On April 9, 2015, RGG Law attorney Sam M. Coring participated in a national seminar hosted by the National Business Institute (NBI) on the topic “Obtaining Veterans Benefits.” The focus of the meeting included a general overview of various veterans benefits programs, the appeals process for VA claim decisions and issues related to veterans and their claims for disability benefits, … Read More
A Disability Attorney Explains the SSA Definition of Disability
There are many definitions of disability in the law. These definitions exist for different purposes, are sometimes set forth under different statutes and regulations, and are assessed in the eyes of different agencies of the federal and state governments. As disability lawyers, we devote our time to understanding the nuances of these differences. While there are certainly similarities to other … Read More
Filing Bankruptcy to Discharge Student Loans
Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Chairman of the Senate panel on education, will propose a bill to the U.S. Senate to allow some student loans to be dischargeable when filing bankruptcy. Currently, filing bankruptcy does not generally discharge student loan debt. Senator Harkin’s bill, as proposed, would allow private lender student loans to be discharged after filing bankruptcy. According to a … Read More
Tips from a Disability Attorney: Don’t Overlook Symptoms
While some disability cases obviously focus on physical impairments and others are entirely focused on mental health problems, there is often an overlap between the two. Many disabled workers suffer from a combination of both physical and mental symptoms. Getting proper mental health treatment to document symptoms of depression, anxiety, memory loss or poor concentration is an often overlooked when … Read More
Consumers Owe Nearly $12 Trillion in 2014
Consumers owed $11.83 trillion as of the end of 2014, according to the Household Debt and Credit Report produced by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Total debt increased by $306 billion during 2014, according to the report which is based on data from the New York Fed’s Consumer Credit Panel. This could potentially lead to more people filing … Read More
Social Security Disability Appeals and Partially Favorable Decisions
There are four possible dispositions of a Social Security Disability case after an Administrative Law Judge hearing. Those four options are: Dismissal: A claim can be dismissed for technical reasons with no consideration of the medical merits of the case. For example, this might happen if a social security disability appeal was not filed in a timely manner and there … Read More
Tips from a Disability Attorney: The Worth of Doctors’ Opinions
Social Security Disability cases are not decided by you disability attorney or by your work’s human resources department. Federal Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings. These judges decide cases based upon the testimony of witnesses your disability attorney provides at the hearing and, most importantly, the medical evidence of record. Medical evidence considered by the judge is accorded varying degrees … Read More
Fewer People Are Filing Bankruptcy in 2015
The American Bankruptcy Institute, using data provided by Equip Systems Inc., has reported that people are filing bankruptcy less and less. Bankruptcy filings decreased in February 2015 by 13 percent as compared to February 2014. Specifically, the number of consumers (individuals) filing bankruptcy decreased by 10 percent while the number of businesses filing bankruptcy decreased by 21 percent in this … Read More
RGG Law Disability Attorneys’ Support NOSSCR
While it may not be a household name, disability attorneys who are serious about representing disabled workers on Social Security Disability cases are familiar with a group known as the National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives (NOSSCR). Based in Washington, D.C., NOSSCR lobbies Congress and the White House on issues related to disability law. The disability attorneys at RGG … Read More
Our Disability Attorneys Decode Commonly Used Acronyms
Anytime you deal with a government agency or program, with its various rules and regulations, you can expect an “alphabet soup” of special acronyms and abbreviations with special meaning. Experienced disability attorneys will obviously know what the acronyms mean, but an ordinary citizen may find the abbreviations bewildering. The RGG Law disability attorneys have compiled a limited but helpful list … Read More