This is part two of a three part interview I conducted with attorney Bryan Konoski.  Bryan's practice is focused primarily on appellate work - filing appeals f...

This is part one of a three part interview I conducted with attorney Bryan Konoski.  Bryan is a Social Security disability attorney whose practice focuses on A...

What type of conduct does Social Security consider to be fraudulent?  Are you committing fraud if you exaggerate your symptoms or if there is no MRI to document your back pain claim?Or does SSA define fraud as conduct that goes far...

How do Social Security claims examiners (adjudicators) analyze disability claims and what do they do on a day to day basis?In this episode I speak to Greg Brinkley a former Social Security employee.  In his 27 year career with th...

Social Security disability judges call on vocational witnesses to testify at the vast majority of disability hearings.  Although you have never met this witness, he/she plays an important role in your hearing.Disability judges pose...

After trying thousands of cases over the past thirty years, I have a fairly good idea what types of cases are likely to be approved.   There are certain fact patterns and claimant profiles that I know will resonate with Social Security jud...

During the course of your Social Security disability case, SSA will send you dozens of forms.  These forms include documents with titles like "Function Report-Adult," "Disability Report -Adult," "Work History Report," "Activities of Da...

Social Security disability judges rely primarily on evidence to decide whether you qualify for disability benefits.  Within the last few years, SSA changed its procedure to remove "claimant credibility" as a factor that judges can use....

What can you do as an applicant for Social Security disability benefits to improve your chances at an approval?This is the third an final installment of my conversation for former Social Security staff attorney Spencer Bishins.  Sp...

What evidence to Social Security judges find most compelling and convincing?In part two of my interview with former Social Security staff attorney Spencer Bishens, we talk about how a disability judge's background can influence how that...

Recently the Washington Post and several other newspapers around the country have run stories about the ineffici...

When you are approved for Social Security disability benefits, you also become eligible for Medicare.  But you don't get Medicare coverage right away - instead, you don't become eligible for Medicare until 24 months after you first become ...

Why do some Social Security disability claims get approved within two to three months, whereas others are denied twice before you end up a year and a half later in front of a Social Security judge?More importantly, what can you do to im...

How can you improve your chances at winning Social Security disability benefits if you are struggling with a mental health condition like severe depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, PTSD or other issue that prevents you from working?...

What are proven strategies you or a loved one can use to win a mental health disability claim?This is part one of a two part episode in which I interview Scottsdale, Arizona attorney Jeffrey Herman about how he approaches the challenges...

Earlier this year I published part one of my interview with Cameron Connah, a former staff attorney with Social Security responsible for drafting approvals and denials to be released by Social Security judges.As a decision writer Camero...

What should you expect from your lawyer during the long delays typical of most Social Security disability claims?As you may know, Social Security moves at a snail's pace when deciding claims - it is not at all unusual for a case to take...

Would you be surprised to learn that the judge who hears your disability case is not the person who actually writes the approval or denial in your case?In the strange universe that is Social Security disability, a "decision writer" work...

After waiting as long as two years or more for your hearing, you are finally scheduled to appear before a Social Security disability judge to present your case for disability benefits.  Your hearing will last around 45 minutes so every...

The one constant in the Social Security disability program is delay.  You'll wait months for a decision after you apply, months for a decision on your appeal, and months for a hearing date.  After your hearing, you may wait weeks or m...

The federal government administers two huge disability programs - one for workers who can longer reliably perform a full time job (Social Security disability), and the second a program that pays cash benefits to soldiers injured while serving i...

What are the trends that we are seeing in the Social Security disability world and what can you expect in 2020 and beyond.If you have an active application for benefits, or if  you have already been approved but are concerned about...

Even though Social Security disability hearings are considered "informal" you will no doubt be stressed when you appear before the administrative law judge.  Judges are very busy - often understaffed and under pressure to close cases quick...

I get a lot of questions about Social Security disability hearings.  Disability hearings are unlike other court proceedings you may be familiar with because t...

If you are 50 years old or older you have an advantage when applying for Social Security disability.  In the last episode of this podcast I talked about the grid rules - a shortcut to winning for those over age 50.  But not everyone f...