Just when the Social Security Agency finally had a progressive, engaged commissioner in former mayor of Baltimore and governor of Maryland, he’s gone. Effective November 29th Martin O’Malley is resigning to run for chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Among other positive changes made during O’Malley’s all too brief tenure as commissioner was modification of…
The annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) for more than 72.5 million Social Security and SSI recipient for 2025 will be 2.5% as inflation comes under control. The COLA for 2024 was 3.2%. The average retiree will receive $48 more per month next year. The earnings limit for workers younger than full retirement age will…
Summer 2021 Newsletter STILL STANDING…AND PRACTICING I published the first issue of Social Security & You in Spring of 1993. Some years I’ve published more issues than others. The most recent issue was dated Spring 2019: over 2 years ago. The world was a much different place then. Especially for me. Read the full newsletter…
Spring 2019 Newsletter An Opioid Story I’ve changed his name. Let’s call him Gerald. He was a laborer. And by that I don’t mean that he just did physical work. He was a card-carrying member the Labor’s Union local. And that meant a lot to him. I represented him for Social Security disability and Michigan…
Just a few years ago the processing times for hearing a Social Security Disability or SSI appeal in the Michigan ODARs were among the longest in the nation. The addition of the Mt. Pleasant, Livonia & Toledo, Ohio ODARs, in addition to hiring more ALJs, have shortened the processing times greatly.
While Grand Rapids remains an exception (163rd out of 165), the other ODARs covering Michigan have improved dramatically, relative to the rest of the nation. Flint is now 17th (292 days), Oak Park is 28th (304 days), Lansing is 43rd (321 days), Livonia is 50th (325 days), Detroit is 54th (328 days) and Mt. Pleasant is 59th (332 days).
The gains could be mitigated due to changes caused by the sequester.