Social Security and Disability Law

Social Security Faces Potential Big COLA Increase for 2023

March 4, 2023

Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) December 06, 2022 – Social Security retirement benefits are adjusted each year to keep pace with rising inflation. In 2023, record inflation rates may push Social Security benefits to their largest increase yet. The yearly adjustment to Social Security benefits is called a cost of living adjustment, or COLA. The…

Continue reading

SSA Takes Steps to Improve Customer Service and Wait Times at Field Offices

March 4, 2023

Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) November 22, 2022 – The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced plans to improve customer service and reduce wait times amid complaints about long lines in the extreme summer heat at field offices in Florida and across the United States. The SSA reopened field offices in April after more than two…

Continue reading

Social Security Administration Equity Action Plan

March 4, 2023

Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) November 15, 2022 – The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) serves as the nation’s most extensive federal program and provides a safety net for millions of individuals. In an executive summary, the SSA recently addressed its intent to address the barriers that many people have encountered when attempting to secure benefits.…

Continue reading

Florida Social Security Disability Updates for 2023

March 4, 2023

David W. Magann Social Security Disability Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) February 22, 2023 – Nearly 70 million people rely on one or more of Social Security’s benefit programs; as such, Floridians have undoubtedly experienced the effects of inflation, but changes to Social Security may provide some with more financial security in 2023. According to…

Continue reading

Compassionate Allowance Expansion for Florida Social Security Disability Recipients

March 4, 2023

Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) January 11, 2023 – The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced twelve new “Compassionate Allowance” (CAL) conditions. Many Florida social security disability insurance (SSDI) applicants are met with long processing times, extensive waiting periods, and initial denials before eventually securing benefits under the program. The expansion is likely to impact…

Continue reading

Hyde Park Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-Relief and Federal Assistance Benefit Fraud

March 2, 2023
Hyde Park Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-Relief and Federal Assistance Benefit Fraud

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts: BOSTON – A Hyde Park man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to using a stolen identity to fraudulently obtain pandemic relief funds and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, previously known as Food Stamps. Fernando Mateo Valenzuela, 69, pleaded guilty to three counts of…

Continue reading

Central Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Nearly $9 Million Cow Manure Ponzi Scheme

March 2, 2023
Central Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Nearly $9 Million Cow Manure Ponzi Scheme

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California: FRESNO, Calif. — Ray Brewer, 66, of Porterville, and Sheridan, Montana, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft charges for running a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme where he purported to turn cow manure into green energy, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According…

Continue reading

West Warwick Man Sentenced in Unemployment Fraud Scheme

February 28, 2023
West Warwick Man Sentenced in Unemployment Fraud Scheme

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Rhode Island: PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A West Warwick man who admitted to a federal judge that he participated in a conspiracy to use the stolen identities of others to gain COVID related unemployment insurance benefits was sentenced today to three years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney…

Continue reading

Don’t get caught off guard! Slam the Scam Day is March 9

February 28, 2023
Don’t get caught off guard! Slam the Scam Day is March 9

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable mso-style-name:”Table Normal”; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:””; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; Download a PDF of this press release Download a PDF of this press release in…

Continue reading

DiNapoli: Georgia Woman Allegedly Stole Over $450K in New York State Pension and Social Security Payments

February 24, 2023
DiNapoli: Georgia Woman Allegedly Stole Over $450K in New York State Pension and Social Security Payments

From the Office of the New York State Comptroller: State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Ryan K. Buchanan and the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration Gail S. Ennis today announced the arrest of a Georgia resident, Sandra Smith, for allegedly stealing over $450,000 in New…

Continue reading