COVID-19 Impacting the Future of Social Security Benefits for Older Americans

January 20, 2021 Social Security 0Comment

The impact of the pandemic has been far-reaching throughout our entire society. From mandated closures of small businesses to the increasing death, COVID-19 has caused major and profound societal disruptions.

One potential effect of COVID-19 on our financial system that has gone largely unnoticed is the potential for negative impacts on future Social Security benefits. New studies indicate that Americans who become eligible for Social Security benefits in 2022 and beyond may, absent changes to the programs, receive lower benefits over the course of their lives than those who have become entitled prior to that date. This lowering of benefits for future beneficiaries need not be the case, however, and a number of prominent politicians have continued to advocate expanding the social safety net. Silver & Silver supports such growing calls for expansion, not contraction, of the vital social safety net provided by the Social Security programs for the elderly and the disabled.

Here are some troubling current trends that could affect the viability of the Social Security trust fund absent identification of addition sources of funding.

2020-2021 LIHEAP Applications Now Available: What You Should Know

November 27, 2020 Helpful Tips 0Comment

Winter is not too far away for those of us who live in or around the Philadelphia area. With the temperatures dropping down further each day, many low-income families are worried about how they are going to stay warm through the chilly days and nights. Thankfully, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is now accepting applications for the 2020-2021 winter season. If you or someone you know needs government assistance, the Silver & Silver team encourages you to visit the Department of Human Services (DHS) website and fill out an application as soon as possible. The applications close on April 9, 2021.

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Don’t Forego Your Health! Ask Your Healthcare Provider About Telemedicine Options

July 22, 2020 Helpful Tips 0Comment

Before the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on millions of American families and the healthcare system, people could pay their primary physician a visit as often as necessary and visit the ER knowing their problem would be taken care of. The story has changed dramatically in recent months.

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Can You Apply for Social Security Benefits After Being Laid Off?

June 24, 2020 Disability Law 0Comment

The coronavirus crisis has caused serious hardship for millions of Americans. Many have fallen ill or lost a loved one, while others have been forced to shutter a business or have lost a job in the resulting economic downturn, causing them to turn to social security disability benefits.

Like so many of their fellow citizens, individuals working with a disability who were laid off during the pandemic now face a stressful and uncertain future. Paying medical bills, along with living expenses, and supporting a family without a steady income can seem like an overwhelming challenge in such a historically poor job market.

At Silver & Silver, the leading Social Security Disability lawyers in the Philadelphia area, we’re dedicated to helping clients with disabilities collect the benefits they deserve. We may be able to help disabled workers who were laid off due to COVID-19 apply for Social Security Disability benefits, particularly those who are over the age of 50.

To qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, you must:

Have held a job that was covered by Social Security.
Suffer from a medical condition that meets eligibility requirements.

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Coronavirus Employment Law: What You Should Know

April 29, 2020 Helpful Tips 0Comment

During the present COVID-19 health crisis, many employees are facing a tough balancing act between keeping their jobs and staying healthy. They’re being asked to work in conditions that may expose them to the coronavirus, but they need to work in order to pay their bills and support their families. In this blog, we will talk about how employment law relates to COVID-19.

It’s a difficult situation, but our workers’ compensation lawyers in Philadelphia are aware of two important federal employment laws that may protect employees who find themselves facing health concerns in the workplace.

The Americans with Disabilities Act

This law, enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees who have chronic health conditions that interfere with one or more major life activities. Once provided with those reasonable accommodations, the employee must be able to perform the essential duties of the job.

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The Real Cost of Social Security Cuts — and How Silver & Silver Can Help

February 19, 2020 Disability Law 0Comment

With more than 130,000 Philadelphia residents relying on Social Security benefits to either supplement their income or as their sole source of income, any changes that might put these benefits in jeopardy are cause for concern.

At Silver & Silver, our West Philly Social Security Disability attorneys have been keeping close watch over the headlines regarding this issue. A recent government proposal would make it more difficult for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries in our area and across the country to continue receiving the benefits that they deserve.

These changes, outlined in late 2019, would potentially cut off SSDI benefits for hundreds of thousands of Americans, including the elderly and children. Under this proposal, individuals who have qualified for SSDI benefits in the past would be subjected to a review every twenty-four months, whereby the government would consider anew whether they continue to qualify for these benefits. This shortening of the period before continuing benefits claims are reconsidered would mean that individuals who have in many cases waited years to prove their eligibility for these benefits would be in a state of perpetually proving their impairments are disabling.

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