Social Security Announces Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2018

Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 66 million Americans will increase by 2.0 percent in 2018. The 2.0 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 61 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2018. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 29, 2017.

The table below provides an overview of the changes from 2017 to 2018.

Source: https://www.ssa.gov/news/cola/

By: Thomas A. Klint of Premier Disability Services, LLC®

Can SSA Place a Hold on My Claim?

At the initial and reconsideration stages of the Social Security Disability application process, a decision on your claim will generally be made within 3-6 months. The process can, however, take longer. The Social Security Administration (SSA) may place your case on medical deferment or “Medical Hold” when they have information showing that your disability is not yet stable and the expected change in your disability might affect the determination or decision. This is because the duration of many disabilities is subject to improvement directly related to the therapeutic regimen administered by the treating physician. Your disability must either last or be expected to last for at least 12 months, or result in death, to make you eligible for benefits.

In certain situations, a medical hold is needed to properly evaluate the severity and duration of your disability during or after a stabilizing period. For example, if you have had a recent acute event such as a heart attack or stroke; if you have cancer that may be amenable to treatment; if you have recently had a corrective procedure; or if you have started new drug therapy and your response to this treatment has not yet been established, then SSA may place your claim on medical deferment until more information is received. In these situations, the SSA will obtain more evidence 3 months following the event before evaluating your disability. However, SSA will not wait if enough information to make a determination or decision based on all of the relevant evidence in your case is available.

If you or someone you know is unable to work due to a medical condition, please contact us for a free evaluation of your claim!

Read more on Medical Holds here: https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0425505035

By: Joyce Trudeau of Premier Disability Services, LLC®

December 1st is World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day, which has taken place on December 1st of each year since 1988, is a global initiative to raise awareness, fight prejudice, and improve education about HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. This year’s theme is “My Health, My Right.”

Around the world, about 37 million people are living with HIV, and as of 2017 approximately 30 million individuals have died of the disease. In the United States, about 37,600 people get infected with HIV every year. The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. It’s important that everyone ages 15 to 65 gets tested for HIV at least once. Some people may need to get tested more often.

How can World AIDS Day make a difference? We can use this day to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, encourage people to get tested, and take action to support people living with HIV.

Here are just a few ideas:

• Encourage people to get tested for HIV. Let them know that some health clinics offer free HIV testing.
• Talk to parents about teaching their kids the basics of safe sex.
• Wear a red ribbon, the symbol of HIV awareness and support. Tell people why you are wearing it. You can order a red ribbon online — or make your own.

Source: https://healthfinder.gov/NHO/DecemberToolkit.aspx

By: Joyce Trudeau of Premier Disability Services, LLC®