By Tricia of Allsup
The days are longer, the weather’s warming up…it must be time to take a vacation. Traveling can be a stressful experience for anyone, but for those with disabilities, it requires extra planning, preparation and packing.
Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Before You Leave
Do some research—make sure both your mode of transportation and destination are disability friendly. You may want to consider using a travel agent who specializes in travel for people with disabilities to do the legwork in locating accessible destinations and accommodations, especially if you are traveling with a service dog. When booking arrangements, let providers know of your disability. Also, check in with your treating physicians as you make your plans.
In the Air
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website has many helpful links for passengers with disabilities. The TSA Cares helpline, (855) 787-2227, is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST, and weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. Travelers with hearing impairments can use a relay service to contact TSA Cares, or email TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov. The agency recommends contacting the helpline at least 72 hours before you plan to travel to learn what to expect and to coordinate checkpoint support.
Cruise Control
As cruise lines become more disability friendly, accommodations on some lines include lower beds, roll-in showers, TDD devices, flashing alarms and signage in Braille or raised lettering. Most are wheelchair accessible, but be sure to check in advance. Some travel and cruise-booking websites highlight their best trips for people with disabilities. Some lines even offer lower rates for caregivers or other health attendants. But it’s always wise to call and double-check before booking.
On the Ground
All buses are required to be accessible to people with disabilities. One option is to contact the bus line to ensure that your needs will be met when you book your trip. For example, Greyhound has a Travel Assistance Line (800) 752-4841. If traveling by train, Amtrak offers additional services to customers with disabilities, such as at-seat meal delivery. Find tips about wheelchairs, service animals, use of oxygen equipment and much more at http://www.amtrak.com/accessible-travel-services.
More Resources
Find other helpful hints from the following groups:
- U.S. State Department – Traveling with Disabilities features a list of several resource websites.
- Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality, provides a selection of resources and tips online.
- Mobility International USA highlights international travel opportunities and tips.
Many organizations recommend making your arrangements with as much advance notice as possible to benefit from available resources. With some advance planning, there’s a world of opportunity for safe and comfortable travel. Happy trails!
By Jim Allsup
Millions of workers put in a hard day’s work and pay their taxes, year after year. And each year, countless Americans experience an illness, injury or disability that takes them out of the workforce.
When that happens, some workers can turn to private long-term disability coverage. But only one-third of U.S. workers have this type of coverage.
During Disability Insurance Awareness Month in May, it’s important to remember that tens of millions of people pay for insurance coverage through the Social Security Disability Insurance program.
This mandatory, federal insurance program helps people under retirement age who can’t work any longer because of a severe disability. It is administered by the Social Security Administration, and about 8.8 million people receive SSDI benefits.
The following are just a few reasons to file for SSDI:
You paid for it. A portion of every paycheck you earned went to FICA taxes that are set aside for SSDI, Social Security retirement and Medicare. You paid for these benefits while you worked.
It’s a bridge to Social Security retirement. SSDI is a guaranteed income stream to help people stay afloat financially after a life-altering disability. The average age of SSDI recipients is 53, which means a dozen or more years until reaching Social Security retirement age. For many who experience a disability, including at age 60 or 61, it’s simply impossible to continue working until full retirement age.
You have a genuine need. This program only pays for total disability; partial and short-term disability are not part of this benefit. The federal program is based on medical evidence, which is absolutely required to receive disability insurance benefits. People who receive SSDI benefits truly need them.
Safeguard your retirement benefits. SSA doesn’t count the years you receive SSDI benefits when calculating your future retirement income. Your Social Security retirement benefits may be higher because your earnings are averaged over fewer years.
Retain long-term disability coverage. Private long-term disability policies typically are designed to integrate with the SSDI program. Applying and receiving SSDI benefits allows you to maintain both benefits, and you can protect your long-term disability income going forward.
Receive additional benefits. Once someone receives SSDI income, other benefits become available. These include eventual eligibility for Medicare, which provides healthcare and prescription drug coverage; dependent benefits for those under 18; and COBRA extension, which may be your primary source of healthcare coverage.
Allsup’s claimant representatives have helped tens of thousands of people to obtain their Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Our SSDI experts have on average 21 years experience with the disability insurance program.
If you or someone you know has questions, receive a free SSDI evaluation from Allsup by calling (800) 279-4357.
By Tai of Allsup
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also reported that arthritis is the leading cause of U.S. disability.
Imagine these two at your next barbecue.
Tobacco: “Hello. Let’s hang out, and I’ll try my best to kill you.”
Arthritis: “Nice to meet you. I want to ravage your body, decrease your quality of life and steal your job.”
It’s not surprising they enjoy each other’s company. Numerous studies have shown that smoking is associated with an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis—an autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in the joints, and can also affect other body organs. This can mean lost work, lost income and the need for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.
A study of women published last month found that a person who smokes just one to seven cigarettes each day has double the risk for developing the disease.
May is Arthritis Action Month. Perhaps the best action anyone can take against arthritis is to quit smoking and encourage the smokers they know to quit as well.
Current rates of cigarette smoking are significantly higher among adults with a disability (25.4 percent) compared to adults without a disability (17.3 percent), according to the 2011 National Health Interview Survey. Find a state-by-state comparison online.
No matter where you live, the higher prevalence of smoking among adults with disabilities means that this population is at increased risk of death and diseases such as arthritis.
Combat Smoking For Better Health
Some programs, such as the CDC’s state-based Disability and Health Programs, target smoking within the disability community.
In Allsup’s home state, Illinois, the CDC supports the Tobacco Quitline at the Illinois Department of Public Health with a focus on smoking cessation for people with disabilities. They provide quit-smoking materials for people with specific disabilities. For example, there are video logs for people with hearing impairments.
There are numerous smoking cessation resources online. You can get free help—including free coaching, a free quit plan, free educational materials and referrals to local resources, by calling:
•(800) QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)
•(855) DÉJALO-YA (1-855-335-3569) (en Español)
Consider taking action this month against arthritis by helping others understand arthritis’ connection to smoking. One more good reason to quit.
By Maggie Maloney, public relations director, Lupus Foundation of America Inc.
What is lupus? This is a question that I get asked often working for the Lupus Foundation of America.
Lupus is a mysterious and devastating disease that ravages different parts of the body and has no known cause and no known cure.
The disease is more pervasive and more severe than people think, and it has an impact that the public doesn’t realize. A recent survey revealed nearly three-fourths of Americans ages 18 to 34—those at the highest risk for lupus—have never heard of lupus or know little or nothing about lupus beyond its name.
Building awareness of lupus is essential to improving the diagnosis and treatment of this cruel disease. It disproportionately affects minorities and women in the prime of their lives.
I have heard many heartfelt stories of people struggling for years to find a diagnosis, managing and overcoming serious and life-threatening health consequences, or lost loved ones to lupus.
That’s why every May, the Lupus Foundation of America calls upon all Americans to join the fight against lupus and take action to help expand lupus research efforts.
We are empowering individuals, organizations and companies to educate people in their communities about lupus and the need for more lupus medical research. Lupus Foundation of America provides free tools and resources online at lupus.org/awareness during May.
Here are a few ways you can join the fight to end lupus during Lupus Awareness Month:
- Sign the petition We are urging the public to help us solve this cruel mystery by signing a petition that asks Congress to fund more lupus research efforts. The petition is available online at lupus.org/petition.
- Put on Purple Day: Friday, May 17 Purple is the color used for lupus awareness. The foundation asks everyone to wear purple, and to work with community leaders to illuminate local fountains and buildings in purple that day.
- Share lupus information with friends, family and colleagues Post fliers throughout the office and the community. Share daily facts about lupus or place a banner within newsletters, on websites and social media sites.
For more information about Lupus Awareness Month and other ways to join the fight, visit the Lupus Foundation of America’s website at lupus.org/awareness.
By Laura S. Beving, manager of Stroke Survivor and Caregiver Education and Outreach, National Stroke Association
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Why is this so important?
- Stroke can strike at any age—approximately 25 percent of stroke survivors are under 65 and the median age is declining.
- Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the leading cause of adult disability.
- Every 40 seconds someone has a stroke, totaling nearly 800,000 new strokes per year. Every four minutes someone dies from a stroke.
National Stroke Association strives to educate everyone to recognize the symptoms of a stroke and how to reduce stroke risk. In the past 14 years, these public education and awareness programs have led to a decline of more than one-third in loss of life due to stroke.
So how do you know if someone is having a stroke? The most common stroke symptoms are:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
While stroke risk is influenced by some uncontrollable factors such as age, race, gender and family history, it is estimated that up to 80 percent of strokes can be eliminated by risk factor management.
Manageable risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, heavy alcohol use, smoking, physical inactivity and obesity.
To remember the symptoms of stroke, learn FAST:
- F = Face. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
- A = Arms. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- S = Speech. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Is the speech slurred or garbled?
- T = Time. If you observe any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. Treatment can be very effective if given promptly. Every minute matters.
Statistics show that arriving at the hospital by ambulance decreases the time to treatment and improves outcomes. Unfortunately, more than 40 percent of people suffering stroke symptoms just wait for them to go away. Do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 as soon as symptoms are identified.
For more information about stroke or National Stroke Association, call (800) STROKES (787-6537) or visit http://www.stroke.org/.
Editor’s note: Allsup is pleased to sponsor the National Stroke Association’s Act FAST for Stroke Challenge.
Frustrated military veterans with disabilities finally received some good news recently.
And it’s about time. Our guys and gals got used to standing in line for chow when they wore cammies—but for the disability benefits they were guaranteed when they signed up? No way.
Effective April 19, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began procedures to ensure that former GIs who’ve been waiting more than one year for a decision on their disability claims will move to the front of the line. The VA says the move will allow eligible veterans to collect their compensation benefits more quickly.
The new procedure is the VA’s response to a growing number of complaints that veterans are waiting much too long for decisions on their disability claims. Nearly 900,000 claims are backlogged in the system, and about 250,000 vets have been patiently waiting for at least a year. The VA said it might take six months to play catch-up with the older claims, while it continues “to prioritize claims for homeless veterans and those with extreme financial hardship.”
In a letter explaining the decision to double-time the claims process, Allison Hickey, a retired Air Force brigadier general and the VA’s Secretary of Benefits, wrote, “Too many veterans have waited too long for a decision on their benefits claims. We at VA, many of us veterans ourselves, know that has never been acceptable.”
According to VA statistics, the agency has completed more than 4.1 million claims since 2009 and paid more than $58 billion in disability compensation to 4.3 million veterans and their survivors in 2012.
Congrats to the VA for making a smart move to help the folks who need it the most.
A note to vets already denied VA disability benefits: Visit here to learn how to get help.
By Ed of Allsup
We receive many calls from people who applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits without an advocate and were denied.
Sure, you don’t need professional help to file for SSDI. You also don’t need a tax professional when you file your tax returns with the IRS, but you probably hire one anyway, don’t you?
It’s the same thing when filing for SSDI. Many people choose help from an SSDI expert like Allsup. That’s especially critical when the SSA denies your claim and you decide to appeal that decision.
You have a lot of things to think about if you want to appeal on your own. This is especially true before a hearing with an administrative law judge. Have you provided all the medical documentation for your disability? Does the SSA have accurate information about your work history? Does your doctor support your claim?
The SSA is looking at a number of factors. What is your work history? What is your education? How severe is your disability? These are just a few of the questions the SSA disability examiner considers when looking at your claim.
One benefit from working with expert SSDI representatives is that they have handled the disability appeal process thousands of times. They understand, in detail, the criteria SSA examiners require.
SSA data shows that fewer claims are being awarded these days—52 percent at the hearing level in FY 2012, compared with 63 percent in FY 2009. It’s just a difficult program to wade through.
If you’re thinking about giving up or appealing on your own, be sure to read “Disability Appeal Representation.”
Click here to read Allsup’s advice on how to avoid 10 common mistakes people make when filing for SSDI benefits.
By Paula of Allsup
That’s the theme of this year’s Older Americans Month. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy designated May as a month to pay tribute to older people across the country. Ever since, May has been a month to honor the wealth of talent, experience and wisdom that our elders contribute to our communities.
This year’s celebration focuses on activity and encourages older Americans to “look for opportunities to show the vibrant life that you and your fellow older Americans lead.” The website is full of ideas for activities that enrich lives, from community gardening and volunteering, to painting a mural or choreographing a dance.
Staying Active, Staying Healthy
One key to staying active as we age is to be proactive about healthcare. That means getting the preventive care your doctor recommends, as well as regular treatment for any chronic health conditions.
It’s startling to realize that when President Kennedy declared the first Older Americans Month, only about half of older Americans had health insurance. Medicare didn’t exist until 1965. Now, 93 percent of Americans age 65 or older are enrolled in Medicare plans.
If you have Medicare, you can honor yourself this month by taking advantage of the many preventive services that Medicare plans offer at no charge. If you have loved ones with Medicare, encourage them to do something kind for themselves by getting up-to-date on their preventive care.
Staying Well, For Free
Start by calling your doctor to schedule your yearly “wellness” visit. At a wellness visit, you and your doctor sit down and develop a personalized plan to help you prevent disease and stay healthy.
Your doctor will determine if you are due for any preventive services, such as cancer or diabetes screenings. Medicare covers annual wellness visits.
Another way to be proactive about your healthcare is to review your Medicare plans every year. You want to make sure you’re enrolled in the plans that offer the best fit for your health and your budget.
In most cases, the time to do this is during Medicare’s annual enrollment period in the fall. But that’s a story for another day! For more information or questions, contact the Allsup Medicare Advisor® at (866) 521-7655.
By Julie Sacks, LCSW , director, APDA National Young Onset Center
Increasing awareness of Parkinson’s disease is one of the ongoing goals of organizations like the American Parkinson Disease Association Inc. During Parkinson’s Awareness Month, we accentuate that aspect of our work and invite you to be our partner in spreading awareness, now and year-round.
There are about 1.5 million people in the U.S. with Parkinson’s disease, and approximately 50,000 to 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Ten years ago, researchers estimated that 5 to 10 percent of people with Parkinson’s disease had young (or early) onset Parkinson’s disease. Those estimates are now 10 to 15 percent.
Why the increase? Are more young people getting Parkinson’s disease or are physicians more likely to recognize and diagnose it in younger people? Perhaps both—more research is needed to determine the incidence and prevalence of young-onset Parkinson’s disease.
What we know at this time is:
1) The definition of “young” is changing. Although young-onset Parkinson’s is medically defined as diagnosis under age 40, about half of those who contact the APDANationalYoungOnsetCenter are between the ages of 40 and 60, “young” by today’s standard.
2) Once young, always young. In addition to the newly-diagnosed young person (or family), APDA serves a large group of people once-diagnosed young. This group generally prefers young-onset-specific resources, even as the disease progresses and they age chronologically.
3) The U.S. population is aging. Baby Boomers tend to identify themselves as “young onset.” As this group continues to mature, we expect to see a rise in the Parkinson’s and young-onset Parkinson’s population as well as the number of people applying for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.
Throughout the month of April, Allsup has been donating $1 to the APDANationalYoungOnsetCenter for every person who posts, I’m optimistic about _____,” on Allsup’s Facebook page. Please take a moment and demonstrate your support by posting your comment now.
With your help we can increase awareness and continue to “Ease the Burden” of Parkinson’s disease on patients and families and raise funds to “Find the Cure.”
To learn more about the American Parkinson Disease Association contact apda@apdaparkinson.org. To learn more about young onset Parkinson’s disease or to contact the APDA National Young Onset Center email apda@youngparkinsons.org.
By Ed of Allsup
In my 40 years of experience with the Social Security disability appeals process, I’ve learned that people often form ideas about what a disability hearing is like based on what they see on TV.
Well, a typical disability hearing has little resemblance to a criminal trial on the tube. There’s no jury, no prosecutor and no audience.
It’s a different process when seeking Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. What you’ll find is a small room with a table and a recorder. The claimant, the representative and the administrative law judge are the only people there, along with any necessary medical or vocational experts.
Allsup experts prepare for many hours for what culminates in just a matter of minutes. The hearings—which usually consist of the judge reviewing the claimant’s file and asking questions of the claimant, the representative and the experts—seldom last more than an hour. A rare hearing may last more than two hours. The claimant representative also has the opportunity to ask questions and clarify claimant statements. Read more about how to prepare for a hearing on Allsup.com.
An average wait to receive the disability appeals decision, on the other hand, takes much longer—between 45 and 90 days.
But first, you have get your hearing scheduled—an increasingly difficult task. In February 2013, the Social Security Administration reported that average hearing processing times had climbed to 382 days. The backlog of claims at the hearing level has reached more than 830,000 claims. (Visit ssa.gov for more hearings and appeals data.)
Another disheartening trend is that Social Security disability examiners are denying a higher percentage of claims at all levels of the process, according to SSA data. At the disability hearing level, only 52 percent of Social Security benefits were allowed in 2012, compared with 63 percent just three years earlier.
There is a way to improve your chances—seeking representation like Allsup early in the application process is a simple way to boost the likelihood of receiving SSDI benefits more quickly and with less hassle.
In fact, about 80 percent of Allsup customers at the hearing level receive their benefits, compared to 47 percent for those without a representative. To learn more about how Allsup experts can guide you through the Social Security Disability Insurance process, call (800) 279-4357.