There are less college students here in Memphis this week as they head towards the beach or other fun and relaxing destinations for their Spring Break. These Spring Break trips can be quite expensive when you consider the travel, hotel or condo, food and other things. It’s important to note how some students finance their trips. Parents’ money? Save money up from working? Those are two ways many students are able to finance the trip, but for some, student loans are their means to Spring Break fun. Students receive notifications every year giving them options to take out student loans. When students have the options to take out student loans, three scenarios can play out. A student realizes he or
After all these storms in the Mid-South, it’s time to get that spring cleaning under way that we’ve all been putting off. But it’s surprisingly common for family members to face injury while doing normal household work, especially if you have children or pets. Here are some tips for staying safe while you get your home back in shape, Memphis-style. Cleaning in Memphis Humidity Don’t overdo it in hot, humid weather. When working outside or in a warm house in the spring and summer months, drink lots of water – more than usual, to avoid dehydration. Overheating and dehydration can cause serious health problems: go inside and take a break if you have any signs of dehydration, including headache, fatigue
SSDI and Back Injury: What You Need to Know It’s hard enough to get approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) when you have an obvious physical problem that keeps you from working. But what if you have one of the most difficult injuries to prove: a back injury? A back injury or MIST injury like whiplash may not look as bad on the outside as it really is. Sometimes people may question whether the injury really is severe, even if you see a doctor and have medical records to show it. But whiplash or back injuries can cause a lifetime of chronic pain. You may have to see a physical therapist and take medication to help relieve it. It
Getting SSDI for Fibromyalgia If you have severe fibromyalgia, you may find it difficult to work a full-time job. I have a family member with fibromyalgia and have seen firsthand what a significant impact it can have on your quality of life. In that situation, you may want to apply for Social Security Disability, or SSDI. Here’s what you need to know about SSDI and fibromyalgia and what to expect from the process. What Is Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a disorder related to how the central nervous system processes pain signals. It can be at times highly painful and debilitating. People with fibromyalgia might suffer from muscle spasms, weakness, and memory loss. The disorder has also been linked to anxiety and
SSDI and Mental Illness: A Common Disability Issue If you experience a mental health problem that keeps you from doing your job, you may want to consider Social Security Disability, or SSDI. Here’s what you need to know about SSDI and mental illness. How Mental Illness Affects Work Options Because the stigma of mental illness has changed significantly over the last few decades, it’s much more prevalent today for people to discover they have a problem and get treated. But sadly, changes in employment make it harder for those Americans with psychiatric problems to find a steady job. Repetitive, simple tasks in factories and shipping centers once helped provide work for people who struggle with mental instability. However, with a
Lupus is a debilitating illness. I know – I have close family with lupus. I even served for a time as the Chairman of the Board for the Memphis Lupus Foundation, an affiliate of the National Lupus Foundation. I’ve seen firsthand how much this disease can change a person’s life. And when it comes to getting SSDI for lupus and other auto-immune disorders, I know how complicated and exhausting it can be. No matter how much lupus interrupts your life, no matter how much pain you might experience, the Social Security Administration (SSA) doesn’t always take your word for it. They might deny you disability insurance even if lupus keeps you from working. If this happens, you need to appeal
What You Need to Know About SSDI and Personal Injury Settlements If you’ve sued over an injury that wasn’t your fault, you may be wondering how it affects your SSDI benefits. Or alternatively, you may wonder if you can receive SSDI at all. Here’s what you need to know about SSDI and personal injury settlements. Getting the Help You Need Compensation as part of a personal injury lawsuit should not have any effect on your Social Security disability application. In fact, pursuing the two together may help you: If you can prove to the SSA that you have a disabling injury preventing you from working, it can help your personal injury case. Proving your injury affected your life speaks volumes
How SSDI Benefits for Women Differ From Men If you’re a woman applying for SSDI, you should be aware that women receive less in disability benefits than men. As a Memphis disability lawyer, I can help you understand how SSDI benefits for women differ from men and why. And if you’re denied, we can help you put together a strong appeal. Why Women Make Less In Disability Benefits Than Men Women don’t get injured less than men. They experience disability at the same rate and intensity, if not more. At the same time, a woman tends to make less in SSDI benefits than a man even if they have the same injury and used to do the same job. Why?
When Your Disability Claim Is Denied for Failing to Follow the Doctor’s Orders If you’ve been injured and applied for Social Security Disability Insurance, you may have seen numerous doctors in the process. A lot of people don’t realize how important it is to do as those doctors tell you. If not, you run the risk of being denied disability for failing to follow the doctor’s orders. How Doctors Impact Your SSDI Claim When you receive second and third opinions or meet with specialists, some medical advice may differ. In your case, perhaps you decided not to follow one of the doctor’s treatment plans in order to do what another doctor said. Or perhaps you changed your plan after a
Denied SSDI Because You Make Too Much Money If you’ve been denied SSDI because you make too much money, you may be wondering what in the world happened. After all, maybe you only have a small side job. It doesn’t bring in enough to provide for your needs, so how could the disability office punish you for it? The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a number called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), which is the amount of money you can make each month while still being eligible for benefits. The SSA assumes that if you make more than this amount, you are capable of competing for gainful employment and thus do not need any benefits. The SGA can change annually, but