Denial

Are Social Security Disability Decisions Political?

Dirk May Denial, Help, Law, Lawyers, Medical, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income


Does Social Security reject disability cases because they are afraid of the system running out of money?

There is much discussion about the future of the Social Security trust fund and when it will run out of money.

Officially, there is no movement to make stricter decisions due to economics or politics.

Most Social Security Administrative Law Judges look at the medical records, the person’s limitations, and work and educational background when making their decision.

They apply the law and regulations to the individual’s situation.

This is what they are supposed to do.

However, there are a few judges who make it their mission to reject most claims. Their approval rates hover around 10 percent to 40 percent.

The typical approval rate is 60 percent.

Questions about Social Security Disability? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

New Illinois Work Comp Law and What It Means

Dirk May Denial, Help, Insurance, Law, Medical, Settlements, Workers Compensation, Workers Compensation Commission


The change in the law that will impact injured workers the most will be the use of AMA guidelines.

This change applies to injuries that happen after September 1, 2011.

The AMA guidelines are a dramatic change from what was the old law in Illinois.

The guidelines focus on strict objective limitations.

They result in much lower settlement values than Illinois is used to.

However, the new Work Comp law leaves open the possibility increasing the settlement vale because it takes into account the injured worker’s occupation, age, future earning capacity, and evidence of disability in the medical records.

No single factor controls.

The problem will be that no one will know the value of the settlement in the beginning.

This will result in the Work Comp insurance company making low settlement offers, and the need for more trials to determine how Arbitrators are going to value the new cases.

Questions about your Work Comp injury and case? Feel free to call Illinois Workmans Compensation Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.