The Social Security Administration bases your eligibility for Social Security Disability on your ability to work and the severity of your disability. They even have a list of accepted conditions. If you are not sure whether you qualify or if your condition does not appear on their list, you might find it difficult to prove your eligibility. Back and neck injuries Neck, back and spinal injuries are among the most common reasons to seek disability benefits. However, the SSA denies claims for disabilities that are not severe or long-term. MRIs, CT scans, test results and testimony from your healt ..read more

If a debilitating medical condition prevents you from working, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits to help you continue to support yourself and your family. However, even if you are eligible for SSD aid, receiving the help you need can take time. You might find it tempting to collect unemployment benefits while you wait for SSD benefits or in addition to SSD payments. However, these two programs serve very different purposes, and accepting payments from both could lead to monetary and criminal penalties. How are unemployment and SSD programs different? While the state p ..read more

If you have recently lost your job, dealing with an onslaught of bills is overwhelming. You want to protect your family and keep them in their home, but mounting financial pressure makes that problematic. Bankruptcy is a standard tool used to help people avoid further economic downfall. The goal of bankruptcy is to work with the courts to develop a manageable payment plan or eliminate debts via discharge. What is debt discharge? In simple terms, discharging debt means getting rid of it. Any obligations that the court decides to remove are no longer your responsibility. A judge will declare you ..read more

When you have a serious disability that keeps you from being able to support yourself, you may apply for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income from the U.S. Social Security Administration. If you receive approval for these benefits but become unable to stay on top of your finances, you may consider filing for bankruptcy. However, you may have questions about whether your receipt of these benefits impacts your ability to do so. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how filing for bankruptcy impacts SSI or SSDI payments. However, chances are, you should be able t ..read more

When a person dies, the court supervises the distribution of assets and settlement of taxes and debts. This process, called probate, can be lengthy and expensive. These estate planning strategies can help your beneficiaries avoid the probate process in Michigan. Establish a trust Michigan allows assets held in a trust to bypass probate. You can create a living trust, then transfer property to ownership of the trust. The trust documents indicate who will receive specific assets upon your death and name a trustee to administer the trust property. You can change or update a living trust at any ti ..read more

For disabled workers and their families, Social Security disability (SSD) benefits represent a crucial way to financially carry on with their lives as best as they can. Granted, they will not receive the same amount of money that they would have if the main income earner continued to work. If you suspect that you qualify for SSD benefits, it is crucial to seek them. However, do not make assumptions that you automatically will receive those benefits. During the application process, some people make mistakes and then wonder why the Social Security Administration (SSA) rejected them. Assuming eli ..read more

Social Security Disability Insurance is a federal assistance program that provides benefits to people with medical conditions that restrict their ability to earn income. This government program views mental disorders the same as physical impairments. You may qualify for disability insurance if you have a mental health condition that limits your ability to work. What mental disorders qualify for SSDI benefits? The Social Security Administration acknowledges various mental conditions that can affect a person’s employment status. However, there are several factors the SSD program reviews to ..read more

If you have decided to submit a claim for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, you will need to become familiar with the application process. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will want to see proof of your disability. They can access your medical records, but should you gather the information yourself? Requiring evidence When you submit a claim for SSD benefits, the Social Security Administration will want “objective medical evidence” to prove the condition that prevents you from working meets the SSA definition for “disabled.” Therefore, your medical records represent an essenti ..read more

The court divides a person’s property between their heirs when they pass away. This process is known as probate, and it is time-consuming and expensive. However, there are different methods for transferring a deceased’s property to their heirs without going through that lengthy process. One way to do this is by creating a ladybird deed, which has more benefits than avoiding probate. Ladybird deed benefits Ladybird deeds, also known as enhanced life estates, are an efficient estate planning method. They allow the grantor (the person transferring the property) to name grantees (heirs) to their p ..read more

Choosing an executor for your estate represents one of the more important decisions in the estate planning process. The right person for this important and time-consuming role must have the patience, availability, willingness and financial savviness to perform the job. But, sometimes, replacing an executor also is in the cards, especially if that person is no longer up to the task. You want to make sure that you are comfortable with the person in this critical role. After all, an executor has numerous responsibilities include identifying, locating and distributing the estate’s assets, settling ..read more