Social Security Disability is a program designed to protect Americans who have become disabled before they are old enough to qualify for Social Security Retirement. Today, only 1 out of every 3 private sector workers have disability insurance provided by their employers. Yet, disability can happen to any American, at any time. All it takes is one accident or one […]
Read MoreWelcome to the Calbom & Schwab Law Group. The law firm was originally established in 1954 by John Calbom. When G. Joe Schwab joined John Calbom in 1978, he quickly became a partner and the firm continued its same areas of practice while the law firm became known as Calbom & Schwab PSC. As of January 1, 2018, this tradition […]
Read MoreIf a person becomes disabled, for any reason, physical and/or mental conditions, and the disability is expected to last for at least 12 months, they should apply for Social Security Disability and Social Security Supplemental Disability benefits. To qualify for the Social Security Disability benefits or SSDI, the person applying must show the disability began while they were “insured” for […]
Read MoreUsers searching for Social Security, solvency, solvent, disability, and Medicare keywords are continuing to receive positive information. Finally, some very good news about the Social Security trust fund. In a summary report published by the Social Security and Medicare Trustees, a number of important findings were made: Over the 83 year history of Social Security, there is an asset reserve […]
Read MoreIn Washington State, RCW 51.32.220 allows for the offset of two types of monetary benefits if an individual receives payments for Social Security Disability. Those two state benefits are temporary total disability and permanent total disability, colloquially known as time loss and pension. Notice that the statute does not permit the state to reduce awards for permanent partial disability, colloquially […]
Read MoreOne of the key benefits of getting on Social Security Disability (SSD, also known as SSDI) is the access to Medicare before the age of 65. Unfortunately, Congress has long imposed a two year waiting period on the disabled who are under the age of 65 before they can qualify. Of course if you are receiving SSI, you should qualify […]
Read MoreCalbom & Schwab just finished a Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals case on the topic of Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). The Department of Labor and Industries (Department) medical examiner concluded that while he, the medical examiner, clearly believed the worker suffered from intolerable pain due to CRPS, and that the injured worker had a large impairment rating (approximately 60%), he […]
Read MoreRegarding a duty on the part of a claimant’s representative to provide to the Social Security Administration and/or the office of Disability Adjudication and Review any “adverse evidence” that they may have in their claimant’s file. The Social Security Administration is considering a requirement that all representatives and/or claimants submit not only favorable evidence, but also ”adverse evidence” that they […]
Read MoreProbably one of the more challenging conditions that we come across in trying to establish that an individual is disabled enough to receive Social Security disability benefits has to do with the diagnosed condition of Bipolar Disorder. It is challenging because the symptoms very between manic episodes and depressive episodes with some periods of normalcy. Frequently, when considering this condition, […]
Read MoreNew legislation will affect return-to-work procedures following an industrial injury or occupational disease. Once an industrial insurance claim is allowed, the State of Washington will now provide an incentive to employers to return the worker to work as quickly as possible to a light duty or transitional job. The State can reimburse employers up to 50% of the wages paid […]
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