Trial Work Period If a disabled person returns to work while collecting SSD benefits, he must notify the Social Security Administration. He is entitled to a “trial work period” under the Social Security rules and is still entitled to receive Social Security disability benefits during the trial work period. If gross earnings (even part time) […]

The Social Security Administration has 165 offices nationwide which hold hearings. The Orland Park/South Suburban office is the most efficient of the local hearing offices. It ranks #10 nationally with an average processing time of 300 days. Chicago (#88), Evanston (#95) and Oak Brook Terrance (#100) require 381 to 395 days respectively. This reflects a […]

The Social Security Act protects Social Security Disability and SSI Benefits from garnishment and the claims of judgment creditors. Unfortunately, many creditors nevertheless, sought to garnish or attach the accounts which resulted in the banks temporarily putting a freeze on the accounts. As a result, a beneficiary did not have access to their funds until […]

The backlog of social security disability cases awaiting hearings is at record levels, having soared to 755,000 in 2007. In 2000, the social security disability hearing backlog was only 311,000 nationwide. National news reports on the subject appeared in the New York Times (12/10/07) and CBS Evening News (1/4/08 and 1/15/08) and in the USA […]

Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, the Honorable Carolyn Colvin, spoke at the May 2013 convention of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives in Washington, D.C. She emphasized that reducing the disability claim backlog remains a top priority. However, budget cuts have slowed the progress. New Requests for Hearing cases, which had […]