by Joni Beth BaileyObesity and Social Security Disability – What to Know
One often misunderstood condition pertaining to Social Security Disability is obesity. Here’s what you should know about obesity and Social Security Disability. What is obesity? A person is obese if their BMI (body mass index) measured in kg/m2 is over a certain level. You can calculate your body mass index here. (Or you can divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters...
by Joni Beth Bailey6 Frequently Asked Questions About Social Security and Self-Employment
If you are self-employed, this blog is for you. Here are the answers to 6 of the most frequently asked questions about Social Security and self-employment. 1. Why should I report my earnings if I am self-employed? The obvious answer to this question is that it’s the law. But if you fail to report your earnings as a self-employed worker, you are also cheating yourself out of Social...
by Joni Beth BaileySupplemental Security Income Age-18 Redetermination: What to Know
18th birthdays are usually a time of celebration and hope for the future. However, for young people receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits, this otherwise happy time can be tinged with anxiety as they must go through the Social Security Administration’s age-18 redetermination process. As a Southern Illinois Social Security Disability attorney, I speak to many prospective...
by Joni Beth BaileyIf Social Security Says You Can Work, Use These Job-hunting Tips
If you filed a Social Security Disability claim but it was denied because the judge thinks you can still find work, use these job-hunting tips to help you get back into the working world. (more…)
by Joni Beth BaileyDid you know? Social Security Makes Special Allowances for Alzheimer’s Patients
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative condition that directly affects nearly 5.4 million Americans. Many people think that it only affects the elderly – but in actuality, onset can occur as early as a person’s 30s and 40s, during their prime working years. Here’s how the Social Security Administration helps Social Security Disability claimants who have been diagnosed...
by Joni Beth BaileyBack to School: 3 Ways to Support Children with Disabilities
For many parents in Southern Illinois, the back to school season is welcomed as children go off to learn for the day and the house becomes peaceful once again. But for parents of children with disabilities, instead of peace, there is often worry as they wonder how their child is doing at school. Here is a short three-point guide to help you support your disabled child as he or she navigates...
by Joni Beth BaileyLove You Forever – But Don’t Forget About SSA When You Are Receiving Care from a Family Member
Many parents have read the children’s book “Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch and found themselves with tears in their eyes at the end when the son, now a grown man, cares for his mother in the same tender, selfless way that she cared for him when he was a baby. Providing daily care for an aging parent affects every facet of the caregiver’s life. Caught up in the day to day juggling of...
by Joni Beth BaileyCoal Miners Left in the Dark – How to Qualify for Medicare Before Age 65
Everyone I know was shocked by the recent story by Molly Parker in The Southern Illinoisan newspaper explaining that many coal miners and their families will lose promised health insurance benefits because Alpha Natural Resources has declared bankruptcy. For those miners who are not yet 65 and are unable to work full time due to health issues, there is a ray of hope: A worker can qualify...
by Joni Beth BaileySetting up a “Mom and Pop Shop”? — Plan Carefully When It Comes to Self-Employment Taxes!
If you live and work in Southern Illinois, you probably rely on several “Mom and Pop Shops” for services and products on a regular basis. Family-owned businesses make the American economy durable and robust. They are reservoirs of assets and incubators of innovation and productivity. Here is an excellent article about the economic impact of family businesses. Beginning with tax year 2007,...
by Joni Beth Bailey