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.

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.

After the stay-at-home order that went into effect in California on March 19, 2020, COVID-19 is impacting every person and business across the state. At the LaPorte Law Firm we recognize that this period is a time of great uncertainty, and the ground seems to be shifting with the rapidly evolving crisis.

The shelter in place order that went into effect on March 17, 2020 impacts over 7 million people across six bay area counties. The order is expected to last until at least April 7, 2020. This is an uncertain time for everyone, especially our clients who have waited for years for their disability hearing and now face potential further delays due to the coronavirus.