California Social Security Lawyer Blog

Recent Posts from California Social Security Lawyer Blog

• Are survivors divorced spouse’s benefits retroactive?

  My new motto is to file early and often. It can be detrimental to wait and file for Social Security disability benefits. Perhaps I am being silly by saying “early and often, ” but the…

• U.S. District court orders SSA to provide correspondence in alternative formats for the blind or visually impaired

  As reported on the NOSSCR (National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives) website, “a federal judge in the northern California district has ruled that SSA violated Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and its implementing…

• California reduces SSI payment again in October 2009

  As those of you already on SSI already know, your SSI monthly amount was reduced in October 2009.  The California state legislature has made a series of budget cuts to the state supplement over the…

• SSA to soon grant attorneys access to claimants’ electronic hearing folders

  One of the most interesting presentations I attended at the NOSSCR (National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives) conference in San Francisco was a presentation by  SSA (Social Security Administration) personnel on a new program…

• Ten tips for winning your Social Security Disability case in federal court

  I am currently attending the NOSSCR (National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives’) conference in San Francisco.  I am going to write posts this week highlighting some of presentations I go to at the conference. …

• How can I prove I am disabled if I cannot get treatment because I can’t afford it?

  One of the difficulties indigent claimants face is proving that they are disabled when they have not sought out medical treatment.  It is a vicious circle.  They would have sought treatment if they could have…

• It helps to be local

  My client has not received her retroactive payment.  I have been trying to reach a representative at the Social Security office in San Francisco.  ( I will not state which one so that I do…

• Average waiting times for hearings at ODAR offices in San Francisco Bay Area

  The most recent (June 2009) set of  statistics listing processing times at the San Francisco Bay Area Offices of Disability Adjudication and Review (“ODAR”)  does not look good.  The best way to view them though…

• Social Security Administration to partner with Microsoft in gathering health information

  One of the most important tasks that I have as a lawyer in preparing a Social Security disability case is gathering a client’s list of doctors and medications.  This information is essential because I order…

• What are my responsibilities as a representative payee for a child?

  I recently won a child’s SSI case for a young girl. It was difficult to win but now what is turning out to be more difficult for the family is having to make a choice…