A tragic car crash occurred on a recent Saturday night in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The car apparently went airborne from a local roadway and struck a tree. Preliminary evidence suggests that speeding was the primary cause of the accident, though other details of the fatal collision were not immediately available.
Social Security Disability or SSI and Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Claimants applying for Social Security Disability or SSI need to be aware of the Social Security Administration's recent announcement regarding claims involving drug or alcohol addiction (DAA). Recently published SSR 13-2p:
Tennessee 3 car crash attributable to driver negligence
A male driver in his 20s, another in his 60s, and a female driver who recently entered her 70s were involved in a 3 car collision recently. The initial evidence suggests that driver negligence played a central role in the crash. The younger driver escaped injury, while the other two were transported to separate Tennessee medical centers.
Tennessee governor wants changes to workers' compensation
Workers' compensation laws affect a large percentage of our state's population. Governor Bill Haslam seems to have taken this into consideration, and has listed Tennessee's workers' compensation system as a top priority for 2013. The governor is speaking out about reforming the system and working to establish new legislation designed to help injured workers and their families get the help that they need following an on-the-job accident.
Railroad Retirement Board Disability Claims
Injured or disabled employees of a railroad can apply to the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) for disability. The RRB administers the program and some of the benefits and procedures mirror the Social Security Administration's disability program and benefits. For railroad employees there are several benefits that the worker or his dependents should look at in terms of eligibility.
Car accidents in Tennessee affect communities, schools
Any car accident resulting in injuries or loss of life can be traumatic for Tennessee communities. Car accidents involving teenagers may have an even greater impact. Recently, a local high school has been affected after a tragic car crash that killed one student and injured another. Grief counselors have been made available to the Andersonville High School classmates of the two students who were involved.
Childhood SSI for Epilepsy or Seizure Disorder
Children suffering from a seizure disorder or epilepsy may qualify for Childhood SSI disability benefits. Childhood SSI claims are evaluated differently than adult claims for Social Security Disability or SSI. The Social Security Administration determines whether the child has impairments that meets or medically equals a "listing," or that functionally equals a listing. The Childhood Listings involving seizures or epilepsy are:
Compassionate Allowances for Social Security Disability Updated
Social Security Disability and SSI claimants now have more opportunities to get their cases fast-tracked for certain conditions. On December 6, 2012, the SSA Commissioner announced 35 additional Compassionate Allowance (CAL) conditions bringing the total number of conditions up to 200. The CAL initiative is designed to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that invariably qualify under the Listing of Impairments based on minimal, but sufficient, objective medical information. If the condition does not meet these strict criteria, it will not be designated as a CAL case. Like Quick Disability Determinations (QDD), CAL cases will receive expedited processing within the context of the existing disability determination process.
