Two men killed in Prince George's County auto accident

a minor "fender bender" accident results in the deaths of both drivers.

What Your Long Term Disability Insurer Doesn't Want You to Know

If you pay for a long term disability policy, or receive it as an employee benefit, and you pay Social Security taxes I bet you think that if you become disabled you can collect both private disability plus Social Security disability, right?  Well, in most cases you are WRONG!  What most people do not know is that long term disability insurers can make you apply for Social Security disability and, if you get it, reduce their payment to you by whatever amount Social Security pays you.  Is this fair?  Of course not.  You have paid premiums for the private policy and taxes for the Social Security benefit.  I was pleased to see that the state of Connecticut is trying to do something about this injustice.  Connecticut State Senator Edith Prague and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal have joined forces to support legislation that would correct this problem.  According to Senator Prague, “This legislation amounts to a simpl[e] act of fairness because residents routinely pay into both programs through insurance premiums and payroll deductions and should receive benefits from both programs if and when needed.”  I couldn't agree more.  Many of my disability clients have been sadly surprised to learn that they cannot collect the full amount of disability payments they paid for in addition to their Social Security disability.  It would be great if the State of Maryland followed Connecticut's example. 

Man Needs a Heart Transplant - Finally gets Social Security Disability Benefits

It is not easy to get Social Security disability benefits.  Anyone who has tried or, like me, represents clients who need the benefits knows this is true.  But the situation described in a recent newspaper article is ridiculous.  A 24 year old South Carolina man suffers from a severe and life threatening heart condition.  According to his doctor, his heart only works at only 30% capacity.  As a former nurse, I can tell you that this is debilitating and certainly not compatible with being able to work.  But that is not what Social Security said!  Socail Security denied his disability claim because he was "fit to work".  As a result, he could not get health insurance and, therefore, could not get on the list for a heart transplant -- which he needs.  After his story appeared in a local newspaper his disability claim was approved -- the same day.  This shows the lengths that you must go to prove your claim.  Fortunately, this young man and his family did not give up.  That is the advice I give my disability clients.  The process is long and frustrating, but don't give up.  For more information about Social Security disability go to my website, www.SharonChristieLaw.com.