Social Security

Social Security’s 80th Anniversary

Posted by: William Crossett In: Social Security, ssdi 14 Aug 2015 Comments: 0 Tags: kim slimbaugh, mcv law, social security, social security disability, social security disability benefits, syracuse attorney's

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the Social Security program. The program was signed into law by President Roosevelt in 1935 and was intended to provide “some measure of protection to the average citizen and to his family against the loss of a job and against poverty-ridden old age.” The program has served our nations workers ever since. Please continue to encourage our lawmakers of the need to protect and strengthen the program.

Kimberly Slimbaugh
Partner

Email: kslimbaugh@mcvlaw.com

Phone: 315-471-1664

Kimberly Slimbaugh has been practicing law since 1992 and is a current partner at Meggesto, Crossett & Valerino, LLP. In addition to the New York State Bar, she was admitted to the Massachusetts State Bar in 1992. She is a member of the National Association of Social Security Representatives and regularly attends its national conferences.

State of New York Commission on Quality Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, Surrogate Decision-Making Committee Panel.

United States Senate Considers Cuts To SSDI To Help Fund Highways

Posted by: MCVLawBlog In: Social Security, ssdi 20 Jul 2015 Comments: 0 Tags: kim slimbaugh, mcv law, social security, social security disability, social security disability benefits, syracuse attorney's, syracuse lawyer

This week the United States Senate will take up legislation to fund the nation’s highway system. Most of us think this is a good thing. However, we have learned that one or more of the amendments to the legislation would cut Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) to help fund the highways. Specifically, the proposal talks about cutting benefits for people who receive SSDI and Unemployment Insurance (UI).

Typically, the UI overlay is because SSDI beneficiaries have attempted to work, as the law encourages, but lost their job to no fault of their own.
The National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR) has encouraged us to write to our New York State Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand urging them to oppose this and other amendments to the Highway bill.

Here is a sample letter from the Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities for your consideration. Please share your concern with our State Senators, whose email addresses are shown below.

Senator Chuck Shumer: robert_gardner@schumer.senate.gov
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: karina_cabrera@gillibrand.senate.gov

Is it Disability, Compensation or Something Else?

Should I file for Disability, NYS Workers Compensation or something else?

Often people call MCV Law requesting help with a “Disability Case. “ They are injured, unable to work and looking for help to pay the day-to-day bills. The first thing the Attorneys and Staff at MCV Law do is listen.

We carefully listen to your story. We’re listening for particular facts and circumstances that will help us determine what remedy or remedies may be available to you. We ask targeted questions, to determine where you may or may not be in the process of making a claim.

Generally we are trying to determine whether or not you have one of the following:

A New York State Disability Case.
A New York Workers’ Compensation Case.
A No Fault Motor Vehicle Accident Case.
A Personal Injury Action.
A Private Short or Long-Term Disability Case.
A Social Security Disability Case.

Sometimes, there is more than one type of case arising from a single event. For instance if you’re involved in a Motor Vehicle Accident, while Working you have both a Workers Compensation claim and a No Fault Motor Vehicle Accident case. If the Accident was caused by a third-party you may also have a Personal Injury Case. If the injury is life changing you may have a Social Security Disability Case as well.

Of course, every type of case has different rules, the most important of which is the Statute of Limitations. That is the time in which the injured person must act to protect their rights. Often, especially in cases dealing with municipalities or other quasi-government entities, the statute limitations is extremely short. Therefore it is important to seek legal advice shortly after your injury or injuries. MCV Law does not charge you for the initial consultation.

At Meggesto, Crossett & Valerino, LLP, we pride ourselves on being able to assist the injured person with regard to all of the cases listed above. Instead of looking only for one type of case, we look at the injured individual as a whole. We work to craft a legal strategy that is most likely to produce the best result for you, in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Be sure to click here for further information on workers compensation, and here for a more in depth look at social security disability.

Understanding Social Security

Posted by: William Crossett In: Social Security 02 Jan 2015 Comments: 0 Tags: disability, kim slimbaugh, kimberly slimbaugh, permanent disability, social security, social security disability, social security disability benefits, social security retirement, syracuse lawyer

If you are planning to take Social Security Retirement Benefits before full retirement age, are you doing this because you want to stop working or because you have an illness or injury that is forcing you to stop working?

If you are taking early retirement due to an illness or injury, you should consider filing a claim for Social Security Disability Benefits. You can do both, meaning you can collect your Reduced Retirement Benefit while you are waiting for a decision on your Social Security Disability Claim. If Social Security approves your disability claim, Social Security will pay you the difference between your Disability Benefit and your Reduced Retirement Benefit for the months that you are eligible for both. Thereafter, you will continue to receive your Disability Benefits.

-Kimberly Slimbaugh

Email: kslimbaugh@mcvlaw.com