Social Security Disability: Just Apply

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Jim Reed

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It was about a week before Jack Schamel retired that I last wrote a blog post. Since that time I’ve had about all I can do to keep up with hearings, client meetings, phone calls and everything else. I’ve missed writing the occasional blog because I find it satisfying to know that some of the folks reading my blogs are actually helped by them. Enough knuckle cracking. Let’s get down to it.

Just doing it is really the theme of this post, which is about encouraging folks to apply for Social Security Disability. I’ve had too many people come to me who would clearly be disabled for purposes of Social Security Disability, but for a variety of reasons either didn’t apply before their date last insured (DLI) or didn’t appeal the decision denying them benefits for an impairment onset date before their DLI. For a more in-depth discussion of DLI, see my blog post “Social Security Disability and Date Last Insured.”

While it is certainly true that if you can prove that the onset of your impairment occurred before your DLI you would be entitled to benefits, this is not the way to go. By applying and, if necessary, appealing a denial (preferably with the assistance of an attorney), you and your attorney should be working with your medical providers to ensure that Social Security has the medical evidence of your impairment.

The bottom line is: you should apply and if you’re denied benefits hire an attorney experienced at Social Security Disability. Please see my blog post “Social Security Disability: Getting Started” in which I have the link to apply for benefits online.

You have nothing to gain by waiting and, if you’re fortunate enough to recover from your disability and return to work, you may be eligible for a closed period of disability for the time you were out of work. In other words, just apply.

Thanks for reading,
Eric

___________________________________________
Eric L. Johnson, Esq.
Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability Attorney
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14902
Tel: (607) 733-8866
Fax: (607) 732-6062
Toll Free: 1-800-943-3529
Email: ejohnson@zifflaw.com
Web: http://www.zifflaw.com

‘Hard Work and Perseverance’ Sustain ZiffLaw Scholarship Winner

Posted on May 21, 2009 by Jim Reed

It is very inspiring to come across a young person who has the insight and fortitude to realize that adversity can become a source of strength. To be able to help such a student achieve their dreams is incredibly rewarding.

I’m very proud to announce that Pamela Miller, a senior at Southside High School in Elmira, is a winner of the ZiffLaw Overcoming Adversity Scholarship. Pamela will receive $1,000 to pursue her plans to study international relations and Spanish.

This scholarship is administered by the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes and awarded to a student attending high school in Chemung County, or at Corning East or West, Waverly, Sayre or Athens high schools. Financial need is strongly considered, but the primary criteria is we look to help a student who overcame some adversity and prevailed through hard work and perseverance.

Pamela certainly qualifies. She contributed a personal essay describing a family tragedy, her father’s suicide, that would leave any child wondering, “Why did this happen to my family?”

“I honestly feel that no one should have to endure what my family and I have gone through…” she writes. “… However, as horrible as some of my life’s experiences have been, I try to extract some good out of them. I realize that the family I do have I must cherish with all my heart and we continue to grow closer every day.”

Pamela is in the top 15 percent of her class and a member of the varsity cheerleading and track teams; Key Club, National Honor Society and History Club. She is also Secretary of Concert Choir and a Youth Rotary Scholar.

There is another winner this year: Alison Bixby, a student at Thomas Edison High School in Elmira. I’ll post another entry telling more about Alison.

Both winners deserve recognition for their ability to excel and not dwell on the past.

A description of the ZiffLaw Overcoming Adversity Scholarship and an application is available on the Community Foundation website. If you know of a deserving student, please encourage him or her to apply for next year’s scholarship.

Thanks for reading,
Jim
_________________________________________
James B. Reed, Esq.
Personal Injury & Malpractice Attorney
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14902
Tel. (607) 733-8866 Fax. (607) 732-6062
Toll Free 1-800-943-3529
mailto:jreed@zifflaw.com http://www.zifflaw.com

Edison High School Student Awarded ZiffLaw Scholarship

Posted on May 20, 2009 by Jim Reed

Alison Bixby is an exceptional student. A senior at Thomas Edison High School in Elmira, she is the salutatorian of her class and senior class president. She is a member of the cheerleading team, a Junior Rotarian, and a past president and secretary of her class. Alison has also contributed many volunteer hours at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira.

What may not be obvious about Alison is that she has had overcome personal adversity to accomplish all of this. “I think that the events in my life have only made me a stronger, more compassionate person,” she writes.

Alison is a winner of a $1,000 ZiffLaw Overcoming Adversity Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually to local high school students who have overcome significant personal hardship. It is administered by the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes.

(There is an additional winner this year – Pamela Miller, a senior at Southside High School. Pamela’s story is detailed in another post.)

Alison plans to study nursing and describes her goal as to become a geriatric nurse practioner. I think it’s a rare thing for a young person to say they want to help those who have had a long life. Alison says she feels that she “can give the one-on-one patient care that is needed at this age and build wonderful relationships.”

It’s a very good feeling to contribute to such a goal, especially one from a deserving, hardworking student.

If you know of a student who has prevailed despite adversity, encourage him or her to apply for the ZiffLaw Overcoming Adversity Scholarship. A complete description of the criteria for the award, as well as an application, is available on the Community Foundation website, www.communityfund.org.

Insurance We Truly Need: Proposed Law Would Make Changes to Protect New York’s Motorists

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Jim Reed

I recently met with Assemblywoman Donna A. Lupardo (D-Endwell) on behalf of the New York State Trial Lawyers. It was wonderful to meet with Assemblywoman Lupardo, in part because we got to discuss briefly an issue that is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to all New York State drivers.

What SUM means for drivers

Many New York residents are unaware of the imperative to purchase Supplemental Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist (SUM) coverage.

What SUM provides is coverage from your insurance company to protect you and your passengers if the other driver is driving illegally without insurance, or driving with policy limits that are not high enough to cover your damages.

New York state requires insurance companies to offer this coverage, up to the amount of liability coverage on your vehicle. However, the insurance company does not have to automatically increase a motorist’s SUM limits to equal their liability limits. (Things are different in Pennsylvania, where I also practice. There, SUM limits increase automatically with liability limits.)

Now, legislation has been introduced by Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow (D-Westchester) that would make insurance companies do the same in New York State.

On Assemblywoman Lupardo’s request, I’ve sent her a copy of my book, “Learn the Five Deadly Mistakes that Can Kill Your Accident Case.” I’ve let her know of my support for this new legislation. I think it’s vital coverage that many of my clients over the past 23 years could have benefited from.

As I wrote to Assemblywoman Lupardo, it only makes sense that if you are going to purchase additional liability coverage to protect others, you certainly would want to make sure that you and your own family have the same coverage in the event of being injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver.

I urge my readers to let your state assembly representatives know that this consumer protection legislation is important to you. If you would like to know more about this issue, visit the Ziff Law Firm website to request a free copy of my book for yourself, or e-mail me directly. Don’t hesitate – I know from experience that very few people know about or have SUM coverage. The premiums are low, but the consequences are high if you don’t have SUM insurance.