Ultimate Social Security Disability Guide

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364186842012-01-26T14:57:53.419-08:00Ultimate Social Security Disability GuideIn this blog I will try to provide useful information to help those trying to get Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income Benefits. I am an attorney who handles these types of claims and I will attempt to provide helpful tips in your pursuit of disability benefits. The information is intended to be correct but not guaranteed. It does not substitute for direct conversation with a lawyer. This should not be construed as legal advice. Call me at 1-877-527-5529.Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comBlogger1441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-62267149081577529192012-01-26T14:57:00.000-08:002012-01-26T14:57:53.433-08:00Is The SSDI Program Sustainable?

Congress recently had hearings on the sustainability of the Social Security disability program. Chairman Johnson in his opening statement provided some interesting statistics. "The continuing growth of the program is striking. At a time when workers paying into the system has increased nearly 70% between 1970 and 2010, the number of people receiving disability benefits increased by almost 300%,

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-87127200980810594932011-09-20T11:11:00.000-07:002011-09-20T11:11:05.238-07:00Veterans and Social Security Disability Benefits

In this article, I will address the two questions I get asked the most by veterans considering applying for Social Security disability benefits. The question I get asked the most is whether or not you can receive both Social Security disability and VA compensation benefits at the same time? You can receive VA compensation and Social Security disability at the same time. That being said, it is

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-76056475352543969942011-09-14T19:08:00.000-07:002011-09-14T19:56:15.324-07:00How to Prepare for a Social Security Disability Hearing

For most claimants the most intimidating part of a Social Security disability claim is the hearing before the adminstrative law judge. In this article, I will explain some simple tips to help get you through the hearing process. Probably the most important thing is to make sure your file contains all your medical evidence and opinion evidence from your treating doctors. Opinion evidence can come

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-9530855735426899532011-06-12T15:21:00.000-07:002011-06-12T15:41:42.375-07:00Social Security Disability: Don't Sabotage Your Case

The following true story is from Tracey E. Cahn a very experienced SSDI lawyer who works for my law firm. This story illustrates how someones disability can sometimes hurt their case. It is also an example of how it takes a big heart as well as a sharp mind to practice as a Social Security Disability lawyer.There are disabled clients who are so desperately ill that they sabotage their Social

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-64860909576975877532011-05-10T20:47:00.000-07:002011-05-10T20:53:49.954-07:00How to Win a Social Security Disability Claim

There are many things you can do to win your Social Security Disability claim. I clearly cannot cover all of them in this one post, but I am going to explain two basic things that can help any disability claim. If you want to give yourself the best chance to win your SSDI or SSI claim you should read my full website on Social Security Disability. However, for those of you who preferred the

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-5958867902571329992011-04-07T13:08:00.000-07:002011-04-07T13:29:58.904-07:00Social Security Disability: Knowledge to Win

I was once asked in an e-mail why it is that a person who is truly disabled for SSDI or SSI and whose doctors believe this person is disabled, still has to lose twice and then is forced to get a lawyer before they win their case. The e-mail was implying that there's some sort of conspiracy to force people to get lawyers before they can win their claims. I can assure you nobody from Social

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-41649836812869739222011-03-27T21:43:00.000-07:002011-03-27T21:55:23.826-07:00How Long It Takes To Get A Social Security Disability Hearing Is Getting Shorter

It looks like Social Security is making progress in how long it takes at the Social Security Disability Hearing level. I recently added the national ranking report as of February 2011 to my Social Security Disability website. There were several things that really stood out and quite frankly shocked me. Not only have the national averages in days for how long it takes from the time you request a

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-22394388752019972042011-03-13T20:47:00.000-07:002011-03-13T21:04:14.534-07:00Lawyers and Social Security Disability Claims for Mental Conditions

Many claimants with mental disabilities do not have lawyers for their Social Security disability claim. In my opinion, if you are applying for SSDI or SSI benefits for a mental condition it is important to have a lawyer to help you with your claim. Whether you suffer from depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, anxiety, mental retardation, schizophrenia or any other of the many mental disabilities.

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-79734074362232827432011-02-17T20:59:00.000-08:002011-02-20T17:17:23.352-08:00Social Security Disability Press Releases

A new page can be found at my Ultimate Social Security Disability website. I was looking for topics to cover on my SSDI and SSI website, so I was reviewing the Social Security Administration's press releases. It then occurred to me that most people don't even know that SSA releases news fairly regularly on their website. As I started to review them I noticed that many of these press releases

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-89095529311278347272011-02-03T20:33:00.000-08:002011-02-03T20:45:37.118-08:00How to Find a Good Social Security Disability Lawyer

This post on how to find yourself a good Social Security disability lawyer will talk mostly about searching on the Internet for an SSD or SSI lawyer. I am going to talk about how to determine if the person or company you are considering is a lawyer or non lawyer advocate. I will also discuss the right questions to ask, as well as some frequently asked questions that are not particularly helpful

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-72406570242267091222011-01-15T20:16:00.000-08:002011-01-15T20:26:59.524-08:00Social Security Disability Versus VA Compensation. Who is Slower?

Comparing Social Security disability to VA compensation, in terms of how long the claim takes and how these administrative agencies handle cases, is like comparing the computers in the 80s to the present day computers. Although the Social Security Administration is far from perfect and the Social Security disability claims still take too long to process, the Veterans Administration is way behind

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-50991741712796020492011-01-05T20:04:00.000-08:002011-01-05T20:19:58.002-08:00Appeal Denied SSDI Claim at Application or Reconsideration

In almost all situations, if you want to win your Social Security disability claim you should request a hearing if you are denied at application in states that don't have reconsideration or if denied at reconsideration in states that do have it. This may seem obvious, but I have seen so many people come to me who did not appeal their denial at application or reconsideration in time and instead

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-16889194067918544192011-01-02T18:59:00.000-08:002011-01-02T19:19:29.636-08:00How Does Social Security Determine if You Are Working?

The first thing Social Security decides in a Social Security disability or SSI claim is whether or not you are working. If you are working then Social Security will find you not disabled at the first step of the five step test that determines if you are disabled. To see the rest of the five step test for disability you can visit my page from one of my websites that explains it in detail. Not all

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-29679576790949723322010-12-06T18:00:00.000-08:002010-12-06T18:09:26.962-08:00800 Numbers for Social Security Disability and VA Compensation

I am writing this post today because of some recent events in my own practice that were caused by my client calling the toll-free 800 number for the VA. What I will explain in this article also applies to the national 800 number for Social Security disability and SSI. If you have a lawyer you should never call the VA or Social Security 800-number to check the status of your claim. The purpose of

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-83396761919177920372010-12-03T21:09:00.000-08:002010-12-03T21:37:27.174-08:00Social Security Disability and the Holidays

It has been my experience that Social Security Disability and SSI claims decisions appear to slow down during the holidays. I believe this is because many employees of Social Security and Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) like everyone else this time of year have many things to do during this season. I have no statistics to back up my claim that there are less SSDI and SSI hearings scheduled or

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-33724937780960704002010-11-27T15:46:00.000-08:002010-11-27T15:57:42.329-08:00Why You Must Know as Much as You Can About Social Security Disability

Chances are if you are reading this you already realize the importance of learning as much as you can about Social Security disability, and how they will answer the question "are you disabled". Some of you may hire a lawyer so you do not have to try and learn something as complex as Social Security disability law. This is understandable for some of you who have disabilities that prevent them from

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-6154257144966423192010-11-21T21:32:00.000-08:002010-11-21T21:49:41.570-08:00Things to Know When Trying to Get Social Security Disability Benefits

In this post, I will talk about some things you should keep in mind when you have a Social Security disability claim. First, sometimes good claims get denied and bad claims win. This is true at every stage of the process and the decisions made at each stage. We sometimes forget that the Social Security Administration is made up of people. Like in all walks of life and jobs there are hard-working

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-904135711292078022010-11-11T16:50:00.000-08:002010-11-11T16:55:23.075-08:00Don't Let the Government Cut Your Social Security Benefits.

I spoke a couple weeks ago on this blog about how Social Security Disability and SS Retirement was going to run out of money sooner than you thought, and how I expected the government to see reducing your benefits and raising the retirement age as the way to address this problem. Well, I was reading on the Internet today that part of the president's plan was to do just that. I wish I knew where I

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-25952528441307010222010-10-30T18:25:00.000-07:002010-10-30T18:37:58.144-07:0050 years old or older and Social Security Disability

Many of you have heard that it is difficult to get SSDI or SSI if you are young. This can be true for many cases, and it is also true that if you are 50 years or older you may have a better chance of winning your Social Security disability claim. However, the advantage of being 50 years or older really only comes in to play when the work you have performed in the past 15 years was light or

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-70656327562680519392010-10-29T14:12:00.000-07:002010-10-29T14:26:03.895-07:00Your Social Security Disability Hearing

For many people, a Social Security disability hearing is the most stressful part of the SSDI or SSI process. I am here to tell you that this should not be the case, since if you have taken all the steps to make sure your case is ready for hearing this is possibly your best chance to win. If you are extremely nervous about your disability hearing and you have not hired a lawyer you should consider

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-69658713331490849002010-10-14T20:33:00.000-07:002010-10-14T20:49:32.615-07:00Depression, Chronic Pain and Social Security Disability

In my practice over the years, there is a mistake made by people applying for Social Security disability benefits that I see over and over again. Many people attempting to get SSDI or SSI suffer from chronic pain due to many different medical conditions. It is extremely common for someone who is suffering from chronic pain whether it be from a back condition, fibromyalgia, RSD, or any other

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-923322826802018852010-09-19T12:23:00.000-07:002010-09-19T12:30:46.182-07:00New and Improved Ultimate Disability Guide

My Social Security Disability website the "Ultimate Disability Guide" now has a new look. It still contains the great content that it always has on SSDI, SSI and even has information on VA Compensation benefits. If you are familiar with my website, please let me know what you think of the new design and usability of the Ultimate Disability Guide. Although there is some information on VA

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-66728439308209854752010-09-11T19:53:00.000-07:002010-09-11T19:57:56.432-07:00Thank you to our military and veterans for all you have done and are doing to protect this great country.

On this day September 11, nine years ago we were attacked and I want to take this opportunity to thank all those past and present who have devoted all or part of their lives to defending the United States of America. I remember the day as if it was yesterday and unfortunately it feels like many Americans have forgotten that terrible day. This post is to ask anyone reading it to thank our Veterans

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-23730481677946945832010-09-03T18:24:00.000-07:002010-09-03T18:45:32.652-07:00Difficulty Finding Good Information About Social Security Disability Law

I recently received an e-mail that best describes the problem with search engines and their ability to distinguish between cookie-cutter Social Security disability websites and real informative websites on SSDI and SSI. I received this e-mail today. "My name is N (name left out for privacy) and I would like to thank you very much for creating your web site. I am just finding your site tonight

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-27733942530154731042010-08-08T14:54:00.000-07:002010-08-08T15:06:27.822-07:00Social Security Long-range Financial Outlook Bleak

What will it take to get Congress to address and fix the Social Security disability system. In a Social Security disability press release it was announced that the combined assets of the Old Age and Survivors Insurance, and Disability Insurance Trust Funds will be exhausted in 2037. This projection has not changed since last year. Everyone in the United States government has known for years that

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-49320037053106831002010-06-30T17:49:00.000-07:002010-06-30T17:59:45.548-07:00Tips for a Social Security Disability Claim for Mental Conditions

If you are claiming to be unable to work due to a psychiatric condition either on its own or in combination with other physical impairments, in this article you will find some helpful information on how you can be found disabled for Social Security Disability for mental illness. Let me first say, that even if your psychiatric impairment is your most severe medical condition if you have other

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-75593077091181962552010-06-23T18:26:00.000-07:002010-06-23T18:33:17.401-07:00The Social Security Disability Process

I write so frequently about individual topics on social security disability that I often forget to include the basic big picture things. In this post, I will explain the Social Security disability process from application to US District Court. To start a claim for Social Security disability or SSI you must apply. If you are denied then in most states you would file an appeal by requesting

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-54703495948062649252010-05-23T15:29:00.000-07:002010-05-23T15:36:58.955-07:00Social Security Disability and Obesity

Years ago, the Social Security Administration eliminated obesity from the medical listings of impairments. I think this has caused some confusion. Just because obesity is no longer a listed impairment does not mean you cannot be found disabled based on obesity. Obesity is still to be considered in a Social Security disability claim as an individual impairment and the effects it has on other

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-25210019998824736632010-04-28T19:13:00.000-07:002010-04-28T20:02:09.745-07:00Where and How Should I Research Information About Social Security Disability

There are many places on the Internet that offer information on Social Security disability law. However, much of the information on the Internet is written by marketing companies and Internet specialists. In fact, most of the sites that you will find that show up on the first page when you do Internet searches through search engines will be from these sources. This is because marketing and

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-11988822875432599792010-04-09T17:56:00.000-07:002010-04-09T18:04:46.731-07:00Do You Really Have to be Out of Work a Year to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits?

Many people who read the Social Security "five step process" that determines disability will notice that it says to be eligible for SSDI or SSI you need to be out of work for a year or more or be expected to be out of work for a year or more. Let me start by saying, that this does not mean you have to wait a year before you can apply for benefits. However, many times when someone applies as soon

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-12265592579734845202010-03-31T19:36:00.000-07:002010-03-31T19:45:15.619-07:00What you should know about SSD even if you have a lawyer

Many of you have lawyers for your Social Security disability or SSI claim or you may be considering getting an attorney to help you. However, this does not mean you should simply sign the paperwork and wait to see what happens. Even if you have a lawyer you should have an understanding of how Social Security will determine if you are disabled. You should know the five step process Social Security

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-8186089114083525452010-02-27T17:47:00.000-08:002010-02-27T18:00:44.588-08:00How to Choose the Right Social Security Disability Lawyer for You.

For some of you choosing a Social Security disability lawyer might simply come down to first website you find or commercial you see on TV. Some people are looking for a large disability firm, while others prefer the personal touch of a smaller firm. In terms of importance to give yourself the best chance to win your SSD or SSI claim one of the most important decisions you can make is, whether or

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-1962972282581219362010-02-21T20:43:00.000-08:002010-02-21T20:56:45.059-08:00Social Security Disability for medical conditions of the back for people under 50 years old.

One of the most common disabilities claimed on Social Security disability applications is for back conditions. Some back conditions are herniated discs, arthritis, lumbar fracture, degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis. Many times, back conditions are just a part of your claim but on this page I will talk about disability for those whose primary disability is there back and the secondary

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-856864363834855082010-02-16T18:38:00.000-08:002010-02-16T19:15:36.104-08:00Is there any way to get a favorable decision at the hearing level without a hearing?

The short answer is yes. However, the one method I am about to explain is underutilized or not used at all by many lawyers and representatives and sometimes over used. It is called a requests for a fully favorable on the record decision also frequently called OTRs. This method of getting a favorable determination is not a good choice for all claims. When a lawyer decides to ask for a fully

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-55216676877358617862010-02-14T17:27:00.000-08:002010-02-14T17:58:18.417-08:00Social Security announces it is adding new medical conditions to its Compassionate Allowance Process.

The Social Security Administration made a press release on February 11, 2010 there will be expanding its list of medical conditions eligible for its compassionate allowance process. I have spoken about this process before which is very helpful for those who have very serious medical conditions. This is part of Commissioner Astrue's plan to help reduce the backlog of Social Security disability

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-63203706358618419292010-02-11T20:02:00.000-08:002010-02-11T20:17:02.349-08:00How to Win Your Social Security Disability Claim.

If you are reading this it is because you are applying for Social Security disability or you have been denied SSDI or SSI. If you are denied your disability claim then you might be saying to yourself what can I do to improve my chances of winning? Let me first say, there is no secret formula to win every Social Security disability claim but if you are disabled and unable to work there are certain

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-61571481749773103782010-02-01T19:13:00.000-08:002010-02-01T19:19:33.848-08:00Social Security Releases More Information to Public

Commissioner Astrue announced it will be making new data about Social Security available to the general public. This is part of President Obama's transparency and open government initiative. It is available at www.data.gov . I took a quick look at the webpage and I can tell you it is far from user-friendly at this stage. In the press release they did stay they plan to make the database more

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-23631820470790085062009-12-21T19:31:00.000-08:002009-12-21T19:51:15.812-08:00PTSD and Disability

PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder is a common disability in both SSDI (SSD), SSI and VA compensation cases. I will discuss what the symptoms are and were you can find more information about the disability benefits you are trying to get. So what are the symptoms of PTSD? There are generally four categories of symptoms. The first of these is the reliving of the event. This can come in the

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-33655329493466563382009-12-09T19:08:00.000-08:002009-12-09T19:31:10.633-08:00How to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits.

Applying for Social Security disability benefits is easy but winning at application is not. Many of you have heard that everyone loses when they first apply for SSD or SSI benefits. This is not true. However, it happens more frequently than it should because most people when they apply do so without getting a lawyer or doing any research into what they need to win their disability claim. If you

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-50706802391108186102009-11-27T16:08:00.000-08:002009-11-27T16:33:00.058-08:00Social Security disability lawyers and non attorney representatives

When trying to find and choose a Social Security disability lawyer the information out there can be quite confusing. Social Security disability claims representation has gone through some big changes over the last couple of years. Many of you might not know that there are lawyers and non-lawyer representatives. Not too long ago, SSA has made it possible for non-attorney representatives to get

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-20017356659138304392009-11-14T17:29:00.000-08:002009-11-14T17:41:28.354-08:00VA Benefits fo New York Veterans

As I mentioned in my previous post I am working on my veterans disability law site to include state specific VA benefits. Many veterans are familiar with VA pension and VA compensation but may not know that their own states have additional benefits available to veterans who are residents of that state. I have previously finished two pages on VA benefits in New Jersey and I have just completed two

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-90644614395868177672009-10-30T19:51:00.000-07:002009-11-01T19:24:00.352-08:00New Jersey VA compensation lawyer

I represent VA compensation cases all over the country and it recently occurred to me that I have never written that my office is located in New Jersey. Because I do not advertise myself as a New Jersey VA compensation lawyer I realized I had neglected to let NJ veterans know that I am a local VA disability compensation lawyer. I plan to write a page on my VA website about each state and VA

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-36307986830160063862009-10-16T14:13:00.000-07:002009-10-16T16:18:22.737-07:00VA Individual Unemployability Claims, TDIU, IU

If a veteran can not perform gainful employment due to his or her service connected disabilities the the veteran can receive disability benefits at the rate of 100% even if the service connected disability or disabilities does not add up to 100%. A veteran can do this by applying for total disability based on individual unemployability. To be eligible for this type of claim a veteran in most

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-87535492836978941712009-09-28T18:30:00.000-07:002009-09-28T18:45:52.310-07:00I have recently started another Social Security disability website.

I write quite a bit on the Internet and recently started a new website on Social Security disability. It does not have nearly as much information as my ultimate disability guide website but I am in the early stages of developing it. I decided to start a new website because although my main informational website is full of great information and tips on getting your SSD and SSI disability benefits

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-48976385704034631872009-09-06T19:44:00.000-07:002009-09-06T20:09:03.673-07:00What about Social Security?

The big debate today is about what to do about medical coverage in this country. This is an extremely important issue, but what concerns me is that politicians still seem to be avoiding the fact that the Social Security system is running out of money to pay benefits. For years politicians have known that the Social Security system, which most workers pay into and rely on for retirement or if they

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-74809410058176455852009-07-28T18:00:00.000-07:002009-07-28T18:55:09.031-07:00Things you can do on the Social Security Administration website.

I answer many e-mails each day. In this post I am going to try and answer some of the more common questions I get about how to do certain things as it relates to a Social Security Disability claim. I will post the question and then give you a link to the page on the Social Security Administration website where you can get your answer or handle the task you are looking to do. One question that is

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-52612747705332770502009-06-27T18:18:00.000-07:002009-06-27T18:26:38.631-07:00SSA Will Open New Call Center

Commissioner Astrue has announced on June 22, 2009 that Social Security will be opening a new phone center in Jackson, Tennessee. It has been 10 years since Social Security has opened a new call center. These call centers handle all of the calls that come in on SSA's toll-free number. The toll-free number is 1-800-772-1213. Anyone who has ever called this number looking for Social Security

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-75462130991371831572009-06-17T17:55:00.000-07:002009-06-17T18:03:13.126-07:00Should you list obesity on your SSDI application?

I was at the airport today waiting for my delayed flight when I heard on the TV monitor above me a piece on one of the major news networks about whether or not obesity should be considered a disability. I listened to the segment and viewer comments that were posted by e-mail. This led me to decide to write a blog on this subject and how it applies to Social Security disability. Obesity is no

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-63774284753628412202009-06-10T17:34:00.000-07:002009-06-10T17:39:50.486-07:00SSA Commissioner Receives Award.

Commissioner Astrue received the public health leadership reward from the National Organization of Rare Disorders. The commissioner's implementation of the compassionate allowance in social security disability claims and, other initiatives to shorten the amount of time people with disabilities have to wait to get a decision, appears to be one of the reasons he was given this award. The

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-42619094154133001412009-06-02T13:24:00.000-07:002009-06-02T13:43:02.294-07:00Social Security Disability Hearing: How to Prepare to Win.

If you are not represented by a lawyer and your hearing is scheduled it is a good idea to make sure you get a copy of your file from Social Security and review it. Most files today are on a disk. When your hearing is scheduled you are supposed to receive a copy of your file with this hearing notice. If you did not receive a copy of your file you should contact the hearing office (ODAR) and

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-64428349448566077852009-05-27T14:23:00.000-07:002009-05-27T14:32:46.800-07:00Are Social Security Disability Hearing Backlogs Being Reduced?

As of March 2009 Social Security has had a drop in the number of disability hearings pending for three straight months. However, the number of applicants requesting a hearing has increased this year. The probable culprit is the lagging economy and baby boomer generation. This year the number of hearing requests is up 10% compared to last year. More bad news, there is also an increase in cases at

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-62103608927638066992009-05-16T18:12:00.000-07:002009-05-16T18:23:57.059-07:00Efforts to Reduce Social Security Disability Hearing Wait Times

Anyone with a Social Security disability claim and the lawyers that help them all know that it takes way too long to get a hearing. The good news, is that as part of the stimulus package the Social Security Administration will be receiving additional funds to open new hearing offices and hire additional employees including administrative law judges. The increase funding should also help with SSDI

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-51285108484660841782009-04-28T19:23:00.000-07:002009-04-28T19:34:10.053-07:00Plan to eliminate backlogs for SSDI and SSI hearings.

The Social Security Administration under Commissioner Astrue has announced its strategic goal for eliminating hearings backlog and preventing its recurrence. It stated goals are to reduce the number of pending hearings to 466,000 by fiscal year 2013. Reduce the time it takes an individual to receive a hearing decision to an average of 270 days. Increase productivity by automating labor-intensive

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-65220863532838668422009-04-19T17:28:00.000-07:002009-04-19T17:37:04.254-07:00Social Security Disability for Cancer

This blog will address cancer and Social Security Disability. Many people who are diagnosed with cancer and apply for SSDI or SSI benefits are surprised and shocked when they are denied by Social Security. What many people don't realize is that even if you are given a diagnosis as serious as cancer you still have to prove under Social Security's rules that you are disabled. It is important that

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-43683962052560763772009-04-14T18:01:00.000-07:002009-04-14T19:15:36.052-07:00How do I find a Social Security Disability Lawyer?

To answer this question I will try and explain the different types of lawyers and representatives that are out there. There are big nationwide non-attorney companies. There are also big law firms that handle cases nationwide. You will also find local solo practitioners some who practice exclusively in social security disability and others who handle many types of law. You also have every other

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-69546350572812430672009-03-16T17:42:00.000-07:002009-03-16T17:58:38.565-07:00The stimulus package and its effect on Social Security disability and its beneficiaries.

The stimulus bill for 2009 is expected to have added funding for the Social Security Administration. Hopefully, this will help SSA deal with the increasing number of cases and the present backlog. It is also anticipated that the president a request a significant increase in funding for the SSA program in the 2010 budget. Also, as part of the stimulus package those of you receiving SSI and SSDI

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-43865186233776244592009-03-01T18:09:00.000-08:002009-03-01T18:13:45.740-08:00Social Security Disability and the medical listing of impairments

If you are applying for Social Security disability benefits it is important that you read the medical listing of impairments for your particular medical condition to see if you may meet or equal any of these listings. If you feel you may meet or equal one of the listed impairments, you then should take a copy of the listing that you feel you meet and ask your doctor's opinion. If your doctor

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-73962309360663988512009-02-21T17:26:00.000-08:002009-02-21T17:32:03.698-08:00The Basics of Disability Claims

If you are trying to win a disability claim whether it be Social Security disability or veterans compensation there are certain things you should do to give yourself the best chance to win. In this post I will not get into the details of a Social Security disability or VA disability claim but rather talk about general things you should do in either type of claim. Many of the things I will mention

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-2657605662970318622009-01-31T19:42:00.000-08:002009-01-31T19:47:24.938-08:00Looking for answers to your Social Security Disability Disability questions?

I have recently added a customized Google search function to my ultimate disability guide website. The Google search bar has been set up to only search my disability websites and blogs to help you find the information you are looking for for your disability claim. I decided to add this because many of you have e-mailed me that you wish you had a way to search for answers to your questions on SSDI

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-16414619903328823242008-12-31T18:19:00.000-08:002008-12-31T18:23:37.181-08:00VA doctors and SSDI claims.

There is good news for veterans who have had difficulty getting their VA medical providers to provide medical evidence for their Social Security disability claims. According to the NOSSCR Forum dated December 2008 there is a new VHA directive 2008-071. This directive makes it clear that VA medical providers are required to provide veterans with completed medical forms for non-VA issues. This is

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-43804326412558576802008-12-10T19:13:00.000-08:002008-12-10T19:21:07.414-08:00Doctors nexus letter in a VA disability claim.

Many veterans applying for veterans compensation benefits are aware that a nexus letter from their doctor can help prove service connection in their disability case. What I have found however, is that many nexus letters are inadequate and often times are given little weight by the VA. It is my personal opinion, that the VA relies too heavily on specific wording and other elements of the letter

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-69479867724665611042008-12-05T19:47:00.000-08:002008-12-05T19:49:42.075-08:00The Economy and Social Security Disability.

What do you do if you are presently working with a medical condition that causes you disabilities and you are lucky enough to be in the company that accommodates those disabilities but now you are concerned there may be layoffs at your company? This is a question facing thousands of Americans with disabilities. These fears are justified and for many of you in this position you may have to start

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-81930887177492782012008-11-26T16:31:00.000-08:002008-11-26T16:36:08.313-08:00SSA Commissioner Astrue's new intiatives.

SSA Commissioner Michael Astrue spoke at the recent NOSSCR conference. The Commissioner spoke of the decreased waiting times at the hearing offices as well as some new planned initiatives for the Social Security Administration. The Commissioner plans include opening up new hearing offices. He also hopes to be able to hire more administrative law judges and increase the usage of video hearings.

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-80653591645570597132008-10-13T17:59:00.000-07:002008-10-13T18:07:31.879-07:00Social Security Disability NOSSCR conference

I will be attending the NOSSCR conference this week. This is a conference for members who help disability claimants get their benefits. I will be posting from the conference any interesting news about Social Security disability law that I hear about. These conferences also help me to come up with new ideas for posts for this blog. My goal is to provide you with as much information as I can about

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-29433299467642505112008-10-04T17:58:00.000-07:002008-10-04T18:04:23.755-07:00Experienced Social Security Disability Lawyer joins our firm.

I am pleased to announce, that in August 2008 I have hired a new experience Social Security Disability lawyer to my law firm of Kazmierczak & Kazmierczak, LLP.. Darren T. Suelto, Esq. will be working for our firm on Social Security Disability cases and long-term disability cases. Darren has eight years of experience in Social Security law and trial advocacy. He is a Brooklyn Law school graduate

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-850737280682476042008-09-30T19:30:00.000-07:002008-09-30T19:35:17.642-07:00Recent Conference on Veterans Disability Law

This past weekend I attended the NOVA conference. As usual, the conference was very informative and many topics were covered. One of the most interesting aspects of this conference was that they actually had a real case presented before the court of veterans claims. NOVA's membership has grown quite a bit, in fact, it has tripled since the first conference I attended. This is good news for the

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-36559650520469410122008-09-04T19:47:00.000-07:002008-09-04T19:52:33.240-07:00I am clearly disabled for SSDI why was I denied?

What factors other than your medical condition and how it limits you affect whether or not you win your Social Security disability case? Some people make the wrong assumption that because they have a disability and medical evidence to prove it that this automatically means they will win their Social Security disability benefits. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The person who decide your case

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-58931429075595001952008-08-31T19:05:00.000-07:002008-08-31T19:33:36.390-07:00Social Security Disability Check List

In this post, I will provide a small checklist for those trying to get their Social Security disability benefits. I hope that this will help some of you make sure that you have done some of the basic things that can help you win your benefits.Did you collect and send in all your medical evidence? You should not rely on Social Security to get all your medical information. You should do whatever

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-62181600686340640922008-08-14T19:20:00.000-07:002008-08-14T19:43:35.427-07:00Social Security Disability Hearing

I will address how to prepare for a Social Security Disability hearing. The first you should know is that if you are at the hearing stage this means you have already been denied at least once and probably twice. Because of this if you do not have a lawyer yet you may want to consider finding one to help you. If you decide you still want to go it alone you will want to review your file at least

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-57767207399217572232008-08-06T19:31:00.000-07:002008-08-06T19:41:19.639-07:00How things are going with new SSDI pilot program

My initial observations of the new pilot program that allows me to access clients files directly over the Internet are so far very positive. When accessing files at the local ODAR office I have very little trouble. I hope in the future SSA will allow access to files at the application and Appeals Council level and from what I understand this is eventually in the plans. I have not yet had the

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-63014451859901865852008-07-22T17:21:00.000-07:002008-07-22T18:02:29.666-07:00Recent meeting with SSA on pilot program

This past Monday a meeting was held at SSA with the lawyers and representatives that are part of the new pilot program that will let representatives access the files at the hearing stage on-line. I am in this program and will update as to how the program is going every so often. If you want to read more on the Social Security Disability Pilot program see my website blog. One thing I was

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-23971396655112312502008-07-08T18:16:00.000-07:002008-07-08T18:38:58.783-07:00Veterans and Social Security Disability

I have noticed while answering e-mails from veterans that many veterans do not apply for Social Security Disability because they fear it will adversely affect their VA compensation. You can get both SSDI and veterans compensation. I have also heard from many veterans that they wanted to wait before applying for SSDI to see how their veterans compensation claim goes first and that they don't

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-10540424236966671292008-06-20T17:53:00.000-07:002008-06-20T18:15:23.309-07:00Social Security Disability Article

I have an article in the July - September 2008 edition of Liver Health Today. I first want to thank the good people of the Liver Health Today for allowing me to be published in their magazine. My article covered how SSA determines if you are disabled and more specifically how cases of chronic liver disease are handled and how to give yourself the best chance of winning a Social Security

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-75507159658867921242008-06-06T17:53:00.000-07:002008-06-06T18:19:39.756-07:00Tips on how to win a Social Security Disability Claim

I will give you a few tips on how to win your SSDI or SSI claim. Many of these things I have mentioned before but if you are reading my blog and others like it then this is the information you are really looking for. I will discuss tips that help with all types of claims and you should realize that every case is very different but there are some common keys to preparing your case. First, learn

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-45343548690991148522008-05-09T16:52:00.000-07:002008-05-09T17:14:32.694-07:00Things you should know about Social Security Disability.

I have decided today to just list some things you should know about Social Security Disability. SSA uses a five step test to determine if you are disabled. Many people who write me about why they can't do the work they have been doing. This is not what determines if you are disabled or not. This is only one step in the process. See link above to see the steps the Social Security

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-31250816251074594612008-04-26T17:22:00.000-07:002008-04-26T17:50:57.548-07:00Do You Qualify for Social Security Benefits?

You qualify for Social Security benefits when you earn enough "credits". You earn credits by working and paying Social Security Taxes. These credits are based on the amount of your earnings. An individuals work history determines if you are eligible for retirement, disability, or your family is eligible for survivors benefits when you die. For the year 2008 for each $1,050 of earnings you

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-50520783443173090892008-04-15T19:58:00.000-07:002008-04-15T20:26:15.606-07:00How do you prove you can't do sedentary work for SSDI?

In a Social Security Disability claim if you are under 50 years old or over 50 years old and have prior relevant work that is sedentary you will probably have to show you can't even do sedentary work to be found disabled. So how do you do this? If you don't know what I am talking about make sure to read how Social Security determines disability. To show you are limited to less than sedentary

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-89979484112119235872008-03-29T17:54:00.000-07:002008-03-29T18:19:06.546-07:00OIG Looks at ALJ Productivity

There is much talk about the cause of the backlog of Social Security Disability and SSI cases. To see how long it takes at the hearing stage in your area click on this link. The Office of Inspector General recently released an audit report of the productivity of Administrative Law Judges to see if it played a factor in the backlog of cases. The Commissioner of SSA also has expressed the

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-23125444542405936862008-03-24T19:26:00.000-07:002008-03-24T19:39:00.660-07:00SSA Working on Updating Listings

The Social Security Administration has been working to update the medical listing of impairments. I will be very interested at the upcoming NOSSCR conference to see the progress they have made and the impact it will have on Social Security Disability claims. At the last conference SSA spoke about making the medical listings more current and easier to asses if someone meets a listing. There has

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-74015156779954820022008-03-03T19:24:00.000-08:002008-03-03T20:05:13.238-08:00How to win Social Security Disability benefits

Wining your SSDI or SSI claim is no different than trying to win anything else. It takes hard work, knowledge, sometimes a little luck and almost always perseverance. The hard work is the effort it takes to make sure you have all your medical records, RFCs, and doctor's reports. This may not seem that hard but it often involves multiple request to your doctors and hospitals. It can also be

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-4326776072242994682008-03-02T18:51:00.000-08:002008-03-02T19:05:57.367-08:00Social Security Disability Web Sites

Most of you who read my blog know that I also have a website devoted to Social Security disability information to help those trying to get benefits. I encourage you to read my website as I think it is the best resource on the web for those who are trying to win benefits on their own or who have a lawyer but want to know more about how SSA works and what they can do to help their lawyer win the

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-367484112113633992008-02-22T12:10:00.000-08:002008-02-22T12:36:30.176-08:00SSDI and SSI Overpayment Rules Need Change

I know this is something that will never happen but SSA needs to consider changing their rules in regards to over payments in Social Security Disability and SSI payments. The way it is now even if the claimant is not at fault they will still usually have to pay the money back. Essentially if the claimant can "afford" to pay the money back then they are responsible for the pay back even if they

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-3840867112692514692008-02-16T18:23:00.000-08:002008-02-16T18:41:20.547-08:00How to know if your lawyer is experienced in SSDI cases.

When looking for a lawyer or representative for your Social Security Disability or SSI case it might be wise to find out if the lawyer is experienced in these types of cases. So how do you do that? You can simply ask them how much of thier practice is devoted to SSDI or how many cases have they handled. You can also look to see or ask if they are a member of NOSSCR or NADR. NOSSCR is the

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-60601493162446443702008-02-05T19:21:00.000-08:002008-02-08T17:02:19.812-08:00Reporting Good News for Future Claims

I have recently learned that SSA by order of Commissioner Astrue will be suspending the proposed rule changes that would disadvantage claimants trying to get Social Security Disability benefits. The rule that would require evidence to be submitted 5 days prior to hearing has been halted. Also the closing of the record on appeal has also been suspended. The Commissioner after recieving concerns

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-33804519189139819632008-01-22T17:52:00.000-08:002008-01-22T18:25:14.962-08:00The Future of SSDI Hearings

I recently had a hearing were the claimant was in one state the ALJ was on video from another state and I flew in from NJ to be with the client in their state. After the hearing I started to think about the future of Social Security Disability hearings. The Social Security Administration will soon start a pilot program that will allow lawyers to have the client at there office for a video

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-51657638644368421282008-01-17T16:33:00.000-08:002008-01-17T16:52:30.562-08:00New budget for SSA sighned into law.

On December 26, 2007 the SSA budget was signed by the president. The Social Security Administrations new budget for 2008 will be $9,746,953,000. This amount is actually more than the President asked for. In my opinion, the amount if used properly should help deal with the growing case load and hopefully decrease the increasing wait times at the hearing level. It will now be up to Commissioner

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-58218153010474977172008-01-11T18:28:00.000-08:002008-01-11T18:39:05.782-08:00Medical Listing of Impairments

In Social Security Disability claims one thing that is sometimes overlooked is the Medical Listing of Impairments also known as the Blue Book. If your medical condition is found to meet or equal a listed impairment then a finding of disabled is appropriate with out regard to your age, education or work experience. To meet or equal a listing you must have a doctors opinion that says so and it

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-61101273955886377952007-12-28T14:51:00.000-08:002008-01-22T18:32:12.297-08:00Board Certified Social Security Disability Specialist

I have have just recently been approved as a Board Certified Social Security Disability Specialist by the National Board of Social Security Disability Advocacy. I consider it a great honor and I am proud of this accomplishment. It should be noted that not all states recognize the title of Social Security Disability Specialist. I will be listing the states that recognize this title in the next few

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-62323973582904223422007-12-27T17:26:00.000-08:002007-12-27T17:41:28.164-08:00Pace of decisions and scheduling of hearings will improve.

In the new year I think you can expect quicker decisions and more hearings being scheduled for Social Security Disability and SSI claims. In the past this has always been a very active time of year. Also many of the SSA initiatives to speed up the process are close to full swing. I have noticed a sharp increase in the amount of hearings scheduled for the new year. There are many reasons I am

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-89404846809795979752007-12-20T17:18:00.000-08:002008-01-22T18:38:54.937-08:00Holiday Wish List Favorable Decision

I know the number one thing on many of your minds this holiday season is getting back a favorable SSDI, SSI, or VA decision. I hope this wish comes true for as many of you as possible. For those of you who have not received a favorable decision you might want to go through the following check list to see if you are doing all you can to win.Did you get all your relevant medical records in?Does SSA

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-20456939020546881672007-12-01T18:42:00.000-08:002007-12-01T19:07:44.702-08:00Social Securirty Disability and Back Impairments

One of the most common medical conditions listed in a SSDI or SSI claim is some sort of back impairment. The more common conditions of the back and neck are herniated discs, spinal arachnoiditis, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, facet arthritis, and vertebral fracture. How a claim for benefits is won for these conditions depends on many factors. I will try and

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-19857239882691278202007-11-27T19:23:00.000-08:002007-11-27T19:51:43.984-08:00Proposed New Regulations Will Curtail Claimant's Rights

There has been proposed regulation changes that will in my opinion make it even more difficult to get a fair decision in a Social Security Disability claim. SSA is proposing new rules allegedly to speed up processing times but will ultimately lead to an unfair process to the claimant and in my opinion more denials. One of these changes would restrict the submission of evidence at the hearing

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-81152892112775378942007-11-19T20:18:00.000-08:002007-11-19T20:38:27.971-08:00Drugs, Alcohol and Social Security Disability

One area of Social Security Disability law which is hard to find on the Internet is how drugs and alcohol addiction are evaluated by SSA in a disability case. Many of you may have heard that you can not get SSDI or SSI for drug and alcohol addiction. This is true but just because you have an addiction does not mean you can't get disability based on other medical conditions. The drug or alcohol

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-16210563011789809162007-11-16T19:49:00.000-08:002007-11-16T20:14:18.802-08:00Social Security Disability and non-exertional limitations

In this post I will address the importance of what is called non-exertional limitations and more specifically about concentration. They are exactly what the sound like they are limitations on your ability to work that do not involve physical exertion. These limitations are most important in cases involving people under 50 years old, cases that involve mental disabilities, and cases were someone

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-35852233694490768382007-11-10T15:54:00.000-08:002007-11-10T16:26:50.065-08:00How to Win Social Security Disability Benefits

The most important question I am sure most of you want to know is how do you win an SSDI or SSI claim for disability benefits. In this post I give some very general tips on what you can do to help your claim succeed. There is no trick to win your claim. However, if you want to give your self the best chance to win you should make sure to do the following things. Read as much as you can about

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-11582015670101119992007-10-31T19:59:00.000-07:002007-10-31T20:17:07.359-07:00Fibromyalgia and a Social Security Disability Claim

Fibromyalgia claims have a few unique challenges. First of all, the diagnosis of fibromyalgia by its definition includes the counting out of all other possible cause for the symptoms. There is no objective piece of evidence you can point to to prove you have the condition (like an x-ray or MRI). This makes your rheumatologist opinion and diagnosis extremely important. Your testimony at a

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-87700931006628978752007-10-27T21:18:00.000-07:002007-10-27T21:35:51.708-07:00Here Come the Lawyers.

My observations at the NOVA conference is that there will soon be many more attorneys handling Veterans disability claims. I would guess that there was about twice as many lawyers at the conference than at the last one. Most of them were lawyers who handle Social Security Disability cases in their practice. I believe this is good news for veterans because it will be much easier for vets to be

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-19167989979984517392007-10-20T17:35:00.000-07:002007-10-27T21:54:45.046-07:00MS and Social Security Disability

Multiple Sclerosis is a difficult to diagnose disease and can be a difficult Social Security Disability case. One thing that makes MS cases hard is that many times a person out of work because of MS symptoms goes undiagnosed for years and when they finally get a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis they may be past the date of last insured (last day they are insured for benefits). Another problem with

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-5794656038827944362007-10-18T14:18:00.000-07:002007-10-18T14:42:01.269-07:00Speach by Commissioner of the Social Security Administration

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration spoke to the National Organization of Social Security Claimant's Representatives today. My impression is that he appears to have a good grip on the problems confronting him and the desire to make the changes necessary at SSA to try and fix them. He spoke of the baby boomer generation and the affect it is going to have on the

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36418684.post-29607026637421054122007-10-15T17:46:00.000-07:002007-10-15T18:06:33.871-07:00How does SSA view medical evidence.

A Social Security Disability file contains allot of medical evidence. So how does SSA determine what evidence should be given the most weight? The Social Security Administration is supposed to look at many factors when determining what weight they should give a particular piece of medical or opinion evidence. Notice I say supposed to because I have found SSA employees and ALJs don't always

Karl Kazmierczak, Esqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09839649679524991913noreply@blogger.com