Blog
Rating SSA’s “4 Questions” is Art, Not Science
Posted on March 16th, 2020 by Francis Jackson
In a recent newsletter, we described the four key questions being used by Social Security to evaluate the severity of a range of medical problems. While these questions were initially used in mental impairment claims, SSA spread their use to virtually all neurological conditions and to many other medical impairments. Briefly the four questions are: […]
How To Win Claims For Chronic Headaches
Posted on January 2nd, 2020 by Francis Jackson
Headaches can be debilitating. Clients typically describe severe headache pain in the most desperate terms – including one claimant who would bang his head against the wall to try to eliminate the crushing migraine pain. Severe chronic headache pain can make sustaining full time work impossible and be the basis for disability benefits. Social Security […]
Social Security 2019 COLA Adds Little
Posted on December 3rd, 2019 by Francis Jackson
Each year, Social Security benefits are adjusted based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the 3rd quarter of the prior year through the 3rd quarter of the current year. This year, beneficiaries will be receiving an increase of 1.6 percent for 2020. Sadly, this hardly feels sufficient to keep up with […]
New SSA Ruling on Obesity
Posted on November 4th, 2019 by Francis Jackson
In its ongoing efforts to revise and refine the guidance given to Judges and Adjudicators on how to determine total disability, the Social Security Administration has again revised its analysis of obesity and its impact on the ability to sustain work activity. Historically, Social Security clearly felt that severe obesity was a critical issue and […]
Gender and Race Disparities Impact Social Security
Posted on October 2nd, 2019 by Francis Jackson
Women and minorities generally receive smaller monthly benefits from the Social Security retirement, disability and survivors programs. Decades long discrimination in wages paid to women and minorities translates into future decades of lower benefits. In addition, the “deeming” concept in Supplemental Security Income calculations often diminishes, or eliminates, SSI benefits for stay-at-home parents (most often […]