Social Security Disability

The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) disability determination process has five phases: initial application, reconsideration, ALJ hearing, appeals council review, and a federal court decision. While benefits could be awarded immediately to a select few qualifying applicants, the process for most claimants is far from linear, with over half of initial applications denied. The SSA releases […]

On Thursday, October 12th, Social Security announced that the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2024 will be 3.2%. This adjustment follows a 5.9% COLA in 2022 and a record-high increase of 8.7% in 2023.  This coming year, Social Security beneficiaries will see a 3.2% boost to their monthly paychecks to combat inflation, which continues to increase the cost of living and

Henson Fuerst Attorneys is proud to be the Executive Sponsor of Disability Rights North Carolina’s 2023 Disability Advocacy Conference. This annual, one-day event will take place on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023, at the McKimmon Center and focuses on how to be “Stronger Together” to advance disability justice in North Carolina. North Carolina residents with disabilities, family members, policy-makers, and

A topic that often turns very contentious in a disability hearing is the “medical necessity” of an assistive device (e.g., canes, walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, etc.). Often, claimants who have problems standing, walking, or balancing rely on assistive devices to get around. The problem is that many claimants decide to use the assistive device on their

If your Social Security disability application is denied, you will likely have to attend a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to appeal the decision. It’s normal to feel nervous about this process, but the more you inform yourself about what to expect at the hearing, the better. Knowing what types of

On October 14, 2022, the Social Security Administration announced an 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that will begin in January 2023. This is the largest COLA adjustment in 40 years and was approved to address the high inflation rate. The adjustment will impact both Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and the

In November 2021 when Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was also created. This program is designed to provide high-speed internet to millions of Americans who would otherwise be unable to afford the rising costs of internet services. To be eligible, if your household income is twice the federal poverty

As of June 1, 2022, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has resumed in-person disability hearings on a limited basis, subject to strict COVID protocols, including mask mandates, limited hearing room capacity, hearings scheduled each day and hearing office access to non-claimants and physical barriers between the ALJ, attorney and claimant. Only certain case types will

Acting Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner, Dr. Kilolo Kijakazi, recently announced that the cap on attorney fees in disability claims has been raised from $6,000 to $7,200, effective November 30, 2022. The last time the attorney fee cap was raised was in 2009. For Social Security disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claimants, the

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced, in an effort to combat the increasing inflation rate, that a significant cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is likely by the end of 2022. The COLA will potentially be as high as 8%, which would mark the largest COLA adjustment since 1981 (when beneficiaries received an 11.2% adjustment). While the