An Overview of The Social Security Disability Claims Process Written by SS Home
The Social Security Disability claims process can have many steps depending on how many times your claim is rejected and you appeal. Overall, there are five stages, each with its own format, rules, and decision makers. The first four stages are within Social Security Administration, and last stage is independent of Social Security. More resourcesThe initial stage takes place after you file a Social Security Disability claim with Social Security office. Your original claim is reviewed by a disability examiner working at Disability Determination agency in your state. This disability examiner will review your file, medical records, and other important information and consult with a doctor to determine if you are disabled and eligible for Social Security benefits. Unfortunately, claimant will typically not know identity of his or her disability examiner, and will have no personal contact with examiner. Overall, 60% of claims at this stage are rejected. If disability examiner rejects your claim, which is very typical, you can request an appeal called “reconsideration.” Reconsideration, as name suggests, is less like an appeal and more like asking Social Security to take a second look at your claim and “reconsider” its decision. As in initial stage, another disability examiner in your local Disability Determination agency will review your claim and issue a decision. Also, as before, claimant will not have any personal contact with examiner. Generally, 80% of claims at this stage are rejected. If disability examiner rejects your claim after reconsideration stage, claimant can again appeal and request a hearing with an administrative law judge. At hearing stage claimant will actually takes his case before a live judge in hopes of receiving a different decision. Though this might seem intimidating, this is typically first stage in which claimant will be able to present his case and talk with decision maker. The hearing is informal compared to most legal settings, and typically will include claimant, claimant’s attorney, administrative law judge, his secretary, and a vocational expert to testify as to claimant’s disability and limitations. The hearing will not have a jury or an audience, and Social Security will not be represented by an attorney. After reviewing claim, judge will determine if claim is valid independent of prior decisions of disability examiners. Statistically, over half of claims at this stage are successful.
| | Coffee Lovers with Heartburn Have a New OptionWritten by Tonya Sage
Every month, 60 million Americans experience heartburn and 15 million of those Americans suffer daily. Heartburn, indigestion and upset stomach cause countless Americans to limit their intake of their favorite foods like coffee. Doctors frequently restrict or eliminate coffee to help control painful churning in their patient’s stomachs. Consumption of prescription and OTC medications to relieve heartburn has reached an all time high. Unfortunately, reducing your naturally occurring stomach acid exposes you to several new health concerns. New research suggests that relying on drugs like Nexium and Prilosec may increase your risk of developing pneumonia. Improperly digested food and lower food poisoning protection are just a few other complications associated with lower levels of stomach acid. Routine consumption of stomach acid altering drugs, even antacids, has become a necessity for coffee lovers to continue enjoying their favorite drink.On a daily basis, coffee drinkers with sensitive stomachs struggle with a painfully difficult decision. Is their cherished “morning coffee” worth hours of stomach pain or discomfort? Can they endure pain (so they can have their coffee) or should they consume another round of stomach acid altering drugs? What is a coffee lover with a sensitive stomach supposed to do?
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