Social Security Disability Law Podcast

By Jonathan Ginsberg

What's Social Security Disability Law Podcast about?

What does it take to win Social Security disability benefits? Join disability attorney Jonathan Ginsberg as he demystifies the disability approval process and offers proven tactics to help you win the benefits you deserve.

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Social Security Disability Law Podcast episodes:

03.05.2024
How to Attack Vocational Witness Testimony to Appeal an Unfavorable Hearing Decision
This is part two of a three part interview I conducted with attorney Bryan Konoski. Bryan's practice is focused primarily on appellate work - filing appeals from unfavorable hearing decisions with the Appeals Council and, if denied at the Appeals...
12.03.2023
How to Successfully Appeal Your Unfavorable Hearing Decision
This is part one of a three part interview I conducted with attorney Bryan Konoski. Bryan is a Social Security disability attorney whose practice focuses on Appeals Council and Federal District Court work. The appellate work that Bryan does is very...
10.09.2023
Are You at Risk of a Fraud Investigation from Social Security for Your Disability Claim
What type of conduct does Social Security consider to be fraudulent? Are you committing fraud if you exaggerate your symptoms or if there is no MRI to document your back pain claim? Or does SSA define fraud as conduct that goes...
09.01.2023
Former Social Security Adjudicator Greg Brinkley Explains the Adjudication Process
How do Social Security claims examiners (adjudicators) analyze disability claims and what do they do on a day to day basis? In this episode I speak to Greg Brinkley a former Social Security employee. In his 27 year career with the...
08.01.2023
Vocational Witnesses Demystified: My Interview with a Practicing Vocational Expert:
Social Security disability judges call on vocational witnesses to testify at the vast majority of disability hearings. Although you have never met this witness, he/she plays an important role in your hearing. Disability judges pose "hypothetical questions" to the vocational expert...
07.01.2023
Comparing Experiences: What It Takes to Win
After trying thousands of cases over the past thirty years, I have a fairly good idea what types of cases are likely to be approved. There are certain fact patterns and claimant profiles that I know will resonate with...
06.11.2023
Best Practices for Filling Out Social Security Disability Forms
During the course of your Social Security disability case, SSA will send you dozens of forms. These forms include documents with titles like "Function Report-Adult," "Disability Report -Adult," "Work History Report," "Activities of Daily Living Report," "Pain Questionnaire." Most of these...
05.01.2023
What Documents do You Need to Win Your Disability Case?
Social Security disability judges rely primarily on evidence to decide whether you qualify for disability benefits. Within the last few years, SSA changed its procedure to remove "claimant credibility" as a factor that judges can use. In other words, you may...
04.06.2023
What Evidence Do You Need to Win Your Social Security Disability Case?
What can you do as an applicant for Social Security disability benefits to improve your chances at an approval? This is the third an final installment of my conversation for former Social Security staff attorney Spencer Bishins. Spencer recently released a...
03.01.2023
Who Gets Hired to Serve as a Social Security Disability Judge and What Evidence do They Need to Approve Your Case?
What evidence to Social Security judges find most compelling and convincing? In part two of my interview with former Social Security staff attorney Spencer Bishens, we talk about how a disability judge's background can influence how that judge evaluates a case....
02.01.2023
Former Social Security Attorney Advisor Says Claim Processing Delays and Arbitrary Decisions are no Accident
Recently the Washington Post and several other newspapers around the country have run stories about the inefficiencies and long delays that are causing terrible suffering for Social Security disability applicants. My guest on today's podcast argues that these long delays and...
01.11.2023
Talking Medicare with Cal Hero
When you are approved for Social Security disability benefits, you also become eligible for Medicare. But you don't get Medicare coverage right away - instead, you don't become eligible for Medicare until 24 months after you first become eligible for...
05.28.2021
What Goes on Behind the Scenes in Your Social Security Disability Case?
Why do some Social Security disability claims get approved within two to three months, whereas others are denied twice before you end up a year and a half later in front of a Social Security judge? More importantly, what can you...
02.11.2021
How to Win Mental Health Disability Claims - Part 2
How can you improve your chances at winning Social Security disability benefits if you are struggling with a mental health condition like severe depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, PTSD or other issue that prevents you from working? In part 2 of my...
01.20.2021
How to Win Mental Health Disability Claims - Part 1
What are proven strategies you or a loved one can use to win a mental health disability claim? This is part one of a two part episode in which I interview Scottsdale, Arizona attorney Jeffrey Herman about how he approaches the...
11.16.2020
Decision Writer Interview Part Two: Why Judges Approve Claims
Earlier this year I published part one of my interview with Cameron Connah, a former staff attorney with Social Security responsible for drafting approvals and denials to be released by Social Security judges. As a decision writer Cameron had the unique...
11.03.2020
What Should You Expect from Your Social Security Disability Lawyer?
What should you expect from your lawyer during the long delays typical of most Social Security disability claims? As you may know, Social Security moves at a snail's pace when deciding claims - it is not at all unusual for a...
07.07.2020
Who are Social Security Disability's "Decision Writers" and What do They Do?
Would you be surprised to learn that the judge who hears your disability case is not the person who actually writes the approval or denial in your case? In the strange universe that is Social Security disability, a "decision writer" working...
05.13.2020
What You Need to Know About Your Medical Records in Preparation for Your Disability Hearing
After waiting as long as two years or more for your hearing, you are finally scheduled to appear before a Social Security disability judge to present your case for disability benefits. Your hearing will last around 45 minutes so every...
04.23.2020
Finally, Someone is Taking Action to Address Social Security's Payment Delays
The one constant in the Social Security disability program is delay. You'll wait months for a decision after you apply, months for a decision on your appeal, and months for a hearing date. After your hearing, you may wait weeks...
03.04.2020
How Does the Veterans Administration Disability System Differ from Social Security Disability?
The federal government administers two huge disability programs - one for workers who can longer reliably perform a full time job (Social Security disability), and the second a program that pays cash benefits to soldiers injured while serving in the...
01.24.2020
What to Expect from Social Security Disability in 2020
What are the trends that we are seeing in the Social Security disability world and what can you expect in 2020 and beyond. If you have an active application for benefits, or if you have already been approved but are concerned...
11.20.2019
How a Good Lawyer Will Prepare You for a "No Drama" Social Security Disability Hearing
Even though Social Security disability hearings are considered "informal" you will no doubt be stressed when you appear before the administrative law judge. Judges are very busy - often understaffed and under pressure to close cases quickly. Experienced lawyers know that...
10.15.2019
How You Can Influence Vocational Witness Testimony to Win Your Disability Case
I get a lot of questions about Social Security disability hearings. Disability hearings are unlike other court proceedings you may be familiar with because there is no attorney on the other side representing the Social Security Administration and the judge...
08.24.2019
Over Age 50 But Don't Meet the Grid Rules - You Still Have an Advantage
If you are 50 years old or older you have an advantage when applying for Social Security disability. In the last episode of this podcast I talked about the grid rules - a shortcut to winning for those over age...
07.23.2019
Over Age 50? You Have a Huge Advantage When Filing for Social Security Disability
Did you know that Social Security has a built in bias in favor of disability claimants over the age of 50? In addition to claiming disability based on SSA's listings, or presenting evidence of diminished capacity for work, the grid...
06.18.2019
Stand Out from the Crowd and Convince Your Judge that You are Deserving of Disability Benefits
What makes your Social Security disability claim stand out from the 20 or 30 other cases that your judge hears during the week your hearing is scheduled. Every other person your judge hears from that week, that month and that...
06.01.2019
The Five Elements of a Winning Back Pain Social Security Disability Case
Back pain is perhaps the most common ailment for adults in the United States, so it is no surprise that Social Security disability judges see more back pain claims than any other medical complaint. Because back pain cases are so common,...
05.15.2019
Social Security Disability Judge Reveals the Evidence She Needs to Approve Your Claim
What type of evidence does a Social Security disability judge need to approve your claim? Social Security defines disability in terms of how your medical problems impact your capacity for work. But your judge won't approve your claim unless your file...
04.15.2019
Mistakes to Avoid in you Social Security Disability Case
What are the common mistakes that you need to avoid when filing your Social Security disability claim and appealing a denial. What do you need to watch out for at your disability hearing? In this episode, I interview Chicago Social Security...
04.01.2019
What Does it Take to Win a Federal Court Appeal
What happens if you lose at your hearing, file an appeal to the Appeals Council and lose there as well? Do you have any remaining options? My guest today is Karl Osterhout, a lawyer based in Pittsburgh who has built a...
03.15.2019
What Does it Take to Win at the Appeals Council
What happens if you lose at your hearing? What are your options? Social Security disability law says that if you lose you can either start over with a new application, or you can appeal the hearing judge's denial by filing Form...
02.28.2019
Seven Types of Activities You Should Avoid After You File for Disability
Since the average Social Security disability case can take two to three years from the date you file until the date of your hearing, you can expect the judge who hears your case to ask you about your activities during...
02.15.2019
How Sick Must You Be to Win Social Security Disability Benefits?
How do you know if you are sick or injured enough to win Social Security disability benefits? While every case is different, certain patterns do emerge, and after 25+ years of trying cases, I want to share with you my...
01.31.2019
Understanding the Process: How Social Security Decides Disability Claims
How does the Social Security Administration decide your case? As I discuss in this podcast, Social Security about 1/3 of claims are approved when a claimant first applies. Those denied must appeal - first by filing a "Request for...
01.31.2019
What is the Difference Between SSDI and SSI?
What is the difference between SSDI and SSI? As I discuss in this episode, SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance. It is an insurance program and the payroll taxes you paid while you were working are the premiums. You...
01.15.2019
How do You Prove that You are Disabled? 3 Proven Arguments
If you decide to apply for Social Security disability, you have to prove to the Social Security Administration that you are disabled. In the last episode, I explained how SSA defines the term "disabled." In this episode, I discuss the...
01.02.2019
How Does Social Security Define the Term "Disability?"
How does Social Security define the term "disability?" Under the law, you are disabled if you are unable to engage in substantial gainful activity because of a medically determinable condition or conditions that has lasted or is expected to last...

What's Social Security Disability Law Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Social Security Disability Law Podcast episodes:

How to Attack Vocational Witness Testimony to Appeal an Unfavorable Hearing Decision

How to Successfully Appeal Your Unfavorable Hearing Decision

Are You at Risk of a Fraud Investigation from Social Security for Your Disability Claim

Former Social Security Adjudicator Greg Brinkley Explains the Adjudication Process

Vocational Witnesses Demystified: My Interview with a Practicing Vocational Expert:

Comparing Experiences: What It Takes to Win

Best Practices for Filling Out Social Security Disability Forms

What Documents do You Need to Win Your Disability Case?

What Evidence Do You Need to Win Your Social Security Disability Case?

Who Gets Hired to Serve as a Social Security Disability Judge and What Evidence do They Need to Approve Your Case?

Former Social Security Attorney Advisor Says Claim Processing Delays and Arbitrary Decisions are no Accident

Talking Medicare with Cal Hero

What Goes on Behind the Scenes in Your Social Security Disability Case?

How to Win Mental Health Disability Claims - Part 2

How to Win Mental Health Disability Claims - Part 1

Decision Writer Interview Part Two: Why Judges Approve Claims

What Should You Expect from Your Social Security Disability Lawyer?

Who are Social Security Disability's "Decision Writers" and What do They Do?

What You Need to Know About Your Medical Records in Preparation for Your Disability Hearing

Finally, Someone is Taking Action to Address Social Security's Payment Delays

How Does the Veterans Administration Disability System Differ from Social Security Disability?

What to Expect from Social Security Disability in 2020

How a Good Lawyer Will Prepare You for a "No Drama" Social Security Disability Hearing

How You Can Influence Vocational Witness Testimony to Win Your Disability Case

Over Age 50 But Don't Meet the Grid Rules - You Still Have an Advantage

Over Age 50? You Have a Huge Advantage When Filing for Social Security Disability

Stand Out from the Crowd and Convince Your Judge that You are Deserving of Disability Benefits

The Five Elements of a Winning Back Pain Social Security Disability Case

Social Security Disability Judge Reveals the Evidence She Needs to Approve Your Claim

Mistakes to Avoid in you Social Security Disability Case

What Does it Take to Win a Federal Court Appeal

What Does it Take to Win at the Appeals Council

Seven Types of Activities You Should Avoid After You File for Disability

How Sick Must You Be to Win Social Security Disability Benefits?

Understanding the Process: How Social Security Decides Disability Claims

What is the Difference Between SSDI and SSI?

How do You Prove that You are Disabled? 3 Proven Arguments

How Does Social Security Define the Term "Disability?"