately, the outcome takes as long as the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) or disability examiner needs to render a fully developed, fair decision.  The time frame may be roughly two to four months, but this is not a concrete time limit. There are a few reasons why one decision will take one month, […]

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When Are Social Security Disability Benefits Taxable?

When a person is approved for Social Security disability benefits, they could be liable for taxes. They can find themselves with tax obligations if they have other sources of income over and above their disability payment. If their spouse earns a larger income, that too can cause additional taxation. It is important that people who […]

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You Can Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits Online

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It easy to apply for disability benefits online through the Social Security Administration (SSA) website. The process is different for adults and for children. It may take time to collect all the information you need to apply for disability benefits. Because you may lose benefits if you hold your application until you have all the […]

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What Are the Social Security “Listings”?

The listings are rules that apply to specific medical conditions.  They direct a finding of “disabled”, meaning that Social Security must award disability benefits when the evidence shows the claimant has all of the necessary parts of a listing. The listings are meant to cover a wide range of physical and mental disorders.  For example, […]

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Can you be Awarded Social Security Disability Benefits if you have Ever Used Drugs or Alcohol?

Yes, it is still possible to receive social security disability benefits if you have used illegal drugs or alcohol.  The use of drugs and alcohol is definitely a factor that the state agency and an Administrative Law Judge will consider when deciding your case, but a claim will not be precluded based solely on a […]

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