Because it can take a long time to collect SSDI benefits, many individuals turn to other sources of income as a means of support. One source of income is unemployment benefits.

Each state administers its own Unemployment Insurance program.

The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act expanded each state’s ability to provide unemployment benefits for many workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for unemployment.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all claimants across the Bay Area are being offered the option to conduct their disability hearing via telephone. Claimants have the right to object to the telephonic hearing, but this leads to an indefinite postponement of their hearing until it is safe for in-person hearings to take place.

The Social Security Administration recently announced that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will soon receive their COVID-19 impact stimulus check. The recipients will receive their payment just as they normally receive their SSI benefits, either through direct deposit, Direct Express debit card, or by paper check.

At the LaPorte Law Firm, we take pride in providing information to our clients so that they know what to expect in terms of wait times. Our attorneys take care to give accurate and up to date wait-time estimations. Here is an updated list of current average wait times as of February 2019. Below we’ve provided a link to find out which hearing office has jurisdiction over your SSDI or SSI disability claim.

ow that Social Security administrative law judges are conducting hearings by telephone, many disability claimants are wondering how telephone hearings work. We have polled the attorney representatives at the LaPorte Law Firm to gather the top ten tips for testifying at your disability hearing by telephone. Based on our experience representing our clients at their telephonic hearings, here are the best 10 practices for ensuring the hearings by phone goes smoothly:

Last week, Congress passed a $2.2 trillion stimulus package to help the American public and the U.S. economy in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Key elements of the stimulus package include sending checks directly to individuals and families.

Individuals awarded Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are entitled to Medicare two years after receiving SSDI benefits. In 2018, over 8.2 million people on SSDI were covered by Medicare. Many SSDI/Medicare beneficiaries have questions about how Medicare will cover care for coronavirus related health issues.

Scammers are taking advantage of the Social Security Administration’s office closures due to coronavirus. These scammers are sending beneficiaries fraudulent letters threatening suspension of Social Security benefits unless they call a phone number.

As the effect of coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, we’re monitoring the latest news about its effect on the Social Security Administration and the processing of your SSDI and SSI applications. On March 16, the Social Security Administration announced that its offices would close throughout the country to protect workers and benefit recipients from the coronavirus pandemic.