Author Archives: Site Administrator
How To Find Out Your Monthly Social Security Disability Benefit Amount
Each year the Social Security Administration (SSA) used to send out statements to each taxpayer. These statements would indicate what earnings had been reported to the SSA, whether the taxpayer had contributed enough to qualify for benefits, and what the monthly benefit would be for both disability and retirement benefits. As a cost saving… Read More »
5 Things To Understand About Maryland’s Inheritance Tax
It’s All About Who Inherits Maryland has both an estate tax and inheritance tax. The estate tax is assessable if more than one million dollars passes at death. The total dollar value of the property determines whether there is an estate tax. The inheritance tax is not dependent upon the value of the estate,… Read More »
More Cancers Presumed To Be Caused By The Job – Just Not Yet
Maryland fire fighters and fire instructors both paid and most volunteers, paramedics, most volunteer rescue squad members and advanced life support unit members, and State Fire Marshals are eligible to claim a presumption under Maryland Workers’ Compensation law that certain cancers are caused by their jobs. Until May 31, 2013, the cancers are: Leukemia… Read More »
Liver Disease, Alcoholism & Social Security Disability
The most common forms of liver disease I see in my disability practice are liver cancer, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and alcoholic liver disease. All of these medical conditions can be severe enough to prevent a person from working. This post describes the most common types of liver disease and how they may be used as… Read More »
Power Of Attorney: Why Should I Give My Agent The Power To Make Gifts?
The idea behind a Durable General Power of Attorney (POA) is to appoint someone (your agent) who can manage your financial affairs if you (the principal) are unable to do so. The overwhelming majority of the language in the document describes the various things that your agent can do. Most POAs (including mine) contain… Read More »
Medicare And Old Workers’ Compensation Claims
A letter from Medicare is in the mail. The envelope doesn’t look much different from others you have received from Medicare. You open it without thinking or much concern. What it says shocks you. Medicare (actually an outfit called MSPRC) is alerting you that it no longer will pay for treatment or wants money… Read More »
That Was So Long Ago
One of the phrases that I hear at trial and at depositions that makes me cringe is: “That was so long ago.” Everyone says it: Plaintiffs, Defendants, witnesses, everyone. It doesn’t matter what the person’s role in the case is, or whether they have been properly prepared by their attorney, whether they have no… Read More »
How Do I Calculate My Past Due Benefits For Social Security Disability?
The primary benefit to being awarded either Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a monthly check from the United States Treasury. Besides those monthly checks, most people also get a bigger (sometimes much bigger) first check which represents their “past due benefits.” This post attempts to shed some light on… Read More »
Should I Use An Online Legal Document Service To Do My Will?
The question I get about online Wills (or do-it-yourself kits often purchased at office supply stores) is whether they are “valid.” I cannot answer the question in a global fashion. It is certainly possible to have a technically “valid” Will without using an attorney. It is also possible that the document will fail as… Read More »
Navigating Through The Social Security Disability Claims Process
A claim for Social Security Disability benefits could take anywhere from 6 months to 6 years! During that time, the claimant will have to complete an application, and possibly navigate his or her way through 3 levels of appeals at the Social Security Administration (SSA) and another 3 levels in Federal Court. What follows… Read More »