“Social Security Matters: Major Depression and Disability,” by Gabriel Hermann and Lewis Insler can now be found in the most recent edition of Mental Health News online by clicking here.

In reviewing a Social Security disability benefits claim, a Social Security Administration (SSA) Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) often considers the opinions of a variety of individuals, including treating and consulting doctors, people familiar with a claimant’s daily activities and vocational professionals, referred to in the claims process as vocational experts (VEs). In Colon v. Commissioner...

Social Security Reform Hearing Our elected officials in Washington, D.C. recently held the second in a series of hearings aimed at strengthening the Social Security disability system, this one focused on increasing accuracy in determining who is and who is not eligible for benefits. “For every one tenth of one percent Social Security improves its...

In a recent post, we explained a Social Security case in New York City in which the reviewing court looked at a disability claimant’s Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score in part to determine the severity of the claimant’s mental impairment. It’s easy to lose sight of this tool in a shed full of strange...

One of a handful of factors that the SSA and reviewing judges consider in determining whether a claimant is eligible for Social Security disability benefits is whether the claimant’s impairment(s) is sufficiently severe. In Parker-Grose v. Astrue, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals explains some of the evidence that can be used to meet this...

As experienced Social Security disability attorneys with more than 50 years of combined experience representing clients in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, we’ve long known that the outcome of a particular case can depend on which Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) from the Social security Administration (SSA) is assigned to hear it. After a year...

In March v. Commissioner of Social Security, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal explains that, in determining whether a disability benefits claimant retains the ability to perform work, a judge must take into account all of the Plaintiff’s physical and mental limitations. The Social Security Administration (SSA) denied Plaintiff Vickie March’s initial claim for Social...

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal’s recent ruling in Smith v. Astrue is an excellent example of how a seasoned Social Security disability lawyer can assist a claimant seeking disability benefits. Plaintiff Evangeline Smith filed a claim for Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, due to a painful joint condition. The...

Check out another recent Social Security disability success story just posted to our website. Our client had been fighting to receive disability payments on her own and with another attorney since 2006, but had made no progress. We are so happy we could help her! Click here to read more!

For many claimants, the road to Social Security disability benefits includes a pit stop at a hearing before a Social Security judge. As experienced disability attorneys who have represented thousands of Social Security claimants, our view is that this is a claimant’s best opportunity to win his or her case. At hearing, the claimant has...

A person seeking Social Security disability benefits is not required to be represented by an attorney. However, as the Second Circuit Court of Appeal’s ruling in Giunta v. Commissioner of Social Security makes clear, there are many reasons why a claimant may want legal counsel. Plaintiff Joseph Giunta, a Flushing, New York resident, filed a...