Disability attorneys, workers compensation attorneys and personal injury attorneys spend thousands of dollars each year obtaining the medical records of their clients. Historically, attorneys have used a HIPAA authorization to obtain these records. […]
DDS is dysfunctional. The 1st appeal of a denied disability claim goes to the Disability Determination Services known as DDS. 1. In 20% of my cases the client is obviously disabled and it requires no expertise in medicine or law to determine this. In 37 years I have never lost a case in this category, yet DDS denied 100% of these cases. 2. I have had a few cases in which it is simple to determine the individual is disabled. In these cases I presented to DDS all the necessary medical [...]
The process of getting Social Security disability benefits is very slow. It often takes two to three years before disability benefits are awarded. While the appeal is under review, most of my clients are experiencing a financial crisis. It is a major struggle to pay for life necessities such as food, rent, electricity, heat, doctor bills and medications. I am often asked - can I work while I am waiting for a decision? This question is understandable, and very reasonable. People need some means to survive while their case is slowly [...]
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Every worker has a FICA deduction withheld from his/her paycheck. A portion of this deduction is used to fund the Social Security disability benefits program. SSDI is a disability insurance program for workers. A worker pays into the Social Security system, and in return the worker is eligible for disability benefits in the event he/she becomes unable to work. […]
Updated March 9, 2018. One of the most common causes of disability is chronic back pain. We have all hurt our back at one time or another. We take it easy for a few days or few weeks and fully recover. However, for some individuals back pain is chronic, severe and debilitating. […]
On December 8, 2017 I spoke at a seminar sponsored by the Disability Advocacy Section of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice on the topic of attorney wellness. The practice of law is a high stress profession. In this seminar I share some tips on how to manage stress in a healthy manner. The manuscript for my presentation is set forth below. […]
Anyone who experiences migraine headaches knows how debilitating these headaches can be. Some individuals experience migraines so frequently they are not able to hold a job. […]
According to an article published in the Washington Post on November 20, 2017, 10,002 people died in fiscal year 2017 while waiting on a disability judge’s decision. One of those individuals was my client Joseph Tyson. […]
Joe was not famous. He did not write any books. He was never in the news. His footprint on this planet was small. […]
Pancreatitis is a disorder involving the pancreas that causes severe, debilitating abdominal pain. It is impossible to work while one is stricken with acute pancreatitis. This article discusses how a person with pancreatitis can obtain Social Security disability benefits. […]