Steps in Securing SSI Child Disability Benefits

SSI Child disability benefit is a program created to help parents provide the best care for their disabled children. Therefore, it is very important for parents to know the two major steps in securing SSI child disability benefits.

For the benefit and ease of applicants, the Social Security Administration (SSA) provided a downloadable SSI child disability report in its official website for its members. This is for the purpose of enabling applicants to complete the report from home. In that way, applicants can have all the time gathering resources to support their application such as medical records and others. Furthermore, they can also allot time for researching.

Accordingly, applicants can either fill up their child disability reports over the phone or in person at a satellite SSA office. A disability report is strictly required by the agency when applying for SSI child disability benefits.

For the next and final step, after filling out the child disability report, you will be scheduled for an interview, which you should not miss. Generally, you will need the same information you used to accomplish the child disability report with regard to  your child’s medical history. Also, keep in mind that a child’s education background, including any early intervention or special education services, may be asked during the interview.

By the way, before actually speaking with the agency’s representative, you may want to review first the checklist available in its official web page to be sure.

Moreover, talking about children’s disability benefit, a child should have a medically determinable disabling condition that limits functions.

Now, other than said the said important steps in filing for an SSI child disability benefits, a Los Angeles SSI Lawyer can provide other important details and give you an advice on how to best build a strong claim for fast approval.

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2 Women Hide Man in Cooler to Collect Social Security Disability Checks

At least two women were charged with unlawful disposal of remains, mutilating, or disinterring human remains and theft after deputies found out that they hid a man’s dead body inside a cooler in order to collect the decedent’s social security disability checks.

Through the DNA test conducted by the coroner’s office, the dead body was identified as Charles Fisher, a social security disability recipient during his lifetime. The decedent was actually the father of one of the two accused women, Debra Fisher, 58.

According to reports, Fisher and her roommate, Heidi Todd, 44, hid the man’s body inside a huge ice chest in their apartment in South Military Road. Upon discovering the body, the deputies found out that the man’s hands were sliced off, probably to shrink the body to fit inside the cooler.

Based on the investigation, the man died of natural causes about 12 months to 2 years before the discovery of his body and since his death, Fisher and Todd started collecting the man’s social security disability checks.

Accordingly, authorities from St. Tammy Parish concluded that the two stole nearly $34,000.00 worth of social security disability funds before their misdeed was discovered last March.

The Sheriff’s Office explained that the man was receiving $1,315.00 monthly as his social security disability payment during his lifetime. The payment was deposited directly to his checking account. Therefore, authorities believed that the women transferred the man’s fund to Debra Fisher’s bank account via electronic means.

Accordingly, Fisher and Todd are now in jail facing multiple charges, including theft. They both remain in police custody. Additionally, Debra was not allowed to pay for her bond while Todd’s bond was set at $50,000.00.

Los Angeles social security disability lawyers believe that this is just one of the rare cases of social security disability fraud. In fact, among millions of applicants and recipients of the program, a great part of them accounts for scams and frauds. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is quite aware of issues similar to this case. Therefore, the agency provided several options for people on how to report such frauds to help the federal government get rid of them.

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Victim Wins Disability Benefits Claim against AT&T

A woman suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) recently won her disability benefits claim through the Employee Retirement Security Income Act of 1974.

The former AT&T employee suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome for years. Her condition was previously tolerable but in 2008, she began feeling weak, had trouble thinking, and had suicidal attempts.

The woman underwent several medical evaluations in which two doctors found out that she was unable to function due to her moderately severe depression. Both physicians increased her medication and recommended to AT&T that the woman needs an extensive medical leave to allow for her medical treatment for depression and anxiety. 

Later on, the woman claimed for a disability benefit, which the AT&T denied. The company claimed that even though the woman’s condition had not improved since 2006, she had not provided any objective evidence of her claim. Incidentally, such ground is actually a common tactic of most insurers to deny lawful coverage.

The woman subsequently appealed the decision, but lost. Therefore, she was required to get back to work in a couple of months, but instead of returning to work, the woman decided to retire and then filed a lawsuit.

In her lawsuit, the woman claimed that the insurer violated the Employee Retirement Security Income Act (ERISA) since she was qualified for benefits under AT&T’s disability benefit plan. Fortunately, the court sided with her, saying that AT&T and the insurer abused their benefits discretion when they terminated the woman’s long-term disability benefits. Moreover, the court concluded that the actions of the insurer were “illogical and without support.” Therefore, the court ruled that the law had been disregarded in this case. Eventually, the woman won her disability benefit claim.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a life-altering disability characterized by severe and constant tiredness that is not relieved no matter how much a person rests. It can be directly caused by other medical condition. Typically, the condition occurs in women between the ages 30 and 50. 

Sooner or later, more people are going to suffer not only from chronic fatigue syndrome but from other disabling illnesses as well. Therefore, this litigation hopefully would be noted by people experiencing such illegitimate denials from an insurer company. Know your legal rights, a Los Angeles long term disability lawyer advised.

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