Posts by Robert Alston
How to Collect Social Security Spousal Benefits
The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) pays spousal insurance benefits to the spouses of workers who are eligible to receive Social Security disability or retirement benefits. If you are an eligible spouse of a worker who qualifies for Social Security benefits, you can claim spousal benefits regardless of your own work history. Who Is Eligible…
Read MoreReasons to Speak With a Social Security Disability Attorney
If you have a disability that prevents you from maintaining gainful employment, you may be entitled to Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. However, the process of claiming those benefits is often complicated and challenging. Speaking with an SSD lawyer right from the start can make your life easier in many ways. Receive a Preliminary Evaluation…
Read MoreSocial Security Administration to Implement Major Changes to Disability Insurance
The beneficiary rolls of the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program are increasing rapidly, as is public and legislative scrutiny over the process. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is making major changes. A recent article on the Wall Street Journal’s blog outlines six changes currently underway for the SSDI. Occupations: When considering an applicant for SSDI,…
Read MoreNHTSA Announces 5 to Drive Campaign to Help Parents Instill Safe Driving Habits in Teens
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced a new safety campaign to reduce the rate of fatal auto accidents among teenage drivers. The campaign, called “5 to Drive,” encourages parents to discuss one safety topic each day with their teenage children. The five topics are: Refraining from cell phone usage, including text messaging…
Read MoreReallocate Payroll Taxes to Shore Up Social Security Disability Trust Fund
In American politics, partisan gridlock is the norm. It is therefore not terribly surprising that Congress has so far delayed reforming Social Security for retirees. After all, reforms to extend the program’s solvency would require increases to payroll taxes, cuts to benefits, or both – all politically toxic proposals. And the program’s trust fund is…
Read MoreSocial Security Audit Shows Agency Has Overpaid $1.3 Billion in Disability Benefits
According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Social Security Administration (SSA) has made significant overpayments to some recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance, causing some of those individuals a great deal of trouble. The SSA is reluctant to admit the mistakes, but worker advocacy groups and beneficiaries’ attorneys say the agency is to blame.…
Read MoreAmid Rising Pedestrian Fatality Rates, Federal Agencies Unveil Grants and Online Tools for Safety Initiatives
A recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) covering auto accidents involving pedestrians shows that in 2011, for the second year in a row, the number of pedestrian fatalities increased from the year before. In response, the Department of Transportation (DOT), which includes the NHTSA, announced the availability of pedestrian safety grants…
Read MoreU.S. Traffic Deaths Increased in 2012 for First Time Since 2005
Each year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration makes a detailed analysis of auto accident statistics in the U.S. Compiling and studying the data takes a long time, and the full reports are not ready until about 18 months after the end of the calendar year. But a preliminary report on auto accident fatalities in…
Read MoreWill Florida’s Texting-While-Driving Ban Prevent Car Accidents?
Florida has enacted a ban on texting while driving, but critics say the law has no teeth. Gov. Rick Scott signed the bill into law on May 28, 2013. The ban prohibits the use of cell phones for sending text messages or email while driving under most circumstances. But “most circumstances” comes with a number…
Read MoreHiring an Attorney Can Ease Stress of a SSDI Appeal
Appealing a Social Security disability claim can seem like a daunting task, but the chances of that claim being successful increase significantly with the help of a qualified SSD attorney. Many claimants balk at the idea of hiring an attorney because of cost, but they often do not realize that there is no up-front cost…
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