SSA temporarily suspending dismissals for untimely hearing requests and failure to appear
Chief Administrative Law Judge Patrick Nagle of the Social Security Administration’s Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/about_us.html is temporarily suspending dismissals for untimely hearing requests and failure to appear due to Covid-19 according to the National Association of Social Security Representatives…
Social Security Disability Hearings: from Phone to Video
At the end of March 2020 due to Covid-19, the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Office of Hearings and Operations (OHO) moved from in person hearings to telephone hearings at the Atlanta downtown OHO, Covington OHO, Alpharetta OHO, Savannah OHO, Macon…
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Social Security Administration Is Not Acting on These Cases
During the COVID-19 pandemic from April 10, 2020 until further notice, SSA is NOT acting on the following cases based upon NOSSCR’s June 2020 newsletter. https://nosscr.org: 1. Medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) -This is good news for any adult or…
National Minority Mental Health Month
During the month of July, we commemorate National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month following the 2008 resolution by Congress. http://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Minority-Mental-Health-Awareness-Month/Learn-About-Minority-Mental-Health-Month This resolution honors the legacy of Bebe Moore Campbell, an award winning African-American author, journalist, and teacher, who helped to…
Raising Breast Cancer Awareness in African-American women
At a past fundraiser for the Sisters Network in Atlanta, GA, I learned of the need for breast cancer awareness in the African American community. Breast cancer is the most common cancer amongst all women. http://www.cdc.gov/ cancer/dcpc/data/ women.htm For women under…
Diabetes: How to win a social security disability case before an Adjudicator or ALJ
The Social Security Administration (SSA) eliminated Medical Listing 9.08. For complications from diabetes, this listing previously resulted in a finding of disability at step three of the sequential evaluation process for social security disability claims. https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/9.00-Endocrine-Adult.htm In fact, effective June…
Representatives have a duty to submit all evidence in social security disability cases to the Social Security Administration
Beginning in April 2015, the Social Security Administration (SSA) created new internal Hallex regulations requiring representatives to submit all existing evidence related to a client’s mental or physical impairments. In the past, representatives were not required to submit evidence that…
Social Security’s 80th Anniversary
Marking a Social Security Milestone August 14, 2015 is the 80th anniversary of Social Security. Few Americans working today can remember a time when Social Security wasn’t part of the social fabric of America. Since the Social Security retirement program…
How Long Can You Expect to Wait to get a Favorable Decision at the SSA Hearing Level?
If you are applying for Disability Insurance benefits (DIB or SSDI) under Title II and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) under Title 16 of the Social Security Disability Act, you quickly realize that this government program cannot provide the swift help…
Getting assistance in overcoming Military Sexual Trauma
I recently had the unique opportunity of dining with a group of women from the U.S. Armed Services who proudly served our country. As with female and male veterans whom I have assisted with social security disability claims over the…
Increase in social security disability hearing denials by ALJs
In recent years, social security disability attorneys have been dismayed by the social security disability program being under attack. Led by Oklahoma Senator Tom Colburn, media sources such as 60 minutes and PBS have circulated biased accounts of fraudulent Supplemental…
How to qualify for social security disability benefits with Fibromyalgia
Unfortunately, fibromyalgia is the type of medical condition that has been misunderstood by some Adjudicators at Disability Adjudication Services (DAS), as well as Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) at the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). Thankfully, there is Social…
HEARING OFFICES WILL ONCE AGAIN DISCLOSE THE NAMES OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGEs (ALJS) BEFORE HEARINGS ARE HELD
Effective April 20, 2013, to the relief of Attorneys/Representatives and some Administrative Law Judges (ALJs), the Office of Adjudication and Review (ODAR), will once again disclose the names of the Judges when hearing notices are mailed. Please see my prior…
THE FACES OF HOMELESSNESS-Giving beyond the Holiday Season
1. Nicole, a 28 year old female, was a refugee from New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina. Growing up with severe Crohn’s disease, Nicole had much of her small intestines removed at 9 years of age. Nicole’s mother was a drug…
How does the Social Security Administration evaluate SSI Child Cases?
There are four steps to evaluating whether your child is entitled to SSI child disability benefits. 1.Is your child working at the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level? Please see my blog dated September 18, 2010, www.kathleenflynnlaw.com for a more detailed…
SSA Representatives and Claimants will no longer know the name of the ALJs adjudicating their cases until they walk into the Hearing Room
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has begun effectuating its policy of concealing the name of the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) from the attorney and the claimant until they enter the hearing room. According to the National Association of Social Security…
Thirteen new Compassionate Allowance Medical Conditions added by the Social Security Administration
As mentioned in my previous blog dated September 12, 2010, the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Compassionate Allowances program moves the cases of claimants with specific medical conditions, classified as “the most serious disabilities” by SSA, faster. According to SSA, these…
Social Security Disability claimants get cost of living increase in 2012
Great news as the holidays approach! Beginning in January 2012, anyone receiving disability benefits will get a cost of living increase (COLA) of 3.6 percent. Thus, those who were found disabled by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and those who…
Filing Subsequent SSI (Title XVI) and SSDI (Title II, DIB) Applications
In the past, whenever one of our clients received an unfavorable decision at a hearing by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), the Law Office of Kathleen Flynn would appeal the claim to the Appeals Council (AC), as well as file…