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Pennsylvania Social Security Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: My lawyer received 50% of my back pay for his fee. Was he overpaid?
Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on May 25, 2021

answered on one of your other posts. The other thing he or she can claim for is costs.

1 Answer | Asked in Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: My ssi lawyer received 50% of my back pay in fees. Was he overpaid?

There was only one appeal and two court cases that he took part in.

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on May 25, 2021

You have to look at the fee petition he filed. He should have sent you a copy. It's a question of what he did in terms of hours, the hourly fee (you have to match this with your fee agreement).

2 Answers | Asked in Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: My lawyer requested $9,000 on a fee petition but got almost twice that. Was he overpaid?

I received only a little more in back pay than my lawyer got in fees

Elizabeth Fowler Lunn
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Elizabeth Fowler Lunn pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on May 24, 2021

Attorneys cannot collect or charge a fee unless it is approved by Social Security. Many times all of the letters and decisions going back and forth, including the Notice of Award of your benefits as well as the decision regarding the fee petition can get quite confusing. Social Security often... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury and Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: I am an orphan who has been kept from exercises around my orphan also starved and robbed for my social security

Who do i contact law firm?...or officers my contact info ..my original bc my name is it in Philadelphia....

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Apr 20, 2021

This is really something that a Pennsylvania attorney familiar with child protection matters would know how to handle. I'm not certain if there is such a category here that deals with child welfare services or child protective services. The closest category might be Family Law - If you were... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Tax Law and Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: Unrecorded income

Hello,

Income I made from 1992 to 1994 was not recorded even if I filed my taxes for those years. I contacted my ex-employer and they gave me a confirm letter with my salaries for the years I worked, but the letter is not considered as proof by the social security office. I just dont know... View More

Steven J. Fromm
Steven J. Fromm
answered on Nov 15, 2020

If you have copies of your tax returns for those years, I would call the social security administration to see if they could update their records accordingly. If they cannot do it, then this gets to be a harder task. You could contact the IRS (good luck with that these days with their limited... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: Can you get SSI if you are already collecting a spossal benefit for an adult disabled child? Thank you.
Emmett B. Irwin
Emmett B. Irwin
answered on Jun 18, 2020

It depends on how much the spousal benefit is per month, and how much other countable income you are receiving per month. Almost all income is "countable" for SSI purposes. If you have over a certain amount of income, you are not eligible for SSI.

1 Answer | Asked in Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: Entitlement to Social Security retirement benefits.

My Social Security retirement benefits payments ceased upon my incarceration in a state prison for a felony conviction. I was released on parole and transferred to the Immigration detention, where I spent one year before getting deported.

I understand I can't get paid during... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Apr 23, 2020

Start by contacting the ACLU immigration project. https://www.aclu.org/contact-us/

2 Answers | Asked in Employment Law, Social Security, Workers' Compensation and Health Care Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: If you come down with Prostate cancer can you get disability

need a lawyer from Pennsylvania pittsburgh area

Scott F Bocchio
Scott F Bocchio pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Mar 27, 2020

Hi, it is possible. Much of the case depends on the actual prognosis and treatment plan going forward.

Scott Bocchio, Esq.

855-254-7841

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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: I worked for 24 years and then had to stop working for 7 years to take care of my sick husband who passed away in 2012.

I worked for 24 years and had to stop for 7 years to take care of my husband who was dying and on SSDI. He passed away in 2012 and I went back to work, after just 3 months I got hurt on the job and lost my thumb. I tried to go out on my own SSDI and they told me that I couldn't collect my SSDI... View More

Scott F Bocchio
Scott F Bocchio pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Mar 18, 2020

Hi, I am very sorry to hear about your husband. You can begin to collect Social Security Retirement at 62 1/2. You will receive less by taking the money at age 62 1/2. If you waited until 67, you would receive a greater amount per month. You would never be able to apply for SSDI since your credits... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: SS disability and collateral estoppel. My disabled adult daughter was awarded SSI. I am about to retire. I am told

SSI will end and she had to apply for SSDI. Will she have to go through another medical evaluation? I am told the disability decision from SSI may carry over to SSDI not that it will carry over.

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Nov 26, 2019

It should carry over. Check with your county's disability advocate, or if your daughter has a specific condition with an association that works for people with that condition (e.g., the MS Society). Good luck!

1 Answer | Asked in Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: I am currently in SSI AND HAVE BEEN FOR 15 YRS. I have not been able to find a psychiatrist tthat accepts my medicaidHEL
Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Oct 22, 2019

That may be because of your plans. Your county MH coordinator should be able to assist you. Because of the reimbursement rates and amount of paperwork involved it is very difficult for anyone on Medical Assistance to find Psychologists or Psychiatrists to help. Philhaven outpatient or similar may... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: Does SSI give written notice before changing your benefits? And how much notice is given?

I have started working and have reported it, but would like to know if I will receive my November check, as I have received no notice as of today. Thanks so much.

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Oct 22, 2019

Your best bet is to speak to someone at social security or the state. I assume you had some agreement when you began work as in a spend down plan?

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Federal Crimes and Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: Hey Will I go to jail for retail theft the items was only $39. I also have a prior retail theft in 2016 will I do jail ?
Cary B. Hall
Cary B. Hall
answered on Sep 23, 2019

Almost surely not. Probation.

Best of luck to you.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Support and Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: So I have a friend that pays child support for his children that receives social security benefits is that allowed?
Kathryn Hilbush
Kathryn Hilbush
answered on Aug 9, 2019

Yes. The receipt of Social Security benefits is taken into consideration when the support order is calculated.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Support and Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: How do I go about a family member collecting a death benefit check? How could I get the check put in my name?

Hello, I had some questions regarding to Social Security. My father had passed away years ago an I had been given a death benefit check. I'm currently 17 years old as of December 9th, of 2018 and pregnant, and I haven't lived with my mother in years. Yet she still collects the check for... View More

Kathryn Hilbush
Kathryn Hilbush
answered on Feb 15, 2019

Your mother is currently receiving the funds as your representative payee because you are under age. You have several options. One is to go to the local Social Security office to find out if they can change that to your grandmother if you have sufficient proof that you live with her. Or your... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy and Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: I’m disabled & was thinking of claiming bankruptcy, but I’m not sure if it will effect my SSI. How will it effect me?
W. J. Winterstein Jr.
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W. J. Winterstein Jr.
answered on Jan 11, 2019

There are different "chapters", or forms, of bankruptcy. In a Chapter 7, the simplest form, your income is only used to determine your eligibility to file under that chapter. If your income is below the "median income" for the state of PA, you'd have no income issues.... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: Hurt on the job, went to see a lawyer about SSDI and he refused to take my case !

I got hurt on the job and had my arm crushed and lost my right thumb. I worked for 24 years with one company and then they closed so I found another job, worked there for 2 years and they closed. Then my husband got sick so I didn't work for about five years. After he passed away I found... View More

Mark A. Buterbaugh
Mark A. Buterbaugh
answered on Sep 18, 2018

More than likely you do not have current insured status. To be eligible for SSDI, you have to have enough work credits. Kind of like Unemployment. Check with your local SSA office and inquire with them what your 'date of last insured' is. For example, if your date of last insured is... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Adoption, Civil Litigation and Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: My grandfather, who is also my adoptive parent is refusing to give me my documentation.

I have repeatedly asked for my birth certificate and my social security card. I am 20 years old, live on my own, and am not allowed on his property, so retrieving it myself isn't an option. The only reason he is giving me is that I "have to turn from my sinful ways" i.e. leave my... View More

Cary B. Hall
Cary B. Hall
answered on Jun 26, 2018

You could go to the local police station in his neighborhood, explain the situation and ask for police assistance. Don't go in with an attitude; just go in, tell them you don't know what to do or where to turn, and ask them for their help. They may tell you to go pound sand . . . or... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Child Support and Social Security for Pennsylvania on
Q: I should be receiving SSI shortly, how much of the initial bulk payment can be garnished for Child Support arrears and

on what exact grounds?

Kathryn Hilbush
Kathryn Hilbush
answered on Mar 21, 2018

SSI is not considered income in PA support cases.

1 Answer | Asked in Social Security and Collections for Pennsylvania on
Q: If my mother collected SSI when I was a child illegally by saying that I was terminally ill why is that debt put on me?

I had luekimia when I was 2 year's old. My mother got SSI for me by saying that I was terminally when I wasn't. Why is that debt put on me now as am adult??

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Feb 20, 2018

Should be no debt at all. Who says you owe money? If it is an overpayment, then you need to file a waiver saying it is against equity and good consience to charge you for money that she took when you were not at the age of consent and had no participation.

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