Social Security Benefit Increase in 2013 May Be Hard to Notice

Recently, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that it will increase the Social Security payments by 1.7 percent next year.

Accordingly, it is one of the smallest increases in the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) since the automatic annual increase in benefits took effect in 1975. In fact, it is only the sixth time that the adjustment has been less than 2 percent since the program was launched.

In addition, this year, recipients received a 3.6 percent increase after having no increase at all in the past two years.

Incidentally, it was as early as 1940 when the first recipient started receiving benefit payment and since then, each increase in COLA had to be approved by Congress.

Since 1950, Congress had made several amendments, removing political pressures from the annual process. Furthermore, the increase becomes automatic and based on mathematical computations using standard statistical gauges.

At present, retirees usually receive an average of $1,237.00 a month. Therefore, the increase will be about $21.00 a month to the recipients’ payments. However, the agency warned other beneficiaries that their social security increase will be partially or completely withheld by increases in Medicare premiums.

Generally, the Medicare premium is now almost $100.00 a month and in the future it is more likely to increase by $7.00 a month once the federal government decided to put up an increase. The Part B premium usually covers doctor’s visits.

Consequently, according to AARP executive vice president, Nancy LeaMond, the humble COLA adjustment will only be consumed by healthcare and prescription costs of seniors, which constantly surpass inflation.

The AARP, or the American Association of Retired Persons, is an organization that lobbies on behalf of senior citizens.

LeaMond further said that seniors and other recipients keep struggling to make both ends meet. Nevertheless, they still feel like falling further.

As previously reported, the federal agency is currently experiencing financial crisis as a result of the economic recession. Therefore, the same is currently working its way to reduce its expenditures. In fact, the agency recently shut down nearly 50 field offices and trimmed office hours by thirty minutes twice already.

Also, it will allegedly layoff nearly 40,000 jobs this year. Subsequently, the most probable reason why the agency will have another increase, which is less than the average 2 percent hike, seems to have something to do with its cost cutting efforts, speculated by a Los Angeles social security disability lawyer.

Rep. Allen West Calls Social Security Disability as ‘Modern Slavery’

In his statement on Sunday, Florida Repubican Rep. Allen West said that the Social Security Disability Insurance is a form of modern slavery.

According to West in his interview with the Fox News, as of June 2009, some 2.4 million jobs in private sectors have been created. However, the country has a total of 3.1 million people leaning to social disability. In addition, as noted just last month, some 85,000 in fact turn to Social Security disability as compared to 80,000 jobs created.

West believes that the current administration is only creating a sense of economic dependence, which is a form of modern slavery.

As of this moment, the total number of workers receiving disability benefits has reached more than 8.7 million. In fact, the number exceeded the total number of population of New York City by more than 500,000.

It can be recalled that on West’s indictments a couple of weeks ago, he used the same term “slave” when he described President Barack Obama’s desire of making Americans to be his slave and to become economically dependent on him.

West explained that self-esteem comes from doing admirable things. Sitting at home while waiting for the SSDI check from the government won’t bring out a person’s self esteem. Hence, as a result, people would simply rely on the economy and be a slave forever, according to reports.

Furthermore, West also expressed his displeasure on the economic vision laid out by the current republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney. It had been actually voiced out by other conservatives in the past few weeks.

Based on West’s statements, which mainly tackle the growing issue of rapidly increasing number of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) dependents, he believes that Americans should probably seek for someone with an exceptionality and distinctiveness to rule over the country towards better economy.

Meanwhile, a Los Angeles social security disability lawyer, although closely monitoring every details of the story, remains discreetly believing that Americans have their ways to determine which one would save them from the economic upset.

Increase Your Chances of Getting Approved for Social Security Disability Insurance

An individual who had been injured and can no longer perform a job may face several difficulties in filing for a social security disability insurance (SSDI) claim. Therefore, it is most important that the claim must be approved during the first time of filing.

During the filing of claim, having a social security disability lawyer to represent an individual is very necessary since such legal representative is capable of handling the claim from start to finish.

By doing so, one can focus on living a usual life while providing an accurate documentation to support the claim.

Below are some ways to increase your chances of getting approved for social security disability insurance claim. Whether you are applying for the first time, or have been denied, the following tips could help your cause:

•    Know if your physician supports your disability claim.

It is important to have your physician fill out a residual functional capacity (RFC) form together with a detailed explanation of your disability and how the condition prevents you from going back to work.

•    Submit all copies of pertinent papers and documents.

Furnish all required copies of medical records during the initial application and if you are already filing for an appeal, also submit copies of your initial applications through each appeal process. Don’t forget to attach the most recent update of your disability as well if there is any.

•    Always cooperate with the claims examiner handling your case.

This includes immediately responding to notices and correspondences and attending to all medical examinations set forth for you.

•    Stay updated regarding the status and progress of your case.

If you have a legal representative, you will not have to worry too much regarding the update of your case since your representative is the one responsible in checking for the updates and progress of your case.

•    Do not miss important deadlines.

Missing deadlines can cause you to start the case all the way from the beginning of its processing. Therefore, it is important to take note of your schedules.

•    Always keep in touch with the professionals handling your claims.

Remember to always keep open lines of communication not only with your lawyer, but also with the representatives and examiners handling your claim.

If ever you have been denied of your initial claim, solicit the expertise of Los Angeles social security disability lawyer to ensure that you’ll get the maximum benefits that you deserve.