Recent Blog Posts
The Cooperative Disability Investigation Unit (CDIU)
…The Fraud Squad The Social Security Administration (SSA) has been allocating additional fiscal resources to conduct Cooperative Disability Investigations (CDI). These are conducted in cases where an individual has applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments or is receiving SSDI or SSI and the Office of the Inspector… Read More »
The Impact of Social Security Disability Insurance Overpayments
A ‘60 Minutes’ report aired in 2014 about abuses of the Social Security Disability Insurance overpayments and Supplemental Security Income programs. Both SSDI and SSI have come under attack by Congress for perceived abuses by individuals of these Federal programs. The vast majority of recipients of SSDI and SSI benefits rely on those benefits… Read More »
VA VocRehab: A Great Way to Use your Benefits
VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program (also known as: “Chapter 31 Benefits”, or VA ‘Voc-Rehab’) is an excellent way for service disabled Veterans to earn additional education, job placement assistance, and other work readiness assistance – allowing them to ultimately prepare for, find and/or keep suitable employment Whether it is direct financial assistance… Read More »
Military Discharges Deciphered
A common misconception among those whose work brings them in contact with Veterans is that if a Veteran does not have an honorable discharge, they then have a dishonorable discharge. The presumption is that dishonorable is what’s left if one is not honorable. In actuality, there is a spectrum of military discharges, and resulting… Read More »
Our Approach to Veterans Services
Anyone who’s being honest about supporting Veterans in their search for resources and benefits should have the self-awareness to realize how and why they are doing what they are doing. Many Veterans see window placards, commercials, fancy signs with flag draped graphics – focus group tested to appeal to our (yes I’m a Veteran… Read More »
Vetting Vets Services
This is a topic near and dear to my heart. In addition to representing Veterans in appeals for service connected disability claims, I train case managers, social workers, government staff, and police on various aspects of Veterans benefits, resources, treatment, advocacy and service. I have a history of consulting with and leading organizations in… Read More »
Supporting the Claim
First and foremost, supporting the claim means supporting the Veteran. Veterans experiences, hopes, trust and livelihood are often deeply invested in their service connected disability claims and appeals. This is a perspective you’re likely to hear me say over and over again. I believe this to be true beyond questioning. Supporting the claim might… Read More »
Social Media; Your Personal Information in a Public Forum
Facebook, Twitter, My Space and LinkedIn accounts are as commonplace as cell phones and email for most people. The profiles and content are as detailed and explicit as the user cares to provide to the public. While some services provide filters or “privacy” settings, the practical reality is whatever you post online is there… Read More »
Social Security Benefits for Same-Sex Couples
In the last two years, America has experienced significant changes for same-sex couples. In 2013 in U.S. v. Windsor, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which required marriage to be between a man and a woman, was effectively found to be unconstitutional. In 2014, Washington State decided to unilaterally convert all domestic partnerships into… Read More »
Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and More; The Hazards of Social Media Profiles to Social Security Claims
The use of social media profiles to network professionally and to remain in touch personally is more common to most of us than retaining an old fashioned Rolodex of human relations. The advent of social media websites allows users to immediately post updates about themselves, announce new achievements or setbacks and broadcast them to… Read More »