Sep 30, 2016

More Immigration Enforcement Problems

     Social Security is denying retirement benefits to a man who was born in Canada even though he served in the U.S. Army and his father is a U.S. citizen. The man worked in the U.S. for 48 years. 
     Sounds like where Ted Cruz may be in a few years -- although Cruz never served in the Army.

Sep 29, 2016

New Autism Listing

     From Social Security's new mental impairment Listings effective January 17, 2017:
12.10 Autism spectrum disorder (see 12.00B8), satisfied by A and B:
     A. Medical documentation of both of the following:
      1. Qualitative deficits in verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and social interaction; and
       2. Significantly restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.
AND
     B. Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F):
          1. Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1).
          2. Interact with others (see 12.00E2).
          3. Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3).
          4. Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4).

Sep 28, 2016

New Anxiety Listing

     From Social Security's new mental impairments Listings effective January 17, 2017.:
12.06 Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders (see 12.00B5), satisfied by A and B, or A and C:
     A. Medical documentation of the requirements of paragraph 1, 2, or 3:
          1. Anxiety disorder, characterized by three or more of the following;
              a. Restlessness;
              b. Easily fatigued;
              c. Difficulty concentrating;
              d. Irritability;
              e. Muscle tension; or
              f. Sleep disturbance.
          2. Panic disorder or agoraphobia, characterized by one or both:
               a. Panic attacks followed by a persistent concern or worry about additional panic attacks or their consequences; or
               b. Disproportionate fear or anxiety about at least two different situations (for example, using public transportation, being in a crowd, being in a line, being outside of your home, being in open spaces).
         3. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, characterized by one or both:
            a. Involuntary, time-consuming preoccupation with intrusive, unwanted thoughts; or
               b. Repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety.
AND
     B. Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F):
          1. Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1
          2. Interact with others (see 12.00E2).
          3. Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3).
          4. Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4). OR
     C. Your mental disorder in this listing category is “serious and persistent;” that is, you have a medically documented history of the existence of the disorder over a period of at least 2 years, and there is evidence of both:
         1. Medical treatment, mental health therapy, psychosocial support(s), or a highly structured setting(s) that is ongoing and that diminishes the symptoms and signs of your mental disorder (see 12.00G2b); and
        2. Marginal adjustment, that is, you have minimal capacity to adapt to changes in your environment or to demands that are not already par t of your daily life (see 12.00G2c)

Sep 27, 2016

New PTSD Listing

     From Social Security's new mental impairment Listings effective January 17, 2017:
12.15 Trauma-and [so in the original] stressor-related  disorders (see 12.00B11), satisfied by A and B, or A and C:
     A. Medical documentation of all of the following:
          1. Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or violence;
        2. Subsequent involuntary re-experiencing of the traumatic event (for example, intrusive memories, dreams, or flashbacks);
          3. Avoidance of external reminders of the event;
          4. Disturbance in mood and behavior; and
        5. Increases in arousal and reactivity (for example, exaggerated startle response, sleep disturbance).
AND
     B. Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F):
          1. Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1).
          2. Interact with others (see 12.00E2).
          3. Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3).
          4. Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4).
OR
     C. Your mental disorder in this listing category is “serious and persistent;” that is, you have a medically documented history of the existence of the disorder over a period of at least 2 years, and there is evidence of both
     1. Medical treatment, mental health therapy, psychosocial support(s), or a highly structured setting(s) that is ongoing and that diminishes the symptoms and signs of your mental disorder (see 12.00G2b); and
    2. Marginal adjustment, that is, you have minimal capacity to adapt to changes in your environment or to demands that are not already part of your daily life (see 12.00G2c).

Sep 26, 2016

New Depression/Bipolar Listing

      From Social Security's new mental impairment Listings effective January 17, 2017:
12.04 Depressive, bipolar and related disorders (see 12.00B3), satisfied by A and B, or A and C: 
     A. Medical documentation of the requirements of paragraph 1 or 2: 
          1. Depressive disorder, characterized by five or more of the following: 
               a. Depressed mood; 
               b. Diminished interest in almost all activities; 
               c. Appetite disturbance with change in weight; 
               d. Sleep disturbance; 
               e. Observable psychomotor agitation or retardation; 
               f. Decreased energy 
               g. Feelings of guilt or worthlessness; 
               h. Difficulty concentrating or thinking; or 
               i. Thoughts of death or suicide. 
          2. Bipolar disorder, characterized by three or more of the following: 
               a. Pressured speech; 
               b. Flight of ideas; 
               c. Inflated self-esteem; 
               d. Decreased need for sleep; 
               e. Distractibility; 
           f. Involvement in activities that have a high probability of painful consequences that are not recognized;
or 
              g . Increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation 
AND
     B. Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F): 
          1. Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1). 
          2. Interact with others (see 12.00E2). 
          3. Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3). 
          4. Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4). 
OR
     C. Your mental disorder in this listing category is “serious and persistent;” that is, you have a medically documented history of the existence of the disorder over a period of at least 2 years, and there is evidence of both: 
          1. Medical treatment, mental health therapy, psychosocial support(s), or a highly structured setting(s) that is ongoing and that diminishes the symptoms and signs of your mental disorder (see 12.00G2b); and 
          2. Marginal adjustment, that is, you have minimal capacity to adapt to changes in your environment or to demands that are not already part of your daily life (see 12.00G2c) .

Sep 25, 2016

New Eating Disorder Listing

     From Social Security's new mental impairment Listings:
12.13 Eating disorders (see 12.00B10), satisfied by A and B:
     A. Medical documentation of a persistent alteration in eating or eating-related behavior that results in a change in consumption or absorption of food and that significantly impairs physical or psychological health .
AND
     B. Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F):
          1. Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1).
          2. Interact with others (see 12.00E2).
          3. Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3).
          4. Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4)

Sep 24, 2016

If You Just Can't Stomach Clinton Or Trump

     If you can't stomach either Clinton or Trump you might consider voting for the Libertarian Party candidate, Gary Johnson. However, before you do, you might take a look at some of his positions. For one, he's in favor of abolishing Social Security. Not modifying Social Security. Abolishing it.

Sep 23, 2016

New Schizophrenia Listing

     From the new mental impairment Listings:
12.03 Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (see 12.00B2), satisfied by A and B, or A and C: 
     A. Medical documentation of one or more of the following: 
          1. Delusions or hallucinations; 
          2. Disorganized thinking (speech); or 
          3. Grossly disorganized behavior or catatonia. 
     AND 
     B. Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F): 
         1. Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1). 
         2. Interact with others (see 12.00E2). 
         3. Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3). 
         4. Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4). OR 
     C. Your mental disorder in this listing category is “serious and persistent;” that is, you have a medically documented history of the existence of the disorder over a period of at least 2 years, and there is evidence of both: 
         1. Medical treatment, mental health therapy, psychosocial support(s), or a highly structured setting(s) that is ongoing and that diminishes the symptoms and signs of your mental disorder (see 12.00G2b); and 
        2. Marginal adjustment, that is, you have minimal capacity to adapt to changes in your environment or to demands that are not already part of your daily life (see 12.00G2c) .