Social Security Disability (SSD) is one of the most important benefit programs in the United States because it provides income to people unable to work as a result of an illness or medical condition. The program, however, is in danger of running out of money. Many people are not familiar with SSD or about how...
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Invisible Disabilities Present Added Challenges to New Yorkers
Social Security Disability benefits are supposed to be available to all New Yorkers who are so disabled they cannot work. These benefits may be provided to low-income individuals through Supplemental Security Income (SSI) regardless of work history, or to people who have worked and paid into Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) regardless of income. Social...
Read MorePresident’s Proposal to “Save” Social Security Disability Benefits
Social Security Disability benefits continue to be used as political fodder, even as people's lives depend upon being able to receive enough income from SSD to pay for rent, food and other necessary expenses. The Social Security Disability trust fund is, on paper, set to run short as early as 2016, necessitating a benefits cut....
Read MoreLawmakers Creating an "Artificial Crisis" To Cut SSD Benefits?
Social Security provides both retirement and disability benefits to people throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and surrounding areas. There are separate trust funds for the retirement and the disability insurance program. Although both are funded by payroll taxes, unlike supplemental security income benefits, the money for the retired and disabled is kept separate. Although this...
Read MoreDisability Benefits NOT a Shadow Unemployment Program
Of the many attacks made on the federal system designed to provide disability income to residents of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the rest of the nation, one of the most common allegations is that Social Security Disability (SSD) is functioning as a de facto unemployment program. This allegation has been raised yet again by research published...
Read MoreSocial Security Disability Judges Again Under Attack
Social Security Disability judges have a difficult job to do. They are asked to preside over a huge number of appeals because so many initial applications for benefits are denied even when people have a legitimate need for benefits. Unfortunately, as part of ongoing efforts to undermine an important lifeline providing benefits to the disabled,...
Read MoreA Look at the Social Security Disability Repair Initiative
The Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI) is a lifeline for many disabled workers who are not able to have a job because of an injury, illness or other disabling medical condition. Unfortunately, the SSDI trust fund is in very serious financial trouble. The SSDI trust fund is expected to run out of money towards...
Read MoreDisability Benefits Under Attack to Fund Road Construction
The federal highway fund that pays for road construction is broke and lawmakers can't agree on the best way to replenish the money. Unfortunately, Social Security Disability benefits are once again a political target and money that should be going to care for the disabled is in danger of being redirected to fund roads. As the...
Read MoreNew Commission Proposed to “Improve” Social Security
Individuals who depend upon Social Security Disability benefits for their income should be on alert, as two U.S. Representatives are now proposing the creation of a bipartisan commission to improve Social Security. Unfortunately, when politicians try to "improve" programs, often this ends up having an adverse impact on the benefits that people within the program...
Read MoreCritical Issues with the Social Security Disability System
The Social Security Disability (SSD) system provides significant benefits to workers who become disabled. If you have paid in enough money to earn work credits, or if you have limited income and few resources, you should be entitled to receive disability benefits if you have a long-term medical condition that prohibits work. Unfortunately, while the...
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