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Recent Blog Posts
Access your Social Security information with a My Social Security Account
Access Your Social Security Information with a My Social Security Account
With a my Social Security account, people can take control of their future by accessing their online Social Security Statement, which is a great financial planning tool that provides workers age 18 and over their complete earnings history and estimates for future retirement, disability and survivors benefits. The Statement allows workers to verify the accuracy of their earnings each year. This is important since earnings are the basis for determining future retirement benefits as well as their disability benefits in the event that a person needs to file for disability. Individuals who currently receive benefits can sign up for a my Social Security account to get an instant benefit verification letter, change their address and phone number, and start or change direct deposit of their benefit payment. Over 13 million people have established an account. You can establish an account by going to www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.
Veterans and TBI
A 2014 study published by the journal Neurology found Veterans aged 55 and older with a diagnosis of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) had a 60 percent greater risk of developing dementia over a nine-year period. According to the research team, "Our results suggest that TBI in older Veterans may predispose [them] toward development of symptomatic dementia and raise concern about the potential long-term consequences of TBI in younger Veterans and civilians." The results of the study were covered in a number of news media outlets, includingUSA Today.Airborne Hazards and Open Pit Registry
The Veterans Administration offers an Airborne and Open Pit Registry to all Veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Djibouti, or the Gulf War. Information gathered from this registry will be used to identify long term adverse health effects of exposure to burn pits and other airborne hazards. It is hoped that the information can be used to provide better health care services to the Veterans suffering from lung and other conditions that could be related to such exposure. Veterans must sign up for the registry with the Department of Defense Self Service Login.More awards to report
It is a huge day for the Guys!!!!Congratulations to:
Michael in Lancaster
Rex in Cedar Hill
Arthur in Fort Worth
Andrew in Dallas
We were able to get all of these men approved without having to go to a Hearing before the Judge! What a great day for them. Benefits will begin and they will have relief shortly!
Attorney Edwin Arita successfully argued more new cases
Attorney Edwin Arita successfully argued the cases of:
Julie in Dallas - approved as of 2008
Richard of Terrell - approved as of 2009
Billy of Elm Mott - approved as of 2011
Kevin of Glen Heights - approved as of 2012
All these deserving clients will receive back pay and monthly checks. Julie, Richard and Billy will receive Medicare. Kevin's Medicare eligibility will begin in 2015 after he receives 24 months of disability benefits. What great life changing news for these wonderful clients!
How to File an SSDI Claim for Mental Health Issues
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program is a federal program set in place to provide assistance to those with disabilities. SSDI pays benefits to a person and their family if the individual previously worked at a job that paid into Social Security taxes.
The Social Security Administration generally defines disability as the inability to perform or engage in daily activities due to any medical, physical, or mental impairment. This impairment must last or at least be expected to last longer than 12 months to qualify.
What mental disabilities qualify for SSDI benefits?
The Social Security Administration treats mental disability as it does physical disability and will cover conditions such as schizophrenia, manic depressive disorder, ADHD, autism, depression, anxiety, and more. An extensive list of mental disabilities covered through SSDI can be found at the Social Security Administration Disability Evaluation Bluebook.
Social Security Announces New Expedited Disability Process for Veterans
Beginning March 17, 2014, veterans who have a VA rating of 100% may receive expedited processing of applications for Social Security Disability Benefits. This does not guarantee that Veterans will be approved for Social Security Disability benefits. Veterans must still meet the Social Security eligibility requirements for a disability allowance.
For more press releases, click here.
Current VA Regulations Favor CPAP Users
Under current VA regulations, veterans who are prescribed a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine receive an automatic rating of 50 percent disability rating if approved. In fiscal 2013, veterans receiving compensation for sleep apnea jumped by 26 percent, to include more than 29,000 beneficiaries, VA data show. As of Oct. 1, a total of 143,278 vets were rated disabled by sleep apnea. 89 percent of those approved received ratings of at least 50 percent.
For more information, visit: http://www.military.com/benefits/2014/02/20/va-congress-shrug-as-sleep-apnea-claims-surge.html
Even After Vietnam, Agent Orange Still a Health Issue for Veterans
Military veterans who say they were sickened by lingering amounts of the herbicide Agent Orange after the Vietnam War now have some strong scientific support for their claims. According to Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, studies support the fact that Veteran's who flew in planes contaminated with any dioxin or components of Agent Orange were more likely to be exposed than those servicemen who had boots on the ground in Vietnam.
For more information, visit:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/21/agent-orange-veterans-air-force-c123s_n_4828180.html
VA Broke Its Promises, Court Says
Recently, a Federal Circuit Court judge chastised the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for allowing the agency's Board of Veterans' Appeals to continue to use a disputed procedural rule in hearings – despite the VA's expressed promise to no longer employ the rule.
Specifically, the rule in question – which was not supposed to used – limited certain due process rights for veterans seeking benefits before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The court found the continued application of this rule so egregious that it believes sanctions may be appropriate. Furthermore, the court ordered the government to now show cause why sanctions should not be enforced against the responsible officials.
Due process rights in VA benefits process
The veterans' benefits system in the United States was supposed to be designed to be very veteran-friendly. In fact, various procedural due process and appellate rights are afforded to veterans seeking benefits.
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From our principal office in Plano, Texas, we serve clients throughout Dallas County, Denton County, Collin County, Tarrant County, and the rest of North Texas, including but not limited to Dallas, Fort Worth, Garland, Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Arlington, Irving, Denton, Carrollton, Addison, Coppell, Euless, Colleyville, Grand Prairie, Allen, Anna, Murphy, Fairview, Prosper, Lewisville, Little Elm, The Colony, Flower Mound, Duncanville, Keller, Roanoke, N.Richland Hills, Mansfield, Burleson, Benbrook, Highland Village, Argyle, Celina, Rockwall, Kaufman, Terrell, DeSoto, Tyler, Nacogdoches, Sulphur Springs, and Greenville.
