What To Expect at an SSD Consultative Exam (CE)
Applying for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits can be exhausting: many applicants already face pain, emotional strain, financial stress, and loss of work when the SSA schedules the SSD consultative exam. A CE notice can feel intimidating—What’s SSA looking for, can it hurt your claim, or what if you're too sick to attend? Yes, the exam can feel intimidating, but...
What Is a VA C&P Exam?
For many veterans, the Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam is a pivotal step in a VA disability claim. The exam can determine whether you receive benefits, and if so, how severe the rating will be. This translates directly to your monthly disability compensation. Yet many veterans enter the exam unsure of what it is, why it matters, or how much...
Mental Health & Social Security Disability: What You Need to Know
By Marc Whitehead | Board Certified Social Security Disability Attorney | May 2026 May is National Mental Health Awareness Month — a time to shine a light on the millions of Americans living with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions that profoundly affect their ability to work and live normal lives. What many people don’t realize is that...
How Long Does It Take to Get SSD Benefits?
If a serious medical condition has forced you to stop working, you’re likely to apply for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. One pressing question you have is, how long does it take to get SSD benefits? It’s a good question to ask. Every day counts when your income has stopped, and your bills haven’t. The timeline for receiving SSD benefits...
2026 VA Disability Pay Chart Rates
The 2026 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pay chart rates reflect a 2.8% cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment. Payments are based on the 2025 VA Disability payment rates with a 2.8% increase to help ensure that benefits keep pace with inflation. If you’re unsure about what the information included in 2026’s VA Disability pay chart rates means, help is available. A...
What To Do If Your LTD Benefits Are Terminated
When LTD benefits are suddenly cut off, it can feel harsh and deeply defeating. Last month, you were keeping your head above water. Today, you’re holding a notice of termination stating that your disability insurance benefit payments are discontinued. And you feel just as disabled as you felt a month ago. Losing access to long-term disability (LTD) insurance is more...
How to Prepare for an IME (Independent Medical Exam)
Has your insurance company scheduled you for an Independent Medical Exam, or IME? This exam can influence the outcome of a disability claim. Knowing how to prepare for an IME is crucial. It won’t guarantee results, but it can help you present your condition clearly and consistently. That, in turn, helps protect your credibility and makes it more difficult for...
Disability Do’s and Don’ts: What You Need to Know Before Filing for Social Security Disability
By Marc Whitehead, Board Certified Social Security Disability Attorney Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits — and the majority of them are turned away. According to the Social Security Administration's own data, approximately 62 percent of all initial SSDI applications were denied in fiscal year 2024. More recent data from the Urban...
Step-by-Step Guide to Appealing an LTD Denial
Receiving an LTD denial is honestly disheartening. You feel stuck at a standstill. What do you do now? If you’re facing a denied disability claim, you’ve landed in the right place. Our six-step guide to appealing an LTD denial will dispel paralysis and confusion. Filing an appeal is your next move, and it’s your best chance to strengthen your claim...
Steps to Take After a Long Term Disability Denial in Lake Charles
The steps to take after a Long Term Disability denial in Lake Charles begin with reviewing the denial letter and identifying what the insurance company says is missing. From there, you can start building a stronger appeal. A denial can interrupt your income and make it harder to keep up with bills, treatment, and daily expenses. Insurance companies often deny...