SSDI backlog rising, while the approval rate is falling

Oct 28 2014

The line began to form when Gerald Ford was president. The president who so loved Colorado ski vacations left office back in January of 1977. That’s when the backlog of Social Security disability cases waiting to be heard on appeals began. All these years later and the backlog is growing faster than ever. The Washington Post did an in-depth report on the problems at the Social Security Administration and found that it is nearly a million cases behind.   The Post calls it the “backlog of backlogs — a queue of waiting Americans larger than the populations of six different…

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Oil drilling in Denver’s backyard

Oct 21 2014

The controversies raging over the method of oil drilling known as “fracking” are perhaps better known in Denver and surrounding communities than in most of the nation. That’s because the practice is going on in some areas very close to home. It’s not our job to weigh in on the pros or cons of the practice, but rather to focus here in our blog on the injuries that inevitably result when oil drilling is carried out, regardless of the drilling methods. Oil drilling is simply put, dangerous work, posing risks of injuries to workers, but also to those who live…

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Contrary to popular belief, getting disability benefits is a difficult process

Oct 20 2014

One mistake or lack of proper documentation can lead to a rejection There has been a lot of recent news regarding the state of America’s Social Security disability system. For example, a quick online search reveals that SSDI will become “insolvent” in 2016. Many articles claim that SSDI discourages work by paying people to lie around who would otherwise find jobs. Doctors and applicants who commit fraud to secure benefits repeatedly pop up in the news. Combined, it can seem that obtaining disability benefits is just a matter of checking a few boxes on a form and waiting for a…

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Social Security statements: they’re back and they’re important

Oct 14 2014

They used to arrive in the mail about three months before each birthday. You would open the envelope from the Social Security Administration and see the amount you were on target to be paid after your retirement. About five years ago, the mailed Social Security statements stopped arriving at your Denver home. Last month, however, the SSA started mailing out statements again. When you get yours in the mail, it’s wise to pay attention to it, a financial planner writing for Forbes states. It can help you understand your benefits in not only retirement, but also if you become disabled…

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Aphasia: among the list of disabilities given a compassionate allowance

Oct 10 2014

Social Security Disability programs provide monetary assistance to disabled individuals who are unable to work. There are many different conditions that are disabling. Aphasia is one. Social Security Disability programs provide monetary assistance to disabled individuals who are unable to work. What constitutes a disability, however, is wide ranging. Disabilities can be medical conditions, illnesses, and injuries. Some are more inconspicuous than others, such as aphasia. Understanding aphasia Aphasia is a medical condition that affects a person’s ability to comprehend language and communicate. It typically manifests after a brain injury such as a stroke, but the condition can also instigate…

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A Denver workers’ comp law firm devoted to helping you recover

Oct 08 2014

No matter how careful you are, no matter how knowledgeable, and no matter how experienced, an on-the-job injury can happen. Here in Colorado, most employees are covered after a workplace accident, regardless of whether it was their fault or not, and regardless of whether it took place in a Denver high-rise, a construction site or on a factory floor. Even employers with workers’ comp insurance will sometimes attempt to deny a claim, however. Or the insurance company will object to the claim. As we have written about recently, this puts the injured worker in a spot where they have to…

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What do I give up when I represent myself in a workers’ comp case?

Oct 04 2014

Sometimes in life, all we need in order to make a good decision is to have information. Then we can ponder our options and make the choice that is most favorable. Bad decisions are often made when we simply don’t have enough information about the available choices. Take for instance, a Colorado workers’ compensation case. When a claim is denied, you have a couple of choices to make: do you appeal? If you do appeal, do you do so with an attorney or on your own? And if you do it on your own, will you give up any benefits?…

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A right to Social Security Disability appeal representation

Sep 24 2014

Some things in life are unnecessarily complicated. Many people would agree that the law is one of those things. There’s no doubt that the terms and language used can be difficult for the layperson to understand whenever they find themselves dealing with an aspect of the legal system. Though few people think of Social Security Disability as being part of the legal system, the fact is that an appeal of a denial of benefits is held before an administrative law judge. Fortunately, everyone who goes through the appeals process has the right to legal representation at those hearings.  The Social…

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When it comes to an SSDI claim, the sooner the better

Sep 17 2014

Just like the referee in a Denver Broncos game, the Social Security Administration keeps it eyes on rules, regulations and the clock. The clock begins ticking the moment a person applies for Social Security Disability benefits, which means that if the claim is approved, benefits will be paid retroactive to the application date. So the sooner a person files an SSDI claim after becoming disabled, the better. The clock is also crucial if that initial benefits claim is denied. Though an applicant has the right to appeal a denial with the assistance of an SSDI attorney, the applicants has only…

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New rule for workplace injuries

Sep 15 2014

Denver construction sites are where heavy materials such as steel beams and rebar are moved by powerful pieces of equipment. Unfortunately, worksite accidents can happen suddenly and without warning. A piece of machinery can crush a limb or materials can fall and badly hurt a worker. Some of the worst construction injuries are amputations. These are devastating losses, both physically and emotionally, often leaving a skilled construction worker unable to continue in their chosen field. An amputation can also require multiple surgeries in order to address all the medical issues that arise from these severe wounds. Many Colorado construction workers…

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