Get help, advice and information on all your Legal issues. http://advice-and.info/Legal/security.htm Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:37:09 GMT en Social Security Fraud refers to the act of dishonestly claiming of benefits. Due to the increasing number of fraudulent claims, the US government enacted a law that will protect individuals from these illicit conducts. What constitutes Fraud under the Social Security Act? The Social Security Act provides an outline for actions that are considered fraudulent. Some of those acts are the following: Knowingly and willfully makes or causes to be made any false statement or representation of material facts in the application for benefits under this title; Knowingly and willfully makes or causes to be made any false statement or representation of a material fact for use in determining any rights to the benefits; Having knowledge of any event affecting oHis or her right to the benefit oThe initial or continued right to the benefit of other individual in whose behalf he or she has applied for or is receiving benefit oHaving made an application to receive any of such benefits for the use and benefit of other and having receive it, knowingly and willfully converts the benefits for the use other than for what is intended Information needed in filing Social Security Fraud When planning to file a Fraud complaint, you need the following data: Name Address Social security number of the person you are reporting. Description of potential fraud incident In cases where the Social Security number is not known, you need to secure his or her date of birth, age and the name of the parents. However, if you are reporting a concealed activity you need the name of the employer and its address and phone number. How to report Social Security Fraud incident The Social Security Administration takes seriously any report regarding Social Security Fraud. The Office of the Inspector General is the one who investigates incidents of Social Security Fraud. If you have any knowledge regarding these incidents, you can report it immediately by: Calling the Social Security Office http://advice-and.info/Legal/91270_Fraud_In_Social_Security.html Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:44:38 GMT With the continuous growth of claimants for disability benefits, the Rowland Heights Social Security lawyers have taken the initiative in coming up with an abstract in reference to the social security disability program. Social Security Disability is a federal government program that primarily caters the provision of disability benefits to qualified claimants in the whole United States. The disability benefits that the federal government extends to qualified claimants are coursed through this program. Under the program, a disabled person may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. Worthy to note however, that to reap the social security disability benefit, a person must satisfy the specific requirements laid. In other words, the claimant must have suffered a disability, whether physically or mentally. The Social Security disability program has defined the term disability in a technical sense. The program defines disability as the inability of claimants to engage in any substanti al gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months or more or result in death. Satisfying the above definition would be the foremost considerations of claimants when applying for social security disability benefits. Before taking any action concerning your claim, it is highly advised that you seek the sound legal advice of a social security lawyer who specializes in the area of disability claims. This is to say, that your rightful claims would be put in the right track when you are well advised and represented. Even at this very early stage of initial claims, representation may be permissive. Going back, after assessing your qualification, filing an application for social security disability benefits can be the best way to start with. For that, an initial claim may be filed with the local Social Security Office. There different avenues for commencing the SSD or SSI disability application. http://advice-and.info/Legal/89126_An_Abstract_Of_The_Social_Security_Disability_Program.html Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:13:55 GMT According to a recent study, the denials of initial application of social security benefits are prevalent. In response, the Granada Hills Social Security Lawyers have made the initiative to impart some basic information regarding social security and relate the judicious option in cases of denied claims for social security. Cases of denial at the initial application for social security disability benefits or SSI disability benefits of individual claimants are on high. This is a fact, which is true in most instances. Practically, several factors may lead to the denial of disability benefits claims. Amongst the varied reasons is the lack of necessary preparation, insufficiency of pertinent documents - particularly the medical records lack of a sound professional advice and guidance and the proper representation even at this early stage of application. The factual scenario would lead to the conclusion that the whole process for social disability claims is tough and arduous. Having been den ied of their claims, individual claimants relatively have different reactions. Some are in the dilemma whether to give up on their case or not. To some, they consider starting over with the filing of a new application. Some claimants have referred to social security lawyers and decided in taking the course of appeal. From these diverse reactions, a judicious option is worth to expound. From among the varied reactions, the most sensible option is going through the appeal process. By appeal, the claimants will have a better chance of getting their worth. It is the best and smartest choice. It is worthy to note that in some jurisdictions, a reconsideration of the denial is required before the proper appeal process. The reconsideration usually takes a relative amount of time before the proper appeal. However, the reconsideration phase may no longer be in effect in recent times. A move to streamline the whole process has been devised. Going back, the appeal process involves a great deal of pe http://advice-and.info/Legal/89124_Legal_Options_In_Denied_Social_Security_Claims.html Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:14:19 GMT According to a recent study, the denials of initial application of social security benefits are prevalent. In response, the Granada Hills Social Security Lawyers have made the initiative to impart some basic information regarding social security and relate the judicious option in cases of denied claims for social security. Cases of denial at the initial application for social security disability benefits or SSI disability benefits of individual claimants are on high. This is a fact but true in all instances. Practically, many factors lead to the denials of most disability benefits claims. Among the varied reasons is the lack of necessary preparation, insufficiency of pertinent documents - particularly the medical records lack of a sound professional advice and guidance and the proper representation even at this early stage of application. The factual scenario would lead to the conclusion that the whole process for social disability claims is tough and arduous. Having been denied of t heir claims, individual claimants relatively have different reactions. Some are in the dilemma whether to give up on their case or not. To some, they consider starting over with the filing of a new application. Some claimants have referred to social security lawyers and decided in taking the course of appeal. From these diverse reactions, a judicious option is worth to expound. From among the varied reactions, the most sensible option is going through the appeal process. By appeal, the claimants will have a better chance of getting their worth. It is the best and smartest choice. It is worthy to note that in some jurisdictions, a reconsideration of the denial is required before the proper appeal process. The reconsideration usually takes a relative amount of time before the proper appeal. However, the reconsideration phase may no longer be in effect in recent times. A move to streamline the whole process has been devised. Going back, the appeal process involves a great deal of http://advice-and.info/Legal/88344_Legal_Options_In_Cases_Of_Denied_Social_Security_Claims.html Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:30:09 GMT Beverly Hills is a city situated in the western part of Los Angeles County, California. It is entirely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles together with the neighboring city of West Hollywood. It is bordered on the north by Bel-Air and the Santa Monica Mountains, on the east by West Hollywood, the Carthay neighborhood of Los Angeles, and the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, and on the south by the Beverlywood. It contains some of the largest homes in Los Angeles County and the nation. These homes range from the extravagant and luxurious in dimension, to the more elegant and modern homes, and then to the many small duplex rental units and disconnected homes with less than 3,000 sq ft. The area's "Platinum Triangle" of wealthy neighborhoods is established by Beverly Hills and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Bel-Air and Holmby Hills. According to the recent census, it has a population of 34,980. Despite the luxurious and extravagant living, Beverly Hills residents still utilize their Social Security b enefits and ideally with the assistance of Beverly Hills Social Security Lawyers. Benefits of Hiring a Social Security Lawyer The law does not mandate that applicant must hire a lawyer before claims can be approved. Although applying for the benefits may be done with or without the guidance of a lawyer, the difference is that when done on your own, the process may take a while. On the other hand, when done with lawyers help, there is a higher percentage of success. It will also expedite the claim process. The necessity of having a lawyer is beneficial from the fact that many claims filed before the Social Security Administration are rejected annually due to any of the following reasons: Insufficiency of information Incomplete medical report Lack of a valid claim What to do in Case of Denial of Claim If you prefer to apply alone and your initial claim is denied, this will demand the appearance of a qualified lawyer who can provide representation and help you pursue your claim through http://advice-and.info/Legal/88105_Benefits_Of_Enlisting_Beverly_Hills_Social_Security_Lawyers.html Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:48:07 GMT One of the programs under the Social Security System is the Supplemental Security Income. However, this benefit is not given right away. In fact, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will do anything to defeat your claim. SSA is oblivious to your actual pain. It will subject you to unrelenting pain by forcing you to the appeals process. To avoid spending years just to wait for the outcome of your claim, it is but a wise decision to hire a Supplemental Security Income Disability Attorney. What is Supplemental Security Income (SSI) SSI is an income supplement program of the Federal Government financed by general tax revenues. It aims to help the aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income. It also provides cash assistance to sustain their basic needs for food, clothing and shelter. Eligibility for SSI Program Not all are qualified under the program. Of course, you must meet certain requirements to be eligible under it. You may qualify if you are: over age 65, bli nd, or otherwise disabled and have met assets requirements, a US Citizen or non-citizen provided you meet requirements for non-citizens, monetary inadequate such that your total countable income is below Supplemental Security Income levels, and medically disabled according to the Social Security's definition of disability According to the Social Security rules, an individual is medically disabled if he is unable to engage in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) due to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that may result in death or last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. In addition, said person cannot engage in any other kind of SGA taking into consideration the age, education and work experience. How to Apply for SSI After suffering from a disability, apply for SSI immediately. With the advent of technology, most of the application forms can be completed online, depending on the type of benefit for which you apply. For SSI benefits, you may comple http://advice-and.info/Legal/88004_Basic_Approach_To_Supplemental_Security_Income.html Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:58:44 GMT Social Security has been one of the country's most successful programs. It aids people from financial uncertainty especially in their trying times. The program provides several protections such as: progressive benefit formula comprehensive insurance benefits that include disability survivors and retirement benefits spouses benefits a cost of living adjustment coverage until death These protections will be placed at risk if fraud related claims continue to spoil Social Security. Identity theft using the Social Security numbers (SSNs) is one of the common Social Security frauds that have been weakening the program. History on the Use of Social Security Numbers SSNs were first issued in 1936. The federal government assured the public that the use of the numbers would be restricted to Social Security programs such as calculating retirement benefits. Today, however, SSN has become the de facto general identifier. Government agencies and private businesses use SSNs ev en for a wide range of non-Social Security purposes. These purposes include: employee files medical records health insurance accounts credit and banking accounts, university ID cards utility accounts The use of SSNs as both an identifier and an authenticator makes these numbers highly desirable to fraudulent acts, such as identity theft. Social Security Fraud by Using SSN Identity fraud is not all about money. The persistent use of SSNs as an identification mechanism gives the thieves many options. Identity thieves seek SSNs so they can use these numbers to assume the identity of another person and commit fraud. A thief can fraudulently use your SSN to assume your identity and gain access not only to your Social Security information but also to your bank accounts, credit accounts, utilities records, and other sources of personal information. They can also establish new credit and bank accounts in your name, use your SSN for employment purposes or obtain medical care. http://advice-and.info/Legal/87733_Social_Security_Number_A_Key_To_Identity_Fraud.html Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:14:54 GMT The minimal information concerning the approval of disability benefit applications has caused confusion and erroneous belief about the entire process of eligibility. This is the reason why people have second thoughts in filing a claim even if they have the qualifications. Let us take a look at some misconceptions concerning the process of disability benefit application. 1. The Social Security Administration (SSA) automatically rejects first-time applicants. In reality, there are no guidelines or measures in place that can control the process of granting SSA benefits in a manner that would ensure outright denial of first-time applications. While it is true that 60 to 70 percent of disability applications get rejected, this is due to the ignorance of claimants to discover ways on how they can improve their chances of getting a successful claim. Likewise, applicants make the mistake of filling up a fresh application form after having their claims rejected rather than making an appeal. 2. The SSA r ejects most disability claims most of the time in order to save the money of the government. This misconception is absolutely false. Disability administrators have certain procedures which have something to do with controlling the quality of approved and disapproved claims to ensure that the decisions will not be altered right away until the resolved claims have been evaluated for final approval. Most of the time, the disability examiners will not give in to requests to pass the claim since they are allaying fears that cases which come back for revisions may have an impact on the way they perform their jobs. Thus, quality control has a role in the volume of rejected cases. It is not advisable to believe that the government exerts an effort to save cash by denying appropriate cases. 3. Applicants should first meet the age requirement in order to avail of disability claims. There is no general policy that sets forth an age restriction for which an applicant may be qualified to avail and get approv http://advice-and.info/Legal/87663_Social_Security_Benefits_Lawyers_Dispelling_The_Myth_About_The_Disability_System.html Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:32:43 GMT Westchester is a neighborhood in western Los Angeles, California, which is separated from the Pacific Ocean by Playa del Rey on the west. Its surrounding is defined by Jefferson and Centinela Boulevards, where it borders the neighborhood of Del Rey, as well as Culver City, and the unincorporated area of Ladera Heights. The Playa Vista housing and retail community is situated in north Westchester. The city of Inglewood is located at the east, and the city of El Segundo is to the south. The southern portion of the neighborhood is covered by the Los Angeles International Airport. http://advice-and.info/Legal/87296_Importance_Of_Hiring_Westchester_Social_Security_Lawyers.html Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:54:10 GMT Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California approximately 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Los Angeles. It is surrounded by the community of Hacienda Heights to the northeast, City of Industry to the north, and several other unincorporated communities in the San Gabriel Valley mostly along its northern sections, Pico Rivera lies at the west, La Habra Heights to the east, La Habra to the southeast and Santa Fe Springs to the south. According to the recent census, the city has a total population of 83,680. Its population as a whole has grown since its founding days but has experienced rapid growth particularly starting in the 1990s. It has swell from 77,807 in 1990 to 83,680 in 2000. This figure is expected to grow to 90,041 in 2010. http://advice-and.info/Legal/87294_Benefits_Of_Employing_Whittier_Social_Security_Lawyers.html Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:54:11 GMT Have you ever wondered why you should have an attorney in getting your benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA)? How can attorneys who have expertise on cases of Social Security help you with your claims? Although having a legal or non-legal representative is not a requirement in filing a disability claim, it will work for your best interests to have someone who is knowledgeable on disability cases to assist you with your claim. The best person to help you with this is an attorney. http://advice-and.info/Legal/86182_Social_Security_Attorneys_Are_Here_To_Provide_Help.html Tue, 06 May 2008 05:03:24 GMT Social security disability (SSD) benefits are designed for those who are unfit to work or at least temporarily unemployed. The criteria for granting benefits are often based on ones disability or condition. To entitle one to receive these benefits, the Social Security Administration has created guidelines to determine who are capable of receiving benefits. http://advice-and.info/Legal/85894_Guidelines_On_Determining_Qualifications_For_California_Social_Security_Disability_Benefits.html Sat, 03 May 2008 12:18:35 GMT