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While not everyone finds themselves in a situation in which they are entitled to past due Social Security Disability benefits, many disability applicants who must endure the lengthy and complex disability appeal process are indeed entitled to past due benefits once their disability claims have been approved. This is due to the fact that the Social Security Administration (SSA), upon finding the person disabled, must pay that individual for benefits for the time that it took them to appeal the SSA’s denial of their initial disability claim.

Myasthenia Gravis (MG), a condition which affects roughly one in 5,000 Americans, is an autoimmune disease which causes the body’s immune system to essentially attack the body rather than fight disease. Its effects on a person’s life can range from relatively mild to severely debilitating. The cause is currently unknown.

Once you have been approved for Social Security Disability benefits, you can expect to have a continuing review periodically. Depending on the severity of your medical condition and the perceived likelihood that you will eventually be able to eventually return to work, this review could take place every year, or every few years. Typically, continuing disability reviews take place every three years (though this can vary considerably).

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently confirmed that it will be reviewing the way it handles Social Security disability claims based on neurological disorders. Currently, neurological disorders account for only 9% of all disability claims approved. The SSA is looking into the possible reasons why the percentage of approved disability claims is this low for neurological disorders.

If the Social Security Administration (SSA) officials handling your claim don’t feel that there is sufficient medical evidence to approve your claim, or if they feel they need to confirm the existing evidence, you may be required to attend a consultative examination. These examinations are performed by third party doctors, mental health professionals, and other qualified individuals. The doctor does not work for you, nor does he (at least in theory) work directly for the SSA.

Scleroderma is a progressive autoimmune disease which affects over 300,000 Americans. The most readily recognizable symptom of scleroderma is a hardening of the skin. Scleroderma can also cause problems with a number of our internal organs. In some cases, it can lead to multiple organ failure and death.

In October of 2011, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced the addition of thirteen new conditions to its Compassionate Allowances list. One of those conditions was ALS, also known as Parkinsonism Dementia Complex.

The SSA's Compassionate Allowances list communicated what medical conditions automatically qualify for disability. 

When you’re filing a Social Security disability claim, you need to be careful about what you say and who you say it to. You especially need to be careful about information that ends up on the Internet. All it takes is one picture of you on the golf course or ball diamond to shoot holes in your disability claim.

Tennessee Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Gerald Krasfur has long been known as the ALJ you want handling your disability hearing. He is widely known for approving the majority of appeals that come before him.

Unfortunately for those currently appealing denials of Social Security benefits in Mid-Tennessee, Mr. Krasfur has recently been placed on administrative leave. The exact details of his leave are unclear, but reports suggest that it was due to an incident of driving under the influence rather than anything related to his functions as an administrative law judge.

Many people make Social Security disability claims based in whole or in part on stress. Most are disappointed with the end result. Roughly 70% of all disability claims are denied initially. Those based on conditions which can be difficult to diagnose and quantitate can be especially hard to get approved.