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.
Social Security has always been a hot issue in politics, but it has become increasingly more important due to the astronomical unemployment rates caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As concerned citizens and highly-respected disability lawyers serving the Philadelphia area, our team reached out to Senator Bob Casey to get his thoughts on how the S. 2733, the Time to Rescue United States Trusts (TRUST) Act, would impact Social Security benefits.
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.
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.
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.
People all over the globe are feeling especially uneasy and stressed these days, as the coronavirus outbreak impacts every aspect of our daily lives. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented some new challenges for the millions of Americans who rely on Social Security benefits to support their families, and here at Silver & Silver, our Philadelphia SSDI lawyers are closely monitoring developments in this area.
On March 17, 2020, the United States Social Security Administration announced the closure of its public offices in an effort to protect employees and benefit recipients from COVID-19. The shutdown of person-to-person service is temporary, but there’s no way to know how long it will last, as health and government officials scramble to control the spread of the disease while they work to develop a vaccine.
What should Social Security benefits recipients do when they need help or have unresolved issues regarding their case? The Social Security Administration made the following recommendations in their news release:
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) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 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 and SSI benefits for hundreds of thousands of Americans, including the elderly and children. Under this proposal, individuals who have qualified for SSDI or SSI 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.
There’s a feeling of optimism and hope in the air every time the calendar turns from one year to the next, and we all set goals and resolve to make positive changes in our lives.
This year is particularly special for those who want to see changes in our country; 2020 is an election year! On Nov. 3, registered voters can have their voices heard and show their support for the national, state, and local government leaders they feel will best represent their interests.
At Silver & Silver, the decisions of lawmakers greatly impact all our clients, whether they’re pursuing Social Security disability, personal injury, workers’ compensation, or other employment-related cases. Our Social Security attorneys in Philadelphia, PA, are especially concerned about recent rule changes proposed by the current administration that would alter the way the Social Security Administration determines eligibility. These changes are projected to cut off benefits to hundreds of thousands of disabled Americans, including seniors and children.
Auto Defects
- Ford Models faulty airbags
- Volkswagen faulty anti-lock brake
- GM faulty ignition switches
- Hyundai/Kia engine fires
The federal government recently announced changes to the work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as SNAP, that could cause nearly 700,000 Americans to lose access to food stamps.
Many individuals who cannot work due to disability rely on food stamps to help feed their families. At Silver & Silver, our Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Delaware County workers’ compensation and Social Security lawyers represent disabled workers who need help fighting for the benefits they deserve, and we’re concerned as to how these food stamp changes might affect members of our community.