Blog

In July 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Amendments of 1965 into law, creating the Medicare and Medicaid programs. For the first time, individuals aged 65 and older would be eligible for health insurance, regardless of their income, medical history or employment status. Since its inception nearly sixty years ago, Medicare has undergone substantial changes and improvements. It continues to

Individuals who find themselves unable to work due to a disabling condition will likely also find there are several important decisions to make to protect their financial future. For those disabled individuals who are over age 62 but have not yet reached “full retirement age” according to the Social Security Administration (SSA), an additional choice

When you apply for SSDI, a thorough review process begins to determine whether the applicant will be awarded Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits or if the claim will be denied.  While the steps of the process haven’t changed in many years, the pace and experience for today’s applicants have shifted. In recent years, the

Disability Determination Services (DDS) are state agencies that work with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to decide if someone applying for disability benefits qualifies due to a disability. They assess medical evidence to determine if an applicant is eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Here’s how DDS works:

Once a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claim has been filed and forwarded to the disability office for review, it is typical for applicants to receive questionnaires to complete. The most common questionnaire issued to applicants during the SSDI process is the Function Report, also known as the Activities of Daily Living.

Earlier this week, the Social Security Administration announced the addition of thirteen conditions to SSA’s Compassionate Allowances conditions list.   Created in 2008, the Compassionate Allowances program (CAL) identifies conditions and diagnoses that are so severe that they will automatically meet Social Security’s strict definition of disability. Once it is established that an applicant has a condition

Don’t let Medicare penalties drain your wallet. Enrolling in Medicare isn’t just about checking a box; it’s about timing. And if you miss that window, the consequences can be costly.  At Advocator Advantage, new enrollees are often surprised by penalties that could have been avoided with just a little foresight. Here’s a quick breakdown to

It can be stressful getting ready for a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) hearing. Here’s what you should know: The SSDI hearing is a key step in appealing a denied Social Security disability claim, and doing well is important because it’s often the last chance to get your benefits approved. The purpose of the hearing is