Posts in:February, 2015

Client visits Premier office to express her gratitude

Posted February 27, 2015 by Premier Disability Services, LLC® Devon Brady of Premier Disability Services, LLC® with a Premier client, LaDonna Kruchten.  LaDonna became our client in September 2013. She struggled on her own for almost a year and was denied her benefits twice by the Social Security Administration.  Through the hard work of the Premier Staff, LaDonna was finally awarded her Social Security Disability benefits in June of 2014 following a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge. Below is LaDonna’s testimonial regarding her experience with Premier.
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“Line in the Sand” Developing over Disability Trust Fund

Posted February 20, 2015 by Premier Disability Services, LLC® The future of the Social Security Disability program has become an increasingly “hot button” topic among congressional Democrats and Republicans alike. This issue could become one of the major running points in the 2016 presidential elections. The contentious positioning is primarily due to the fact that the Disability Insurance Trust Fund has been on a steady decline since 2009. A recent report from the Office of the Inspector General stated that unless Congress takes action the funds could be depleted by 2016. In previous years, Congress would solve this problem by shifting revenues from the larger retirement trust fund into the disability fund. However, the current delegation of House Republicans is attempting to put major restrictions on Congress’ ability to reallocate money between the two funds. Congressional Republicans believe that reallocating will only harm the retirement program while providing a “band aid” to the disability program. If the Disability Insurance Trust Fund becomes insolvent in 2016 it could lead to major cuts in Social Security Disability benefits. While reallocation may not be completely dead as an option, it seems clear that Congressional Republicans will try to require major changes in the program prior to any transfer of funds.
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Social Security Wants to Conduct My Disability Hearing by Video?

Posted February 13, 2015 by Premier Disability Services, LLC® The majority of claimants waiting for a disability hearing have most likely received a letter from their hearing office stating that Social Security’s (SSA) rules on conducting hearings via video teleconferencing have changed.   Hearings conducted using video teleconferencing (VTC) allow the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and the claimant to appear that the hearing from different locations.  During a VTC hearing, the claimant will be able to see and communicate with the ALJ from a different location using a color television monitor.  The ALJ will have the same capabilities from his or her location.
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