The Compassionate Allowances initiative is designed to expedite the Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) approval process for applicants with the most severe disabilities and illnesses. Unlike the normal disability process which can take many months and sometime years, the approval process for those who qualify under this initiative can be completed within days. The original list of disabilities that qualify for the expedited decision process included 50 illnesses. As of March 1st, 2010 another 38 more disabilities and illnesses were added to the list for a total of 88 disabilities that qualify for Compassionate Allowance. (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances/).
READ MORE…
Disability Glossary
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is a term that is used by the Social Security Administration and Disability Determination Services (DDS) when referring to any work performed or intended for pay or profit by a person who is applying for disability benefits. The work must involve doing significant and productive physical or mental duties. When applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), your Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is one of the factors that will be used to determine your eligibility for disability benefits. Basically, if you are earning income from employment that exceeds a certain amount, then you may not qualify for disability benefits.
READ MORE…
The Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) handles reports of fraud, waste and abuse in Social Security cases.
READ MORE…
When you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you may be asked questions about your Activities of Daily Living otherwise known as ADL.
ADL are the things most people engage in as a requirement of daily living. This may include personal hygiene (bathing, dressing), meal preparation (breakfast, lunch, dinner), shopping (grocery and other shopping), and household chores (doing the dishes, cleaning your home, and doing laundry.)
READ MORE…
ODAR stands for Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. ODAR administers the hearings and appeals program for the Social Security Administration. ODAR is in charge of conducting hearings for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
READ MORE…
The Ticket to Work Program is a work incentive that is for eligible people who are between the ages of 18 and 65 and who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for a disability. The purpose of Ticket to Work is to make available training, job referrals, and other support and services to help you obtain employment.
READ MORE…
Electronic Records Express is a system that provides a way for medical providers and other organizations to send records electronically to the Social Security Administration and Disability Determination Services (DDS) for disability claims.
READ MORE…
When you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits you may receive a letter in the mail informing you that you have an appointment for a consultative examination (CE). Many people refer to a CE as a Social Security medical exam.
READ MORE…
When you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), there are different types of appointment letters that you might receive while your claim is being processed.
READ MORE…
When you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) there is a 5 month waiting period that needs to be considered. The 5 month waiting period means that you can not collect SSDI benefits until you have been disabled for 5 complete months. It’s a little bit of a mystery why the Social Security Administration (SSA) requires this 5 month waiting period. Many people believe that it is just a way for the Social Security Administration to save money. It might be a way to make sure that only people with long term disabilities will apply for SSDI.
READ MORE…
The Social Security Administration’s Office of Disability publishes a book titled “Disability Evaluation under Social Security”. It is often referred to as the Blue Book. This book contains the official List of Impairments and is used to determine if a claimant for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is eligible for disability benefits.
READ MORE…
A Medical Vocational Allowance, or Med-voc, is a term used by Disability Determination Services (DDS) when approving a disability claim that does not match a disability in the official Listing of Impairments.
READ MORE…
