LDP LAW

In a press release issued on October 11, SSA announced a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2019.  According to a fact sheet about the changes, the COLA means that the average Title II disability benefit will be increased by $34 per month, from $1,200 to $1,234.  For SSI recipients, the federal SSI maximum of $750 per month for individuals and $1,1...

As SSA's hearing-level processing time hits a new all-time high every month, some claimants are unable to survive until their hearing dates. NOSSCR requested information from SSA about the number of claimants who die while their hearing requests are pending.  The agency's response was that 7,897 such claimants died between September 26, 2016 (the last wor...

SSA issued a final rule on revised medical criteria for evaluating mental disorders in adults on September 26, 2016.  The final rule was published more than six years after the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published in the Federal Register (75 Fed. Reg. 51336).  The final rules go into effect on January 17, 2017 and can be found at https://www/gpo.go...

SSA has issued revised listings for Neurological Disorders for adults and children (Listings 11.00 and 111.00), and made minor corresponding changes to the musculoskeletal system (adult and children) and mental disorders (adult only) listings.  In conjunction with the publication of the new listings, SSA has rescinded SSR 87-6, "The Role of Prescribed Tre...