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Social Security Online, the official website of the U.S. Social Security Administration, got a makeover. The site definitely looks easier to use. It has always been a terrific source of information.

Please visit Social Security Online and have a look for yourself.

Thanks for reading,
Eric

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Eric L. Johnson
Ziff, Weiermiller, Hayden & Mustico, 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

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While Social Security recipients have the option to receive direct deposit of their benefit check directly to their bank account, many folks don’t have a bank account and have to go through the hassle of receiving paper checks and the expense of check cashing. That’s going to be a thing of the past. A debit card system will be in effect nationwide by October.

Dallas, Texas Attorney Bob Kraft wrote a great blog post entitled “Social Security Recipients Can Get Their Monthly Payments On Debit Cards.” I have posted the text of that post below for you. Read the rest…

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The other day I heard a Feed The Pig public service announcement (”PSA”) on how Americans are generally spending more than they’re making. In case you’re wondering, Feed the Pig is a component of the 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy campaign by the Ad Counsel and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

That PSA got me thinking a little about my own spending habits. Our culture encourages us to spend. I need a constant reminder to save.

We serve folks in the areas of injury law, Workers’ Compensation, Social Security Disability, family law and bankruptcy who often come to us in the most dire financial straits. I happened across a great blog post by Boston area attorney Steven Ballard that gives some great financial tips that I know I can use. I have put the text of that post below for you. Read the rest…

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Too often we have folks come in who have had work injuries and their income was unreported. While these folks are still eligible for medical benefits under the Workers’ Comp. Law, they are not eligible for wage payments because they have no reported income.

Unfortunately, if you don’t have wage payments and you can’t afford to take time off work, the medical benefit may be meaningless. Furthermore, you’re out of luck when it comes to a schedule loss of use or any payment under the Workers’ Comp. Law based on wage payments. It gets worse.

By filing a Workers’ Comp. claim you will likely alert the Internal Revenue Service and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance to the fact that you have income for which you haven’t paid taxes. Absolutely nothing good can come of that!

Additionally, if your income is unreported, you’re giving up not only Workers’ Comp. benefits, but unemployment benefits and Social Security benefits as well. So, if you’re thinking about not reporting your income, please think again. Come back for my next post in which I will discuss honesty and Workers’ Comp. claims.

Thanks for reading,
Eric

___________________________________
Eric L. Johnson
Ziff, Weiermiller, Hayden & Mustico, 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

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Social Security pays disability benefits to people who have met the earnings requirement and who cannot work because they have a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death.

On occasion we have folks who haven’t filed an application for benefits come to us for representation with regard to their Social Security Disability claim. Generally we advise folks that they don’t need representation unless their application was denied.

The system was set up for claimants to make the application themselves and, frankly, by doing the application yourself you’re going to save money and probably get it done more quickly. After all, the initial application for benefits asks questions regarding your personal and medical history, which only you would know.

You can apply using the Online Social Security Benefit Application.

Good luck and thanks for reading,
Eric

____________________________________________
Eric L. Johnson
Ziff, Weiermiller, Hayden & Mustico, 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

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Bob Kraft is a Dallas, Texas attorney practicing in the areas of Social Security Disability and personal injury. He wrote an excellent blog today titled “Fatal Mistakes Social Security Disability Clients Make.” The text of which is pasted below.

“Fatal” Mistakes Social Security Disability Clients Make

This is a short list of mistakes we have seen our clients make over the years. Whether you are our client, another lawyer’s client, or simply trying to represent yourself in a claim for Social Security Disability benefits, you should read this list carefully and maybe you can avoid making one of these “fatal” mistakes.

* Not being completely honest with the lawyer regarding medical conditions, work status, and drug or alcohol use.

* Not going to the doctor regularly or not taking all the medications prescribed by the doctor.

* Not attending all meetings scheduled with the lawyer.

* Not keeping Social Security and the lawyer informed of the client’s current address and telephone number.

* Committing a crime that would cause Social Security to question the client’s credibility.

* Saying anything untruthful during the hearing with the Administrative Law Judge.

* Continuing to smoke while claiming disability for heart or respiratory disease.

* Not reading all letters from Social Security or from the lawyer, and missing a deadline contained in a letter.

* Using illegal drugs or abusing legal drugs and alcohol.

* Not attending medical examinations scheduled by Social Security.

* Failing to tell the lawyer about every doctor the client has seen.

Thanks for reading,
Eric

____________________________________________
Eric L. Johnson
Ziff, Weiermiller, Hayden & Mustico, 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

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