Social Security Disability Blog

Social Security disability can be an important safeguard for people in Tennessee who are no longer able to work due to physical or mental disabilities. However, the application process can be lengthy, especially as many applicants are denied in the first step of the process. There are a number of factors that the Social Security Administration considers when determining if a person is eligible for disability benefits, and many applicants may wonder how their age or level of education affects the likelihood of a positive outcome. Both factors can be part of a disability determination but are rarely decisive factors that shift the balance of a decision.

In most cases, age is primarily considered in a disability claim when the applicant is older, typically above 50 or 55. In these cases, age itself can become a consideration in terms of the person's ability to develop additional job skills and education. This is particularly important for applicants with greater levels of functional limitation. In some cases, educational level is not considered at all in the disability benefits process, especially if the claimant's case adheres to the listing requirements in the SSA's "blue book" used to define eligibility for benefits.

Tennessee parents are concerned about instilling good habits in their teenage drivers. Young people are more likely to be distracted or lose focus more often while driving than older adults. Researchers are interested in helping both teens and parents to have an open dialogue about the importance of being a good driver and passenger.

One survey included 900 parents who had teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18 reporting on the actions and attitudes of parents when it involved their teenagers riding in the car with peers. This is something that occurred once or twice each week for about 30% of the parents. Many parents limited the trips that their teenagers could take with other teenagers, especially when it required their teenagers to drive on the highway.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has found that an increasing number of people are dying in crashes due to drivers who run red lights. In 2017, there were 939 such deaths, marking a 10-year high. AAA found that in 65% of these crashes, it's not the offending driver who dies but the innocent victim. Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists in Tennessee and across the U.S. are at risk for becoming the victims of red-light runners, so they should know how to protect themselves.

Defensive driving is key. Drivers stopped at a red light should not dart out the moment it turns green but rather wait a second or two. Then, they should look both ways. As they come upon an intersection, their foot should hover over their brake. They could tap their brake a couple of times, too, to catch the attention of the driver behind them. Though many red-light runners are simply impatient, others can be distracted. Lastly, drivers should watch out for stale green lights and act accordingly.

The National Safety Council has come out with its preliminary estimate on car crash injuries and fatalities in 2018, and the conclusions are not heartening. It turns out that 2018 is the third year in a row to see more than 40,000 traffic deaths. Tennessee residents should know that though 2018 saw 1% fewer deaths than 2016 and 2017, the number still represents a 14% increase from 2015.

The NSC has not said anything definite about what is causing the trend, but there are several factors that can be gleaned. Distractions were behind 8% of crashes, and drowsiness explained 2% of accidents. The nationwide opioid crisis is leading to greater numbers of impaired drivers. In addition, more pedestrians died in 2018 compared to the previous year.