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What 52 Years of Disability Law Teaches About Getting Approved

Micah Laurel — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:50:53 +0000

With the cost of living rising—gas, groceries, rent—every month, without income hits harder.That’s why getting—and keeping—your disability benefits matters.But here’s the hard truth:Many people who should qualify still get denied.Not because they aren’t sick.Because their medical records don’t clearly show their limitations.Not their condition.Their limitations.We recently spoke with Attorney James Mitchell Brown, who has over […]

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Diagnosis Isn’t What Gets and Keeps Disability Benefit

Micah Laurel — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:21:34 +0000

If you’re exhausted from explaining your condition over and over again, you’re not alone. Many Social Security disability applicants — and even people already receiving SSDI or SSI — feel stuck in this frustrating loop:You say you’re struggling.Your doctor writes “stable” or “doing fine.”Social Security reads the record and assumes you can function.And you’re left wondering […]

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Get Ready for Reviews, COLA & Medicare Changes

Micah Laurel — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:14:48 +0000

If you depend on disability benefits, your income is at risk in 2025 and 2026. ➤ SSA is increasing medical reviews. ➤ COLA raises are small (2.5% in 2025, 2.7% projected in 2026) but Medicare premiums are climbing even faster (11.6% jump expected in 2026). ➤ Miss one notice or deadline, and you could lose […]

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How to Prepare for Rising Healthcare Costs in 2026

Micah Laurel — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 10:01:33 +0000

If you rely on disability benefits, the reality is that your costs will increase in 2026, while your income may not keep pace. Many members are already noticing higher healthcare expenses, and Medicare premiums are expected to rise significantly, reducing the impact of the small COLA increases from Social Security. The good news is that […]

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The FREE Local Resource That 87% of People Don’t Know About (That Could Make or Break Your Disability Benefits)

Brian — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 07:54:32 +0000

If you’re sick, broke, or battling the system… You don’t need more confusion — You need support that works. Here’s What Most People Miss: A recent poll showed 87% of our members had no idea about a free, local program that exists in nearly every state — and has helped thousands of people… ✔ Get […]

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The Spoon Theory: A Real-Life Guide to Managing Energy with Chronic Illness

Brian — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 15:55:48 +0000

You deserve to Get, Keep, and Maximize all the benefits you are entitled to. That’s why we’re showing how Spoon Theory can help you explain your limits to Social Security… and protect your benefits for good. So you can stop fighting the system—and finally feel stable, safe, and heard. This message is for you if: […]

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What To Do If SSA Surveillance Leads to a Mistake — And You’re Blamed for It

Brian — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 15:11:45 +0000

Protect Your Benefits. Your Records. Your Peace of Mind. Watch the full video here: What to Do If You Get an Overpayment Notice What if I didn’t do anything wrong?Can SSA really take back my disability payments?How do I even begin to fight this? If you’ve ever opened a letter from Social Security only to […]

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Documenting Every Condition, Head to Toe

Brian — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 16:02:45 +0000

This month, we’re focusing on a crucial topic: documenting every medical condition – from head to toe. Whether you’re applying for disability, awaiting a decision, or already approved, thorough documentation can mean the difference between approval and denial, or keeping and losing your benefits. Save the Date: June 11 at 11:57 AM — Live on […]

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2025 Disability Approval Steps & Expectations

Brian — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:54:54 +0000

The SSA has released updated regulations that could affect how and when you get approved for disability benefits. In this video, we break down everything you need to know about navigating the 2025 SSDI process. What you’ll learn: How the new $9,200 representative fee cap affects your case. The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently raised […]

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Good News For Your Social Security Disability Benefits in 2025

Brian — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 04:02:39 +0000

Welcome to 2025, where changes and innovations at The Disability Digest aim to improve how you navigate your Social Security Disability Benefits. While there may not be groundbreaking announcements from Social Security this year, The Disability Digest is providing tools, resources, and support designed to make a significant difference in your journey. Below, we detail […]

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📢The Disability Digest Monthly News: December 2024 Edition

Brian — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 12:26:44 +0000

Your Roadmap to Navigating, Securing, and Maximizing Your Social Security Disability Benefits 🌟 Welcome, Members!We understand the challenges you face every day, and we’re here to help you navigate them. Our mission is to empower you with reliable information and actionable steps to secure the benefits you deserve. Let’s dive into this month’s key updates! […]

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New COLA and Medicare Changes: What You Need to Know Before 2024 Ends

Brian — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 09:10:22 +0000

When the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced the 3.2% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2024, many SSDI recipients, applicants, and caregivers felt a mix of relief and uncertainty. This adjustment, though smaller than last year’s, aims to help millions keep up with inflation, especially as costs for essentials like food and healthcare continue to rise. But […]

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Major SSDI Update: What the New Representative Fee Increase Means for You

Brian — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 21:54:18 +0000

Today, we want to bring you an important update that affects everyone in our community—whether you’re just considering applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), are in the middle of the process, or are already receiving benefits. What’s Happening? Starting on November 31 2024, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will increase the fee cap for […]

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Why Disability Claims Get Denied and How to Avoid These Common Pitfalls

Brian — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 12:30:00 +0000

Navigating the Social Security Disability application process can be overwhelming. Denials are common, but by understanding why they happen, you can take proactive steps to strengthen your case and avoid setbacks. Here are the top 7 reasons disability applications get denied and tips to avoid these common pitfalls. 1. Insufficient Medical Evidence One of the […]

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BEST Social Security Disability News 2024

Brian — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 09:14:39 +0000

Exciting News from Social Security: A Game-Changer for Disability Benefits in 2024 Hello everyone, it’s Brian from The Disability Digest, bringing you some of the best news I’ve heard from Social Security this year in 2024. This update will significantly impact anyone seeking to get their disability benefits approved and those already receiving benefits. Who […]

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Top 6 Reasons People Lose Their Social Security Disability Benefits

Brian — Tue, 28 May 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Hey there, this is Brian Therrien from the Disability Digest. Today, I want to share why people lose their Social Security Disability benefits. This insight comes from my experience since 2006, interviewing thousands of beneficiaries and industry experts. These are my opinions, but I hope this information helps you avoid common pitfalls or aids someone […]

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Continuing Disability Review Update

Brian — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 14:21:09 +0000

Understanding Continuing Disability Reviews: Key Updates and GuidanceWelcome to our latest blog post where we delve into the critical topic of Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs), which are essential for individuals receiving disability benefits. The focus today is on recent statistics and personal anecdotes that highlight the ongoing importance of staying informed about CDRs.What is a […]

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Social Security Disability Check GOOD NEWS

Brian — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 07:02:59 +0000

Hey there, this is Brian Therrien from the Disability Digest with some good news for you Social Security Disability recipients. I'm going to discuss in this video three Social Security Disability check amount changes for 2024. Now, I'm going to be candid with you. I would love to do a video that would be all good news about Social Security and related checks, but frankly, I haven't come up with a theme yet that would do that. So I'm going to cover two points that are not so good, and then I'm going to finish with a point that is good, right? So, for those of you that don't know me and you're new here, my name is Brian Therrien. I am an advocate here at the Disability Digest. We help people get all of the disability benefits that they are entitled to. We've been doing this since 2006, and we are pleased to be serving 192,000 members here at the Disability Digest. We'll tell you about that at the end of the presentation today. So, these changes are significant and will be impacting your disability check, whether you're going to be receiving it, expecting to be receiving it, or already are in 2024. Okay? So, first one is, for disability recipients, umm, you receive a cost of living increase. Now, if you're not approved yet and you're watching this, once you get approved, in your reward letter, they will show you for the time that your back benefits were calculated or they should, what the cost of living increase is and how it impacts your benefits. And for those of you that are already receiving your benefits, you'll see a bump in your check. So, that increase is expected to be 3.2%. So, your check will go up 3.2%. Now, the concept here is to keep you in line with the cost of living. But, the cost of living in inflation is 3.7%. So, your effective purchasing power is going to be decreasing by 5.05%. We'll talk about some ways that you can offset that at the end of the presentation today. Now, here's one other area of concern. Umm, if you have a disability check that is in the $1,470 dollar range, and you get this increase, it could have a significant negative impact on your benefits, because if you have a check under $1,500, you typically do not have to pay for your Medicare Part B premium but with the cost of living increase that could push you over the threshold and you could be paying for it. This happened to a lot of people last year and it was really unfortunately devastating. So, uh, the Part B premium for this year is $100, uh, $20.23, is $164.90. It's going up to $170.10. So if you weren't paying for it, because you had to check under $1,500, and then it got bumped over, um, it's gonna be a significant amount of money that you've gotta come up with, right? So, it's $208.80 over the course of the year, so just be aware of that. Medicare has got a lot of, umm, improvements and advantages, especially to the Medicare Part C plans. Umm, so I definitely encourage you to pursue and keep your Medicare benefits. Umm, okay, here's the good news. For those of you that have an interest or already are, umm, supplementing your income, the amount of money that you can make in 2024 is going to be increasing. So this year, right now, you can earn $1,050 a month and keep your benefits. Umm, and that is, umm, your, if you're working, umm, as an employee, you can reduce it by some expenses, so you can earn a little bit more and then reduce it down. Umm, if you are doing something like an independent contractor, you know, side hustle like that, then it is your net income after your expenses, right? So there's a lot more information that we provide to help you understand like what you could do, how to structure that. But the good news is, it's going up to $1,110 per month. So that will give you a nice bump of what $720 a year. So, this has been one bright spot in the disability process. Umm, we'll put the link associated with this video to the regulation so you can see the historical and it's continued to go up. It definitely beats, uhh, whatever your offset is for inflation, right? Now, if you're going through the disability approval process, you are subject to a separate, different regulation. You can still make money and apply for disability. Umm, and the amount that you can earn in 2023 is $1,470 a month, and it goes up to $1,550 a month. Now, there is a lot of considerations if you're going to be working while you go through the approval process, and I encourage you to tune in to other videos that we have, or follow the directions at the end to learn, like, is it okay to work, how much, so there's a lot more on that to be factored in. Okay, so again, I think the bright spots here for somebody that wants to... I don't think. I know the bright spots are, if you want to maximize your disability benefits, the areas of opportunity are to supplement your income. Umm, I'll give you a few tips of what I made a list of, what people are doing here recently at the Disability Digest in a moment. And then the next thing is, is to review your disability benefits, especially your Medicare. Most people are on Medicare Part C, Medicare Advantage Plans, and we have done an abundance of information about what is happening with these plans in our recent live events on YouTube. We've had guest speakers. They used to be just really health care coverage, but they are evolving into a complete benefit package with incentives in there that will help you with your cash flow, even just straight-up flex cards that you can pay rent with or utilities with or do shopping with for food. Umm, so make sure that you're following the information we have, uh, to understand what your plan is now, how you can review your options. Umm, so the two ways are supplementing your income and also reviewing your benefits. So just this past, uh, eight, ten days, I started taking some mental notes of conversation, conversations with people and what they're doing to supplement their income. And it doesn't need to be a full-on job, I mean, like one individual is knitting four items a month, right, and they're making between $30 and $50 an item, right? That makes a big difference. Babysitting, substitute teaching, Uber drivers, pet sitting, travel advisors. And then we have interviewed a lot of people on our YouTube channel about what they do for work. can check that out just to get some ideas. So, it doesn't need to be a huge thing, and maybe you're only able to do, like, an hour or two a day of something, but really, folks, it is a great way to offset the purchasing power that continues to be taken away from you with your disability check. So, I hope you found this helpful, kind of balancing out the bad news with the good news. The best way that we can help you with all of this is you certainly are welcome to and encourage you to watch all of our videos. But joining us as a member is the way for you to get the best return on your time. It doesn't cost you anything. Our membership is free. There's no charge. supported by ads and sponsors and services that we provide. So, what the membership does is, once you complete your profile, it allows us to get you, like, a laser-focused information to you, once we understand where you're at. Like, are you trying to get approved? Maybe you've just started. Maybe you've been denied. Maybe you're waiting for a hearing. Or maybe you're already approved and you just got your first check and your award letter and you want to understand how it works and how to keep your benefits. or maybe you've been on benefits for a while and your check is relatively fixed and you're getting pinched and you want to know what you can do to supplement your income or connect with others or maybe there's things that you're paying for that you shouldn't be. All these things, we've been doing this for a long time and have access to a lot of information that can help you. So just look for the link around the video that can help you out to come in, join us as a member and get that like laser focused approach. So hey, thanks so much for watching, stay tuned for more, make it a great day. This has been Brian from the Disability Digest. Thank you.

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5 Things Social Security Disability Recipients Should Not Do

Brian — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 06:53:11 +0000

Hello, readers! This is Brian Therrien from the Disability Digest, and I’m excited to share some valuable insights with you today. Since 2006, I’ve been dedicated to assisting individuals in obtaining, retaining, and maximizing their disability benefits. Today, I’m offering a condensed list of crucial tips derived from my experiences and the collective wisdom of […]

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12 Disability Approval Secrets – Interview With James Mitchell Brown

Brian — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 15:24:47 +0000

Table of ContentsExecutive Summary ............................................................. Tips for Getting Disability Benefits Approved ................... The Artist in Filing a Claim .................................................. Timeframe for Submitting Medical Records ...................... Importance of Submitting Medical Records ...................... Submitting Medical Records and ADL Form ....................... Credibility in Disability Claims ............................................ Assessing Work Limitations ................................................ Physician's Perspective on Denial of Claims ...................... Consultative […]

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Expediting Social Security Disability Decisions: 4 Paths To Expedite Yours

Brian — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 20:28:53 +0000

This video covers four effective strategies to speed up the Social Security Disability decision process. If you're navigating the complexities of disability claims, this is tailored to you. Below you will find template letters for dire need and Compassionate Allowance. Dire need template letter Social Security Administration[Address][City, State, ZIP Code]Re: Dire Need Case for […]

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Social Security Disability GOOD NEWS March 2023

Brian — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 16:54:46 +0000

We are here to bring you the monthly Social Security Disability good news report this March. We’re going to talk to you about a potential increase in your social security check for $2400. Enjoy potential earnings that have zero impact on your Social Security disability benefits.We know about the poor service, long wait, and decreased […]

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Social Security Disability GOOD NEWS February 2023

Brian — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 01:41:04 +0000

What is the status of Social Security Disability hearings? For those of you who will have a review or are in the middle of a disability review and you want to keep your benefits. There are three types of hearings; In-person with a judge Video hearings Telephone hearings. The benefits of going in person are […]

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8,400 reasons to have disability income protection

Brian — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 00:47:25 +0000

Hi everybody. This is Brian from the disability digest. And this is ACE. I’m shooting this video because I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with around 8,400 people since I’ve started doing this work about 16 years ago. And I’ve heard some unfortunate stories from individuals who have lost their health, their job, and as […]

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How Stopping Work Affects Your Social Security Disability Check Amount

Brian — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 00:07:22 +0000

Hey, good day. It’s Brian Terry in here from the disability digest. And I am shooting this video for you with a picture of camel’s hump in the background to explain how your disability check is impacted by your work. One little known item called the wage freeze. Um, so this will help for those […]

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