Struggling Seniors Call For The Abandonment of Planned Social Security Benefit Cuts

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The United States federal government has been drawing a lot of criticism as it mulls various budget cuts aimed at Social Security. President Barack Obama’s proposed that cost of living adjustments for Social Security should be reduced. What this means is that seniors will be getting smaller increases in their Social Security payments every year.

This, the President believes, is one viable solution to the looming fiscal crisis. However, many people, especially those who are currently and will soon be receiving Social Security benefits are opposing this idea as they will be badly hit by the said budget cuts. Smaller at first, the difference could grow into hundreds, even thousands of dollars in time. This means a lot of seniors who mostly rely on Social Security benefits to help them get by with their needs every day.

According to reports, close to 40 million retirees, including their dependents receive Social Security benefits. And while the average monthly benefit that each person receives amounts to $1,262, there are some less privileged that get smaller amounts than that.

Kerry Payne of Newburgh, NY on the other hand, gave up her car because the paycheck she has been getting from Social Security couldn’t cover gas and insurance costs. She only receives $1,234 every month that couldn’t even completely cover her expenses. Her deceased husband’s illness before didn’t help as it ate her savings up. For her to survive, she only does her grocery shopping on days when her local supermarket offers discounts. With the prices of everything swaying upwards, Payne believes that every cent of the annual cost of living adjustment counts for people like her.

A Los Angeles long term disability lawyer believes that budget cuts should be the last thing on the government’s minds when managing its finances. According to him, a scheme that would target more financially-capable citizens would be a better approach as people Social Security beneficiaries only depend on it to make both ends meet. He believes that retirees all the help that they need as they have done their share in the past of helping the country move forward.

Do You Have Sitting Disability? If Yes, You Can Qualify for Social Security Benefits

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Sitting is considered a basic work activity. Most jobs require a person to sit down to be able to perform work. However, it could be difficult for him or her to maintain it because of a disability. In fact, any medical condition that drastically creates an impact on the person’s ability to maintain a sitting position even for a short period is called a “sitting disability.”

Incidentally, if you are a worker and you cannot do the requirements of your work because you can’t sit down for long stretches, then you may be qualified for Social Security benefits. To become eligible for benefits, your disability must prevent you from doing substantial work for at least a year.

You may either be qualified for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). However, your impairment should also either meet or equal one of the medical conditions mentioned in the Listing of Impairments. If it does, then your claim will be automatically approved.

While sitting disabilities don’t usually meet or equal a disability listing, you may still be qualified for disability benefits if you have enough medical proof that would support your claim that your condition significantly impacts your capability to do work activities.

In this regard, you must obtain your treating physician’s opinion by having him or her prepare a residual functional capacity (RFC) classification for your disability and its relation to your work-related activities.

If your RFC is classified as sedentary, you’re still able to perform your former job, therefore denying your claim. However, you can still be qualified for benefits even if you are still capable of performing a sedentary job. One way is to show that you have other impairments as a result of your inability to sit down for longer periods of time, such as having depression or anxiety.

Looking at it, winning a sitting disability claim can be really hard on your part. However, seeking the expertise of any of the Los Angeles Social Security disability lawyers in your area would really help increase your chances of an approval.

Prevent These Social Security Mistakes or Suffer Losing Your Chances for Benefits

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It is already a given fact: around 70 percent of Social Security Disability benefits are denied at the initial application stage. One of the most common reasons why this happens is because disability applicants fall into certain mistakes during the application process that they unknowingly do. In Social Security, applicants must remember that one wrong move may cost them a lot, which includes losing the chance to receive disability benefits.

As such, here are the five Social Security mistakes applicants must greatly avoid during the initial application process:

1.)    Filing for disability while doing work. This is one mistake that many applicants do. Social Security approves claims of persons who cannot perform work and earn substantial income because of a debilitating ailment. As such, contradicting the fact that a person is able to work while he or she is proving to the Social Security that he or she cannot do so because of a disability may result in a denial.

2.)    Filing for disability benefits too early. The Social Security may find it hard to prove in an applicant’s claim that he or she is suffering from a long-term or permanent disability if he or she files for benefits too soon. One must only do so if it has already been established that his or her disability is expected to last for a year or more.

3.)    Thinking that the consultative exam equates to medical evidence. The purpose of the consultative exam is to examine a person’s disability to see if it supports his or her claim. As such, the exam is not used to determine proof of his or her disability.

4.)    Not taking medicines and/or undergoing prescribed treatments. A person who does either one of these may force the Social Security to think that he or she is not disabled at all, therefore reducing his or her chances for disability benefits.

5.)    Undergoing the appeals process without legal representation. One reason why applicants don’t retain the services of legal representatives is because they can’t afford one. It is always a big mistake to go alone in a disability hearing, thus the need of an attorney.

Accordingly, to avoid falling into these mistakes, disability applicants may seek the help of Los Angeles Social Security Disability claim lawyers. That way, they won’t have to deal with their denied claims the hard way.