Brooke Thomas

As discussed in an earlier post, your alleged onset date is an important issue in your case. Sometimes you will be asked to consider amending your alleged onset day, usually so that it matches the medical evidence in your file. Other times, you may have worked after...

Many people ask if their particular condition qualifies them for Social Security disability benefits. This simple question doesn't have a simple answer. Generally speaking, it's just impossible to point to one condition and say that it will or will not rise to Social...

Your "alleged onset date" or AOD is that date that you say you became disabled. When you apply for Social Security disability, the interviewer will often ask you what date you believe you became disabled. For a lot of people, it is the last day they worked or the date...

The simple answer to this question is no. Your age is not just a number. This is because Social Security rules change as you get older. In disability cases, Social Security puts people in categories. Once you turn 50, you enter a category called "Closely Approaching...

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ("ADHD") is a common diagnosis in a lot of the children's cases that we handle. These cases can be very hard to win for several reasons. First, the diagnosis of ADHD alone is not enough. Your child must have significant...

The simple answer is yes, the government can take part of your backpay and monthly checks to repay any money that you owe the federal government, including student loan money. In 1996, Congress passed the Debt Collection Improvement Act. This Act allows the government...

No one is ever "too young" to get Social Security Disability benefits. It is true, however, that your age does matter. For the purposes of this discussion, I will only be talking about adults (people over 18 years old) who are applying for disability. If you are under...

Statistically speaking, more people win their case after a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge than at the initial level. However, some people will receive an unfavorable decision after their hearing. So, what happens next?The next step in a Social Security...

A brief explanation of what your date last insured means can be found here. But what happens if your date last insured is a date in the past? This can create particular problems in your Social Security disability case. If your DLI is in the very recent past (for...

DLI stands for Date Last Insured. It can be one of the most important factors in a claim for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits ("DIB"). This entry addresses the non-medical requirements for benefits. A person qualifies for DIB by working and paying into...