Social Security Disability &
  Special Needs Planning News from
 Sheri R. Abrams, Attorney at Law,
 Partner at Needham Mitnick & Pollack, PLC

Picture of Sheri Abrams
Upcoming Events:

Resource Fair:

 

Attorneys Helen Cohn Needham & Judy Mitnick will be representing NMP at Moving on to Life in the Community: A Resource Fair - designed for students and their families to speak to adult service representatives and gather information about available services and supports.  The Resource Fair will be held on Thursday, October 25, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at  Falls Church High School.  The school is located at 7521 Jaguar Trail in Falls Church, Virginia.  For more information click here.

 

Circle of Support Conference:

 

Sheri Abrams will be conducting a workshop at the Arc of Greater Prince William's Circle of Support conference on Saturday, November 3, 2012. The conference runs from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. The workshop will focus on the "Ins and Outs of Social Security Disability and SSI Benefits." The event is for families of children with special needs and the professionals who work with them.   NMP will also have a table at this event manned by Attorneys Judith Mitnick & Angela Griffith.  For more information click here.

 

In This Issue
Social Security Benefits Will Increase by 1.7% in 2013
Can A Non-U.S. Citizen Receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
"Social Security For Dummies" Published

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Issue: # 51October 2012
Picture of Social Security Card and Dice

Greetings! 

     

 

Welcome to our newsletter.

 

You may have been added to our e-mail newsletter mailing list if you have been in contact with Sheri R. Abrams, Attorney at Law or the Law Firm of Needham Mitnick & Pollack, plc.

 

These monthly newsletters are designed to show you how not to gamble with your or your patients/clients Social Security Disability and/or SSI benefits.  We also provide you with information on Special Needs Planning.

 

You may unsubscribe by clicking on the link at the end of this e-mail.

 

Social Security Benefits Will Increase by 1.7 Percent in 2013

 

SocialSecurity&CapitolMonthly Social Security Retirement, Disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase 1.7 percent in 2013.

 

This Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) starts in January and is calculated based on a measure of inflation.

 

Social Security payments for retired and disabled workers average $1,237 a month, or about $14,800 a year. A 1.7 percent increase will amount to about $21 a month, or $252 a year, on average.

  

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase to $710 a month for an individual and $1,066 a month for a couple.

 

Some of next year's COLA for Social Security retirement and disability recipients could, however, be eliminated by higher Medicare premiums, which are deducted from Social Security payments.

 

In 2012 the COLA for Social Security recipients was a 3.6 percent increase in benefits. The previous two years there was no COLA.


For more information on how COLA is calculated, please
click here.

 

Can A Non-U.S. Citizen Receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

 

PassportsGenerally you need to be a U.S. Citizen to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

 

However, if you are a noncitizen in one of certain immigration categories granted by the Department of Homeland Security, you may be eligible for SSI if:

 

* You were lawfully living in the United States on August 22, 1996, and you are blind or disabled;


* You were receiving SSI on August 22, 1996, and you are lawfully living in the United States; or


* You were lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and have a total of 40 credits of work in the United States. (Your spouse's or parent's work also may count.)

 

Please note that if you entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996, then you may not be eligible for SSI for the first five years as a lawfully admitted permanent resident even if you have 40 qualifying credits of earnings.

 

Some other noncitizens who may be eligible for SSI payments are:

 

*Active duty members of the U.S. armed forces;


*Noncitizen members of federally recognized Indian tribes;


*Certain noncitizens admitted as Amerasian immigrants; and


*Cuban/Haitian entrants under the Refugee Education Assistance Act.

 

Some of these refugees and other noncitizens can only receive SSI for up to seven years.

 

For more information, please click here.

"Social Security For Dummies" Published

   

AARP and Author Jonathan Peterson (with some assistance from Attorney Sheri Abrams), has published the book "Social Security For Dummies."

 

"Social Security For Dummies" is a friendly, easy-to-understand guide which cuts through the complexities and gives you the practical information you need to understand how Social Security works, and how to make smart decisions about retirement.

 

Open the book and find:

  • Easy explanations of Social Security's complex rules

  • How to use Social Security calculators and statements

  • Advice on when to start collecting retirement benefits

  • Tips for keeping your Social Security number safe from theft

  • How to help a loved one apply for and manage benefits

  • Ways to handle benefit mistakes and disputes

  • Ten myths about Social Security

  • How potential program changes could affect you

 

Social Security For Dummies is available at your local bookstore or click here to order it online.

Sheri Abrams' Book "Don't Gamble With Your Social Security Disability Benefits--What Every Virginia Resident Needs To Know To Win A Social Security Disability Case" Is Available.

Picture of Book 
For more information please click here to see our Press Release.  

 

Available for purchase at Amazon.com or you can download a free copy of the book   at our websites:  

 

 

            www.nmpattorneys.com

                             &

  

              www.sheriabrams.com 

                             

 

  
 
Now Available For Nook & Kindle

 

Kindle 

"Don't Gamble With Your Social Security Disability Benefits--What Every Virginia Resident Needs To Know To Win A Social Security Disability Case" is now available for the Nook here.

 

and the Kindle here.

OUR OFFICE LOCATION

 

The law firm of Needham Mitnick & Pollack, PLC, is located at:

 

NMP's Office Building 

 

400 S. Maple Avenue
Suite 210
Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 536-7778

 

 

This is in downtown Falls Church and the office has plenty of free and accessible parking.

 

REFERRALS

NMP logo
If you know of someone who could use my legal services or any of the other members of the law firm of Needham Mitnick & Pollack, plc, please forward to him/her this e-mail newsletter or give him/her our telephone number: (703) 536-7778.

  

We provide legal services in the areas of Social Security Disability Law , Elder Law, Wills and Trusts, Probate, Trust Administration, Powers of Attorney, Advance Medical Directives, Guardianships, Long Term Care Planning, Disability Planning, Medicaid Eligibility, Veterans Benefits and Special Needs Trusts.
   
If you, or someone you know, is involved with an educational event or support group that would benefit from a presentation on any of the areas of law for which we provide legal services, please call us at (703) 536-7778.