Social Security Lawyer Journal

Thursday, March 9th, is National Slam the Scam Day. This is a day designated by the Social Security Administration to heighten awareness on scams perpetrated by fraudsters pretending to be employees of the Social Security Administration. Scammers mention a problem or a prize. They may ask for your Social Security number or other information to…

After his re-election in 2004, President George W. Bush made reforming Social Security his #1 domestic agenda.   He proposed phasing out Social Security in favor of individual retirement accounts that could be invested in the stock market. Despite a strong push by lobbyists for the investment industry, the support both publicly and in Congress…

The January/February issue of the AARP Bulletin contained information regarding the long wait times for disability hearings at various Office of Hearing Operations locations, nationwide.  Portland, OR is 22 months, San Francisco, CA 20 months and Dallas, TX 21 months, for example. The wait times in Michigan are much lower, at present.  In the OHOs…

After months of speculation and estimates due to the inflation experienced by the US economy, we now know that 70 million Americans will receive an average increase of 0 per month in their Social Security benefits. Based upon the increase in the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W), benefits will rise 8.7%. This good…

A bottleneck at the Disability Determination Service level is being addressed by the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) by transferring “a significant number” of Attorney Advisors to the DDS for one year stint. The OHO also reports 56 new Administrative Law Judges have been hired and will start their training this month.

A nearly yearlong study of the medical records of 154,000 veterans shows an increased risk of memory impairment and other neurological disorders in those who contracted COVID-19 than in those who were never infected. The study, published in September 2022 in the journal Nature Medicine, revealed 7% more persons suffered what some are calling “brain…

Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minnesota has introduced the “You Earned It, You Keep It Act” to repeal federal income taxes on Social Security benefits. Currently Social Security recipients who earn more than ,000 for an individual or ,000 for a married couple, filing jointly, are taxed up to 85% of their benefits. Below that threshold benefits…

The record setting inflation numbers being reported all year have led to speculation on what the Cost of Living Increase for Social Security recipients might be in 2023. COLA is figured on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W) for the third quarter (July, August & September) of the current year of the…

We have all seen the “temporary” surcharges as inflation has eroded buying power. A $.50 gas bump. Something similar for meat. In recognition Congress is considering a 0 per month bump for Social Security beneficiaries. A bill introduced by Representative Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) & Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) would add another 0 to Social Security…

The Social Security Board of Trustees issued its annual report on June 2, 2022. The combined asset reserves of the 2 trust funds (Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance) are projected to become depleted in 2035, one year later than last year. Social Security could pay 80% of benefits due at that time. Individually,…