In a big win for the LGBTQ+ community, a federal district court in Washington state ruled on September 11, 2020 that a woman was eligible for survivor’s benefits on the record of her late partner, who died before same-sex marriage was legal (Thornton v. Commissioner...
In October 2020, Social Security Administration announced a 1.3% benefit increase for 2021. This cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be effective for Title II beneficiaries of a period of disability and disability insurance benefits for December 2020 benefits that...
Social Security has announced a new "streamlined" overpayment debt waiver process for overpayment debts that Social Security was not able to timely process because of the COVID-19 pandemic. An overpayment occurs when an individual receives more money for a month than...
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all departments of the Social Security Administration, including the ability to hold in person hearings before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Since April, the Office of Hearing Operations has been holding hearings via telephone...
There are an estimated 12.84 million jobs in the manufacturing marketplace in the United States as of March 2020. Workers in this industry play an important role in our country’s economy since this industry is responsible for the creation of a product. Examples can...
The harbors dotting Alabama’s coastline play an important role in the state’s economy. While the shipping industry can be physically demanding, it has provided many workers and their families a stable livelihood. This type of manual labor can take its toll, however....
Social Security now offers beneficiaries the option to advance designate a representative payee. Advance Designation allows for an individual to designate up to 3 individuals who would serve as their representative payee if the situation arises where the individual...
On March 13, 2020, Governor Kay Ivey declared an official State of Emergency in Alabama. Similarly, Mayor Sandy Stimpson followed suit by declaring a Public Health Emergency for the City of Mobile. Although Governor Ivey has now eased some of the restrictions...
The Office of Hearing Operations closed its doors to the public almost two weeks ago and began offering some telephonic hearings depending on the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). At first the ALJs could not conduct hearings from home telephonically, but have been...
Per the National Association of Disability Representatives, SSA organized a conference last week regarding steps they are taking due to COVID-19. All district offices are continuing to take and adjudicate claims by phone, online and via mail. SSA is supposed to be...
