Florida Workers' Compensation Lawyer Blog

The State of Florida is facing very high unemployment today and into the foreseeable future. According to statistics from the U.S. Treasury, the Florida Department of Revenue has spent $600 million dollars in unemployment benefits since May 2008. With unemployment in Florida currently impacting over 300,000 persons, the situation is devastating for many working persons. Even worse, unemployment benefits average $300.00 per week, not nearly enough for even subsistence.

According to South Florida workers' compensation attorney Randy Zeldin, with offices in Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, high unemployment historically dampens the willingness of injured workers to fight for workers' compensation benefits. In a bad economy, injured workers are afraid to "rock the boat" with their employers, fearing retaliation or termination from the job. According to Randy Zeldin, this results in many injured workers in Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale foregoing workers' compensation benefits or accepting less medical care or benefits than the law allows.

Continue reading "Florida High Unemployment Chills Workers' Compensation Claims" »

Posted by Randy Zeldin | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Social Security Disability , Workers' Compensation

Bookmark:

Social Security Disability applicants with 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers, will benefit from a new "fast track" application process. Instead of waiting for prolonged periods to obtain administrative action, these applicants will get prompt review by Social Security, through a program known as "Compassionate Allowances." The program has been hailed as a great breakthrough, by the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

Social Security Disability attorney Randy Zeldin, applauds Commissioner of Social Security, Michael Astrue, for instituting the program. According to Randy Zeldin, these claims deserve expedited consideration. "Unfortunately, there are many other deserving Social Security Disability applicants from Ft. Lauderdale to West Palm Beach, who also deserve expedited hearings, said Attorney Randy Zeldin

Posted by Randy Zeldin | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Social Security Disability

Bookmark:

Across the U.S., 765,000 Americans, including applicants from Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach, are waiting for a Social Security hearing! The outcome is that some applicants literally die before they get benefits. There have been tragic reports of suicide.

According to Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach Social Security Attorney, Randy Zeldin, the terrible backlog is not because of fraud or lack of entitlement for benefits. Instead, it is mostly due to the failure of the U.S. Congress to properly fund the Social Security Administration. Administrative Law Judges and their staff are overwhelmed with cases. Waiting times for hearings in Palm Beach and Broward Counties can be as much as 2 years.

Recently, the Social Security Administration has hired 189 administrative law judges and support staff. The House Ways and Means Committee will be conducting hearings shortly on this important problem.

Posted by Randy Zeldin | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Social Security Disability

Bookmark:

In Boca Raton, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, waiting time to get a hearing before a Social Security Judge can be over one year, sometimes one and a half years! Some of my Social Security Disability clients in Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach and Delray Beach, continue to wait for hearing dates without benefits. The Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Michael Astrue told Congress at a hearing in May, that the average wait time nationally is 505 days! The law office of Randy Zeldin has seen homelessness with one of my clients with severe psychiatric illness, while waiting for a hearing date. While my clients wait, the bills can pile up and sometimes their medical conditions worsen.

According to Rep. Kathy Castor, the waiting time for Social Security Disability applicants is the worst in the State of Florida. Rep. Castor is hoping to speed things up for deserving Social Security applicants. She is introducing a bill in the U.S. Congress that would require that a hearing be held between 60 and 75 days after a request. The law would require a decision from a Social Security Judge no more than 15 days after the hearing.

There are many reasons for the backlog. Social Security Judges and staff are simply overwhelmed with cases. Social Security Disability attorney Randy Zeldin believes that the U.S. Congress must approve Rep. Castor's bill and appropriate more money for administrative staff.

Posted by Randy Zeldin | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Social Security Disability

Bookmark:

Many Social Security Disability recipients in South Florida, Palm Beach and Broward Counties, receive benefits by U.S. "snail" mail or direct deposit. This sometimes results in delays or lost and stolen checks. The U.S. Department of Treasury has a plan to introduce a prepaid debit card for Social Security Disability recipients.

The card will be called the Direct Express credit card. Instead of mailing or direct depositing monthly payments, the U.S. Treasury will automatically load benefits onto a card account designated by the recipient. This will allow Social Security Disability recipients in South Florida to use the card for retail purchases, bank and ATM transactions. Social Security Disability recipients will be allowed one free ATM withdrawal each month, with a low charge of 90 cents for additional withdrawals. The Direct Express card is free to obtain and there is no monthly or annual fee.

The law offices of Randy Zeldin welcomes this introduction by the U.S. Treasury, which will benefit many of my Social Security Disability clients in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Deerfield Beach and Pompano Beach. It will be a huge help to South Florida Social Security Disability recipients who have no bank accounts. To sign up, call the Social Security Administration at 1-877-212-999. Information can also be obtained on the Social Security website.

Posted by Randy Zeldin | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Social Security Disability

Bookmark: