Frequently Asked Questions About Injury and Disability

If you are eligible for SSDI benefits, you will receive a monthly disability payment. The Social Security Administration (SSA) no longer mails out checks and instead will directly deposit your payment into your bank account. While payments are usually paid on time each month, on occasion, your payment could be late. Here’s what you need to do to report a late payment so you get paid.

When You Should Expect to Receive Your Check Every Month

When your initial application is approved, it could take a few months for you to receive your first payment, especially if you are also receiving back pay. The SSA sends out monthly payments on a schedule based on your date of birth. Here is their current schedule of payments:

• Your payment will be on the second Wednesday of the month if you were born on the 1^st through the 10^th.
• Your payment will be on the third Wednesday of the month if you were born on the 11^th through the 20^th.
• Your payment will be on the fourth Wednesday of the month if you were born on the 21^st through the 31^st.

There are exceptions to these rules. If you started receiving disability payments before 1997, you should receive your payment on the 3^rd of the month. If your payment date falls on a holiday, your payment would be made the day before the holiday.

Why Your Payment Could Arrive Late

Your payment might be late for a number of reasons, such as:

• You changed your bank or had a change of address and did not notify the SSA.
• The bank account used by the SSA to make your payment changed.
• If the SSA office that is responsible for processing your payment has a slower process, it may take longer for you to receive your check.

What to Do If Your SSDI Payment Is Late

If you are worried that your payment was stolen, you should contact the SSA immediately. Otherwise, they request that you wait at least three business days after the date you should have received your check to contact your local office or call them at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) on Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

You should receive your first payment within 90 days of being approved for benefits. If you do not get it within this time period, contact your Social Security disability lawyer if you have one or the SSA.

Related Links: Obtaining the Back SSDI That You Deserve Five Strategies to Help You Win Your SSDI Case How Are SSDI Payments Calculated?

 

If you were injured in a car accident caused by another driver, you are probably worried about how to pay your medical bills and your living expenses while you are off work recovering from your injuries. You may be tempted to accept the insurance company’s offer of a quick settlement to get your money and get on with your life. However, here are three reasons this could be one of the biggest mistakes you could make in your case.

Reason #1: A Quick Settlement Is in the Insurance Company’s Interest

If the insurance company offers you a settlement soon after you file your claim, it is important to understand why they are doing this, which is to save money. They will most likely start negotiations by making a low-ball offer of far less than you deserve in hopes that you will accept a quick settlement.

Reason #2: You Will Have to Sign a Release

When you settle your claim with the insurance company, you will have to sign a release before receiving your payment. By signing this legal document, you acknowledge that this is a full settlement of your case, and you waive your right to any further compensation for your injuries. If you later discover that your injuries are more serious than you originally thought, you would not be able to reopen your claim and obtain more money.

Reason #3: You Do Not Know the Seriousness of Your Injuries

Under New Mexico law, you are entitled to both past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering from the negligent driver. You cannot know how much your claim is worth until you reach your maximum medical recovery. This is the stage in your medical treatment where you have fully recovered or recovered as much as you can, and your doctor can give you a final prognosis.

It could take you months or longer to reach this stage in your recovery. It is important to wait until you reach your maximum medical recovery to settle your claim because you cannot know what future medical treatments you will need and whether you can return to work until you reach this point in your treatment.

What You Should Do If the Insurance Company Offers You a Quick Settlement

If you receive a settlement offer from the insurance adjuster, you should not make any decision on accepting it until you have retained an experienced car accident attorney. You should never agree to settle your case or sign any documents without first consulting with a lawyer to ensure that your legal rights are protected.

The legal team at The Injury & Disability Law Center is here to advise you of your options and fight for all the compensation you deserve. Call our Roswell office or start a live chat to schedule a free consultation today.

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It can take a few years for an application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits to be approved by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for an applicant to die while his application is being considered by the SSA or he is going through the appeal process. However, this does not necessarily mean that he no longer has a right to disability benefits.

Who May Be Able to Pursue an Applicant’s SSDI Claim After His Death

An SSDI claim can be continued after an applicant’s death to collect the payments he should have received before his death. The SSA refers to this as “an underpayment.” Only certain family members are entitled to collect these benefits. Family members can pursue the applicant’s right to benefits in the following order of preference:

• Surviving spouse. A surviving spouse who was entitled to SSDI benefits or living with the applicant in the month of his death has the highest priority to collect the underpayment.
• Children. Children of the applicant who were entitled to SSDI benefits in the month of his death have second priority to collect the benefits he was entitled to.
• Parents. Parents who were entitled to SSDI benefits in the month of the applicant’s death can collect his benefits if he did not have a spouse or children.

If no family member qualified for the underpayment, the estate of the applicant may be able to recover the benefits.

When Do SSDI Payments Start and Stop?

There is a five-month waiting period after the date of the onset of the disability before an applicant would be entitled to SSDI benefits. The payment of SSDI benefits would not start until this time period expires in an underpayment case. The payments could continue until the date of the applicant’s death. In some cases, a spouse and dependent children may also be entitled to survivor benefits.

How to Proceed With a Family Member’s Application After His Death

If your loved one died while his SSDI application was pending, you need to notify the SSA by filing his death certificate and other required SSA forms. An experienced Social Security disability lawyer can help you file the required legal documents and fight for the benefits your family member deserved. He can also advise you on your right to survivor benefits. To find out how we can help, start a live chat to schedule a free consultation today.

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You could suffer more catastrophic injuries in a truck accident than a car accident due to the greater size and weight of a commercial truck. If you want to receive all the compensation you deserve for your injuries, it is crucial that you identify the correct liable parties and file claims with their insurance companies.

Parties Who Could Be at Fault and Liable to Compensate You in a New Mexico Truck Accident

There are many causes of truck accidents, and some of them involve the negligence of parties other than the truck driver. An experienced truck accident lawyer can conduct an extensive investigation into the cause of your crash and identify the parties who are responsible for compensating you. Here are common parties who could face liability:

• Truck driver. A truck driver’s negligence is the most common cause of truck crashes. Distracted driving, speeding, intoxication, and violations of the federal hours of service regulations limiting the hours they can work without a break are some of the ways at-fault truckers cause tragic wrecks.
• Trucking company. A trucking company can be held vicariously liable for the negligent actions of its truck driver. In addition, you may have a separate claim against them for hiring an unqualified truck driver or failing to train him, not inspecting and maintaining the truck, or violating the federal hours of service or other federal regulations.
• Shipper. The shipper is responsible for properly loading and securing the load that is being transported. If the load was not loaded properly or was not secured, this could have caused or contributed to your truck accident, and the loading company would be responsible for compensating you.
• Maintenance company. Trucking companies frequently contract with third-party maintenance companies to perform the inspections and maintenance on their commercial fleet required under federal regulations. If the maintenance company failed to properly inspect or repair the truck, a tire blowout, brake failure, or other repair problem could have been the cause of your accident.
• Manufacturer. If a truck part was not designed or manufactured properly, this could have caused the trucker to lose control of his truck in your collision. If this was why your accident happened, you may have a product liability claim against the parts and truck manufacturer.

Were you injured in a truck accident in Roswell? Our skilled truck accident lawyers are here to determine the cause of your crash and pursue claims against all potentially responsible parties so that you receive the maximum recovery you deserve. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about our extensive experience in these cases and how we can assist you.

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If the Veterans Administration (VA) claims that they overpaid your VA disability benefits, they will send you a letter advising you of this and that they will deduct a portion of the overpayments from your monthly benefit check. Fortunately, you have options. You can dispute the overpayment, ask for a waiver of the requirement that you repay it, and make an offer of compromise.

How to Dispute That You Were Overpaid

You have the right to dispute that you were overpaid or that the amount they want you to pay back is accurate. If you plan to dispute the overpayment, you need to send the VA written notice of your dispute and request that they send you written documentation of how they calculated your overpayment. Once the VA receives your notice, they must conduct a review of their determination.

If you dispute the overpayment within 30 days of receiving the VA’s letter, they cannot collect any money from you until your dispute is resolved. Once they complete their review, they will prepare a Statement of the Case, which is an explanation of their decision and a notice of your right to appeal their decision.

How to Request a Waiver of the Overpayment

You can request a waiver of the overpayment at the same time that you dispute it and should take both actions simultaneously. Here’s how to request a waiver:

• You have 180 days from the date of the notice of overpayment to file a request for a waiver. However, it is best to file it within 30 days so that the overpayment is not deducted from your benefits while the VA considers your request.
• You have the right to request a hearing and should file it in writing within 30 days of the letter advising you of the overpayment to avoid the VA from deducting the overpayment from your benefits.
• You should submit your request in writing on the Statement in Support of Claim form. In your request, you should explain how the overpayment would be a hardship for you and how it would prevent you from paying your housing, food, or other essential costs.
• The VA will consider a number of factors, such as whether the overpayment was your fault and whether the overpayment would cause you to suffer undue hardship in making its decision.

Making an Offer of Compromise

Another option is to make an offer of compromise where you agree to pay less than the full overpayment in a lump sum payment. If the overpayment is less than $100,000, the VA has the authority to settle for less than what is owed.

Did you receive a letter from VA advising you that they overpaid you? Call our Roswell office or start a live chat to schedule a free consultation with a member of our skilled legal team to discuss your legal rights and the options that are best for you.

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When you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), one of your top concerns most likely is how much your monthly payment will be if you are eligible for benefits. You need this information so you can be certain that you have sufficient income to survive. However, how your monthly payment is determined is complicated.

How Your SSDI Payments Are Calculated

The severity of your disability will not affect the amount of SSDI benefits you receive. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will determine your payment based on your lifetime average earnings before you became disabled. Your benefit amount will be calculated using your covered earnings. These are your earnings at jobs where your employer took money out of your wages for Social Security or FICA.

Your SSDI monthly benefit will be based on your average covered earnings over a period of time, which is referred to as your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME). The SSA uses these amounts in a formula to determine your primary insurance amount (PIA). This is the basic amount used to establish your benefit.

SSDI payments range on average between $800 and $1,800 per month. The maximum benefit you could receive in 2020 is $3,011 per month. The SSA has an online benefits calculator that you can use to obtain an estimate of your monthly benefits.

Other Income That May Reduce Your SSDI Payment

If you receive other government benefits, your monthly SSDI benefit could be reduced. Sources of income that could affect your payment include:

• Workers' compensation
• Public disability benefits
• Pension based on work not covered by Social Security, such as a government or foreign government pension

Can You Receive Retroactive Payments?

Once the SSA approves your SSDI application and calculates your monthly benefit, you may be entitled to a back pay award. How many months of payments you will receive will depend on the date you applied for benefits and your disability onset date.

If you are applying for SSDI benefits, you need the assistance of a skilled Social Security disability lawyer to get your application approved and receive the benefits you deserve. To schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team, fill out the online form on this page or call our Roswell office today.

Related Links: Crucial Mistakes to Avoid When Filing as SSDI Benefit Claim How to Apply for SSDI Benefits Obtaining the SSDI Back Pay That You Deserve

 

You should retain an experienced car accident lawyer in Roswell as soon as possible after your car accident. He can do more to help you and strengthen your claim if you hire him right away. Here are four reasons why this is important if you want to receive all the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Reason #1: Preservation of Evidence

One of the first steps your lawyer will do is to conduct an investigation of the cause of your collision and collect the evidence you need to prove the other driver was negligent. Crucial evidence could be lost if you do not obtain it quickly. Here are a few examples of what you could lose:

• Witnesses to your crash could disappear, or their memories may fade if their statements are not taken right away.
• A business surveillance tape that may have recorded your accident as it occurred may be taped over if it is not obtained quickly.
• Vehicles involved in the crash may be repaired before they can be inspected by an accident reconstruction expert if the cause of the crash is in dispute.

Reason #2: Help You Avoid Mistakes

You could inadvertently make mistakes when filing your claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company if you are not represented by an attorney. You may say something you did not mean that can be interpreted as an admission of fault, agree to give a recorded statement, or sign the insurance’s company’s blanket authorization for release of medical records. A lawyer can help you avoid these and other common mistakes victims make that hurt their right to compensation.

Reason #3: Negotiate Your Settlement

The insurance company may try to get you to accept a quick settlement of your claim for far less than it is worth. A lawyer who has handled many auto accident cases will be able to accurately value your claim and fight with the insurance adjuster so that you receive all the money that you deserve in your settlement.

Reason #4: File Your Lawsuit

You have a certain deadline, which is called the statute of limitations, to file your lawsuit against the negligent driver under New Mexico law. If his insurance company refuses to offer you a fair settlement, your lawyer can file your civil complaint before the deadline to do so expires.

These are just some of the benefits of hiring a skilled lawyer as soon as possible after your car accident. Take advantage of our offer of a free consultation to learn about your legal options and how we can assist you. Call our Roswell office or start a live chat to schedule your appointment today.

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Once you apply for Veterans disability benefits, it can take the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) months or longer to review your application and send you a decision. You can shorten this period considerably by filing a claim under the Fully Disability Claim (FDC) program.

When Can You File a Fully Disabled Claim?

The FDC program is a way for Veterans to obtain a faster decision from the VA on their application for disability benefits. This type of claim is considered fully developed because the Veteran has obtained all of the evidence needed for the VA to make a decision on his application except for government records and a medical examination if necessary. These claims are eligible for the program:

• An illness or medical condition that was caused by or worsened due to active duty service
• An illness or medical condition that was caused by or worsened due to a disability that was already determined to be service-connected by the VA

How Do You File a Fully Developed Claim?

For the VA to consider your claim fully developed, you must do the following:

• File a completed Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Form (VA Form 21-526EZ)
• Submit all necessary supporting evidence with your application
• Certify that the VA will not need any other evidence to decide your claim
• Attend a medical exam if the VA requires one

What Happens If Your Claim Is Not Fully Developed?

There is no risk to you if you file a FDC rather than a routine application. Once you file it, you will have one year to complete the application. If the VA determines that your claim is not fully developed, they will remove your application from the FDC program and will process it as a standard claim.

Are you wondering if you should file a fully developed claim? Do you have questions about your eligibility for VA disability payments? To schedule a free consultation with our knowledgeable disability lawyers in Roswell, fill out our online form or start a live chat today.

Related Links: What Is a Service-Connected Disability? Eligibility for VA Disability Benefits How to Appeal a VA Disability Benefits Denial

 

If you are eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and are receiving monthly benefits, you may want to try to go back to work if your medical condition improves. However, you may be afraid to do this because you do not want to lose your benefits. Fortunately, the Social Security Administration (SSA) allows you to return to work without jeopardizing them during a trial work period.

Your Right to a Trial Work Period

SSDI recipients are entitled to a nine-month trial work period without risking their SSDI benefits during a 60-month rolling period. There is no limit on the amount of income they can earn during the trial work period. The months that a person attempts to return to work do not have to be consecutive.

While an individual may make a conscious decision to try to work again under this program, this time period can also be triggered if he makes too much total monthly income. The amount that triggers the trial work period is set by the SSA and changes yearly. Here are monthly amounts that start a trial period:

• 2018: $850
• 2019: $890
• 2020: $910

If a person is self-employed, he will be considered in the trial work period if he works 80 hours or more in any month.

How Many Trial Work Periods Can You Have?

An individual is only entitled to one nine-month trial period during a five-year period. Once it is exhausted, a recipient is not entitled to a new trial period unless his SSDI benefits end and he either qualifies for SSDI benefits by filing a new application or through an expedited reinstatement.

What Is the Extended Period of Eligibility?

Once a recipient completes his trial work period, he enters into a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility. During this time period, he can continue to receive SSDI benefits as long as he remains disabled and does not earn more than the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amount set by the SSA every year. For non-blind individuals, the SGA is $1,220 in 2019 and $1,260 in 2020.

Do you have other questions about the trial work period or your eligibility for SSDI benefits? Call our Roswell office today to schedule your free consultation with our Roswell Social Security disability lawyers to get the answers you need and to learn how we can assist you.

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You only have a short window of time to file a lawsuit against the negligent trucker and trucking company that caused your truck accident. If you miss this deadline, it can have devastating consequences on your right to compensation for your injuries.

What Is the Statute of Limitations to File a Truck Crash Lawsuit in New Mexico?

One of the most important laws to understand if you or a loved one were hurt in a truck collision in Roswell is the deadline, which is referred to as the statute of limitations, to file your lawsuit. The time period you have to do so will be different depending on the type of claim you are pursuing. Here are the time periods you have to sue for cases involving:

• Personal injuries. You have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit for personal injuries you suffered.
• Property damage. You must file a lawsuit for property damages within four years of the date of the wreck.
• Wrongful death. If a loved one died in the truck accident, you must file a wrongful death action within three years of the date of his death—not the date of the collision.

What Happens If You Try to File Your Lawsuit After the Statute of Limitations Expired?

If you fail to file your complaint before the deadline to do so expires, the insurance company for the trucker and trucking company will most likely raise this as a defense, and the judge would dismiss your case. While there is technically no time period to file a claim with the insurance company, they would have no incentive to offer you a settlement if they know that you waited too long to sue.

Can the Statute of Limitations Be Extended?

In limited situations, the window of time to file a lawsuit can be extended under New Mexico law. You may have more time to sue if one of the following applies:

• The defendant was out of the state for an extended period of time, and you were unable to file a lawsuit against him during the statute of limitations.
• You are a minor under 18 years old. Once you turn 18 years old, you would have an additional year to file your lawsuit.
• You are mentally incompetent. Once you become competent, you would have one year to sue the negligent parties.

The best way that you can be certain that you file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires and obtain the compensation you deserve is to hire an experienced truck accident lawyer in Roswell as soon as possible. To learn of our track record of success in these cases and how we can assist you, start a live chat to schedule your free consultation today.

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