Social Security Online

I would encourage everyone to use the online services available at Social Security online . If you need to file a disability appeal, you can do so online. It is easy to provide the necessary information and if you need more time you can save your file and come back to it. The most valuable thing to me is that I have proof that the appeal was timely filed and that my clients rights were protected.

Social Security earnings

At this time of year, people have income tax filing on their minds. Not only do you have to declare your income for income tax purposes, but your earned income also counts on your Social Security record. To be eligible for regular Social Security disability, you must have worked at least 5 out of the last 10 years. Or if you have worked continuously for ten years, then you will continue to be insured for disability 5 years from the date you stop work.

For 2008, you must earn at least $1,050 each quarter of the year to have the earnings credited to your Social Security account. Often I see self-employed individuals, who although they have gross earnings, have expenses in excess of these earnings, resulting in a net loss. So even though these individuals are working, they do not receive credit for purposes of regular Social Security disability.

Carefully review your Social Security earnings record to make sure you have received proper credit for your earnings.

Processing times by hearing office

A recent survey indicated that the average processing time of a social security disability case by the Orlando hearing office is 426 days, or a little over 14 months. Compared to other hearing offices in the country, Orlando was ranked 53 out of 148 in fastest processing time.