DISABILITY SURVIVAL GUIDE: NORTH ALABAMA EDITION

Now that you are getting Social Security Disability Insurance payments (SSDI) there are mistakes you must avoid.  Making these mistakes may jeopardize your continued eligibility for SSDI benefits : WORKING WHILE ON SSDI is the biggest mistake.  You are receiving SSDI benefits because you are not able to work.  If you return to work you demonstrate that you are indeed able to work and Social Security may terminate your benefits.  As you know, Social Security is constantly reviewing disability payments.  In 2025 , you have returned to Substantial Gainful Activity if you work and earn at least $1,620 per month (gross before tax). FAILING TO CONTINUE MEDICAL TREATMENT .  If you stop going to the doctor or stop following medical advice, it could jeopardize your SSDI benefits in case of a Continuing Disability Review (CDR).  In a review you will be asked to prove that you continue to meet the medical definition of disability .  If you haven't been ge...

  "Loose lips sink ships."  A few of you may remember that warning from World War II . I see much concern in 2025 about the future of the Social Security program .  Many people are afraid that their benefits are immediately in jeopardy.  They are not. Social Security continues to provide benefits through the terms of one president, then another, then another--without fail.  Presidents come and presidents go, but Social Security remains. The important financial lifeline for millions of elderly and disabled Americans was established in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of his New Deal .  Since then, no entitled beneficiary has ever missed a payment. Are there issues that will affect Social Security in the future?  Yes, of course.  In the last decade or so, the Social Security Administration has been paying out more money than it takes in.  Thus, it is paying benefits out of its reserves.  Those reserves will eventually run ...

WHY A LAWYER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? By Charles W. Forsythe @ The Forsythe Firm If you are not required to have a lawyer to deal with Social Security disability , why get one?  Here are 10 reasons why most disability claimant's use lawyers. 1.     The process is tough.  Trying to get Social Security disability is complex, confusing and laden with dozens of technical rules and regulations. 2.  While Social Security personnel will give you forms and offer limited advice, they will actually not work for you to help get you approved.  The work is up to you or your lawyer, if you have one. 3.  Most claims get denied.  In the initial application process, which can take up to 12 months, around 75 percent of claims are denied.  Here's where the process gets even more complicated, as the case moves into appeals . 4.  You are almost 3 times more likely to be approved when using a lawyer or qualified professional representative, accor...

If you've been denied Social Security disability benefits, don't delay.  Take action NOW to protect your claim and get all your benefits. The Social Security Administration will deny 8 out 10 disability claims filed in Alabama in 2025.  Many of these denials will come after a brief, mechanical review of the application.  Often, they will not get all of the medical evidence. Faulty denials are common. The majority of denied claims can be won and paid with appeals.  Yes, appeals are time consuming, complex and frustrating.  But they often get your money for you, including back pay or past due benefits. Here's how THE FORSYTHE FIRM can help you if you've recently been denied (denied within 60 days): 1.  We will meet with you and get to know your disability and your needs.  The consultation is free with no obligation. 2.  If you appoint us to represent you, we will review your denial carefully to see what went wrong. 3.  We will obtain any missin...

Will Social Security benefits for seniors be drastically cut by 2032? It isn't likely, although the Social Security trust funds have started to dry up. Up until 2021, Social Security took in more money than it spend and had surplus to invest.  However, in recent years it has spend more than it takes in and has had to rely upon reserves to continue paying full benefits. Experts keep revising the date when the system will become unable to pay full benefits.  The most recent estimate indicates that will happen in 2032. If nothing is done, there could be cuts of up to $18,000 per COUPLE for retirees in 2032 or after.  But few people think that's going to happen. The Congress is likely to intervene and save Social Security before drastic cuts take place.  It is unlikely that Congress will allow such cuts to take place. Social Security is "sacred" to US politicians.  Just the mention of cutting benefits (or even failing to allow an increase) is the death knell in poli...

Social Security disability is a very complicated, tedious affair.  One small mistake can delay your claim by months or even years.  A small omission or using the wrong wording can get your claim denied. That's why it's better to get someone to help who knows the rules and has a lot of experience dealing with the Social Security Administration. Here are a FEW examples of how a mistake on your application or appeal can cost you dearly:   Wrong Onset Date.  You will be asked to provide an alleged onset date. Your claim can potentially pay back to this date.  Use the wrong date and you may lose thousands of dollars in pay. Income After Your Alleged Onset Date (AOD):   If you have non-earned (non-job related) income after your AOD, Social Security may mistakenly use that to deny your claim.  It is important to identify such income and explain it to Social Security in the beginning. Insufficient Work Credits.   I recently represented a person who had ...