Jeffrey A. Rabin & Associates, Ltd.

A frequent question from people who have been awarded either a period of disability and disability insurance benefits, or SSI benefits, is what work they can perform after the award and still maintain their eligibility for assistance.

One of the battles often fought by persons with CFS trying to obtain Social Security Disability Insurance and SSI benefits was resolved with the adoption of Social Security Ruling 99-2p. In this binding Ruling the Social Security Administration set out guidelines for adjudicators and judges to follow for claims based upon Chronic Fatigue Syndrome . This Ruling removes at least one of the barriers faced by Claimants.

Persons suffering from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSDS) or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome who are seeking Social Security Disability benefits received assistance with the issuance of a Social Security Ruling on October 20, 2003.

Patients seek doctors who can provide treatment and cures to allow them to return to their daily routines. Physicians practice medicine hoping to successfully diagnose and treat people with illnesses. These symbiotic goals usually allow for a cooperative doctor/patient relationship.

Social Security disability benefits are often the ultimate safety net for persons suffering from medical impairments that make it impossible for them to work. For most people, however, struggling through the Social Security Administration's bureaucracy is frustrating, confusing and slow. For people suffering with Lupus, the requirements of the Act can appear overwhelming.

The most perplexing question for many social service professionals is whether to suggest to a patient/client (we’ll use “patient”) to apply for Social Security disability benefits. Many doctors face the same dilemma when a patient announces that she has applied for benefits and requires the physician’s support that she is totally disabled.

Social Security disability benefits are often the ultimate safety net for persons suffering from medical impairments that make it impossible for them to work. For many people, however, struggling through the Social Security Administration's bureaucracy is frustrating, confusing and slow. For people suffering from conditions such as Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome , the requirements of the Social Security Act can become overwhelming.

For those who cannot work because of a disability, waiting a year or longer to find out whether they have been approved for Social Security disability benefits can be devastating, both personally and financially. Unfortunately, there appears to be no end in sight to the current backlog of disability claims plaguing the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the state-run Department of Disability Services (DDS) offices.

Many parents may believe that their disabled children will be able to continue receiving Social Security disability or SSI payments once they have reached 18 years old. However, this is not necessarily true. The federal government uses a different standard to determine disability status for children than it does for adults. Once disabled children turn 18, they will lose their benefits if they do not meet the adult disability standards.

Most people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Retirement Income (SSRI) benefits assume that their working lives are over. Many fear that if they are employed in any manner they will jeopardize their right to receive this vital monetary and medical assistance.