Litrature of Social Security

8/4/2019 Litrature of Social Security

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This review is from: Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions: Get the Most outof Your Retirement & Medical Benefits (Paperback)

Joseph Matthews Attorney (Author), Dorothy Matthews Berman (Author)

C ustomer review from the Amazon Vine Program (What's this? )In my line of work, I deal with Social Security, SSI and Medicare rules and regulations everyday, so I could be considered a bit of an authority on the subjects. I've always been skeptical of

publications that want to "sell" you information that you could otherwise get for free, and this isno exception - nearly all the information on government benefits contained in this book can beobtained free of charge from the source. That said, this is a well-organized and clearly-written

book. It will probably appeal to those who would like most or all the information they need inone handy resource, or those who - rightly or otherwise - would rather trust a third party for information that the agencies who administer them. One thing to keep in mind, though - theauthor of this book is NOT the final authority on the subject. Nevertheless, he does a good job

presenting the basic requirements and peculiarities of Social Security, Medicare and government pensions in a clear, "For-Dummies"-style manner. (It should come as no surprise that nearly half the book is devoted to the complexities of the Medicare and Medicaid programs.)

The book gets kudos for its introductory commentary on "saving Social Security" - it criticizesthe recommendation made during the Bush administration to "privatize" the system by investingSSA trust funds in the stock market (an idea that all but died with the current recession); and itsuggests removing the cap on maximum social security tax (which would not impact lower- andmiddle-income workers), thus keeping the system solvent for another 75 years. It also offersgood explanations on such topics as the so-called "notch babies" (the controversial changes that

affected workers born between 1917 and 1921), and figuring out "break even points" whendeciding at what point it is most advantageous to collect benefits. The author, who is an attorney,also deserves credit for an objective section on appeals and legal representation - he does notgive the reader the impression that an attorney is essential at every step in the claims or appeals

process, contrary to what many "social security attorneys" lead the public to believe.

The book isn't without flaws, however. First, it needs to cut or minimize a lot of the discussion of rules that are all but obsolete now, such as rules regarding earnings before 1951 - hardly anyonefiling for benefits these days has worked that long ago. There are occasional factual andnumerical errors, some of which may have slipped by the updated editing of the book. (For

instance, it says that surviving spouses can get full benefits unreduced for age at age 65; thequalifying age is now 66. Also, the book says the SSI limit for countable resources is $5000,when in fact it is $2000 for individuals or $3000 for couples.) Overall, this is a handy referenceand general guide to entitlement programs, but it's certainly not the "be-all and end-all". Oneshould always check with the administrating agency (SSA, Medicare, OPM) for the final wordon the rules governing entitlement to benefits.


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N olo's Guide to Social Security Disability:Getting & Keeping Your Benefits [Paperback]

David Morton III M.D. (Author)

This review is from: N olo's Guide to Social Security Disability: Getting & Keeping YourBenefits ( N olo's Guide to Social Security Disability, 1st ed) (Paperback)

As a lawyer I recommend three books to individuals who ask for help in getting their SocialSecurity disability benefits. First is our Disability Workbook for Social Security Applicants.Everyone tells me that this book greatly simplifies getting disability benefits. I can testify thatinterviewing a client is much easier when he or she has used the Disability Workbook. Second,the book How to Get SSI and Social Security Disability, by Mike Davis, is insightful and easy toread. Mr. Davis is a former disability examiner. His clear explanations of common bureaucratic

problems make his book one of my favorites. Finally, I use Dr. David Morton's Nolo's Guide toSocial Security Disability. Dr. Morton is a former disability determination services staff

physician who describes Social Security medical decision making better than anyone else Iknow. Every doctor who communicates with Social Security about patients should have Dr,Morton's book on the shelf - and every disability lawyer. I give all three books the highest rating.

How to Get SSI & Social Security Disability:An Insider's Step by Step Guide [Paperback] Mike Davis (Author)

This review is from: How to Get SSI & Social Security Disability: An Insider's Step by StepGuide (Paperback)

As a lawyer I recommend three books to individuals who ask for help in getting their SocialSecurity disability benefits. First is our Disability Workbook for Social Security Applicants.Everyone tells me that this book greatly simplifies getting disability benefits. I can testify thatinterviewing a client is much easier when he or she has used the Disability Workbook. Second,the book How to Get SSI and Social Security Disability, by Mike Davis, is insightful and easy to

read. Mr. Davis is a former disability examiner. His clear explanations of common bureaucratic problems make his book one of my favorites. Finally, I use Dr. David Morton's Nolo's Guide toSocial Security Disability. Dr. Morton is a former disability determination services staff

physician who describes Social Security medical decision making better than anyone else Iknow. Every doctor who communicates with Social Security about patients should have Dr,Morton's book on the shelf - and every disability lawyer. I give all three books the highest rating.Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? YesNo


3/9

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars W orth much more than the price , May 24, 2003By A C ustomer

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Mr. Davis's book - How to Get SSI & Social Security Disability - gives readers the focus and perspective of an experienced disability examiner, and therefore has great value to people whofile Social Security disability claims. Claimants must gather copious amounts of evidence anddeal effectively with disability examiners and doctors to win their cases. Mr. Davis helps them

do this. The book's print is large and clear. The style is appealing. Though published in 2000, the book is far from out of date. It has the merit which is lacking in Social Security literature - Mr.Davis clearly and simply depicts how to prove your case. I recommend it highly.Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? YesNo R eport abuse |Permalink Comment Comment


4.0 out of 5 stars A N ecessary Tool , March 15, 2001

ByBusiness Owner (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews


This is the book I wish I'd had when my son became disabled and had applied for disability. Wewere over-whelmed and confused with the whole experience. If we had known about this guidewe would have saved a lot of time and frustration. This truly is what the author calls it, "asimple, step by step guide." I recommend it not just for people who are applying for disability,

but for anyone who is helping a friend or family member apply. It's short, sweet, to the point, andan invaluable guide from someone on the inside. You really feel like he's on your side and wantsto help you. His email address is also on the back of the book.Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? YesNo R eport abuse |Permalink Comment Comment



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5.0 out of 5 stars How to Get SSI and Social Security Disability , July 28, 2003

ByDiane (St. Paul, Minnesota United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Get SSI & Social Security Disability: An Insider's Step by Step

Guide (Paperback)

This book has been invaluable to me. Michael Davis describes the application process from the perspective of a professional who, for 7 years, made social security disability claims decisions.He emphasizes the importance of completeness and accuracy, and "spoon feeds" you with whatthe claims examiner is looking for and how you can help him/her obtain all the details necessaryto make an informed decision.

The social security disability application process can seem daunting, but Mr. Davis breaks itdown into simple terms.

I highly recommend this book.

C ustomer ReviewsDisability W orkbook for Social Security Applicants 7th Edition 2008 5.0 out of 5 stars Very Helpful I applied online and was beginning to fillout the disability report online when I gotthis book. I realized I could provide much

better information by organizing it like theworksheets. It helped me focus on theinformation the examiner most needs todetermine disability and cut out extra stuff that was not so relevant. I made anappointment in person, as suggested in...Read the full review Published 19 months ago by D. D. Baxter

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5 of 8 people found the following reviewhelpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars SSD W orkbook I was helped by this book, however therewere some forms that were not included thatI will have to go to the SSD website to

download. Bu t overall, it was helpfull.Published on November 11, 2008 by SybilA. Vincent

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5.0 out of 5 stars Very Helpful , January 12, 2010ByD. D. Baxter (East Peoria, IL USA) - See all my reviews (R EAL NAME)


This review is from: Disability W orkbook for Social Security Applicants 7th Edition 2008


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(Paperback)

I applied online and was beginning to fill out the disability report online when I got this book. Irealized I could provide much better information by organizing it like the worksheets. It helpedme focus on the information the examiner most needs to determine disability and cut out extrastuff that was not so relevant. I made an appointment in person, as suggested in the book.Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? YesNo R eport abuse |Permalink Comment Comment


5.0 out of 5 stars N ew philosophy toward Social Security disability forms , May 30, 2009

ByDouglas M. Smith "doug the lawyer/author" (Severna Park, MD USA) - See all my reviews

(R EAL NAME) This review is from: Disability W orkbook for Social Security Applicants 7th Edition 2008(Paperback)

The worksheets of the Disability Workbook help you understand your disability and explain itclearly to Social Security,your doctor, and (if need be) to an attorney. Government forms change,

but good communication doesn't. So the Workbook provides time tested and effectiveworksheets - not government forms.

For an excellent text that reproduces many government forms, see Dr. Morton's Nolo's Guide toSocial Security Disability: Getting & Keeping Your Benefits (including CD, also available at

Amazon.com. Doug SmithHelp other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? YesNo R eport abuse |Permalink Comment Comment

5.0 out of 5 stars Social Security Games , August 18, 2011

ByC armen Lugo - See all my reviews


This review is from: Disability W orkbook for Social Security Applicants 7th Edition 2008(Paperback)

The workbook is very helpful and it shows how the system expects you to submit relevantinformation. Doctors are not always detailed in their reporting to SS - make sure you make itclear to your physician that the most irrelevant information should be included even symptomsnot common to disability (she walked in with walker, she was lethargic when attending appt,husband assisted her on and off examination table...) Hope I can do this without the help of an


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3.0 out of 5 stars SSD W orkbook , November 11, 2008

BySybil A. Vincent - See all my reviews (R EAL NAME)

This review is from: Disability W orkbook for Social Security Applicants 7th Edition 2008(Paperback)

I was helped by this book, however there were some forms that were not included that I willhave to go to the SSD website to download. Bu t overall, it was helpfull.

9 Fatal Mistakes Social Security DisabilityC laimants Make and How You C an AvoidMaking Them [Paperback] R obert A. Kraft (Author)

This review is from: 9 Fatal Mistakes Social Security Disability C laimants Make and HowYou C an Avoid Making Them (Paperback)

Dallas, Texas Social Security Disability lawyer R obert A. Kraft does not fit the mold of thetypical lawyer, apparently. For one thing, in this guide book, he "gives away" a wealth of usefulinformation, accessible to the general public as well as to his competitors. He appears genuinelyconcerned about the rights and interests of the disabled members of our society, and not just

because he represents them in Texas (note: according to the introduction to the book, it can bemade available at no charge to Texas residents by contacting the author directly; however, it isuseful for all Americans). R eading the introduction to his book will give you a warm, fuzzyfeeling that you never thought you could have about a lawyer....

Kraft's several decades of legal and human experience shine through on each page of this book.He knows what works in each situation, and what doesn't. In his own words, the guiding questionfor him throughout his writing of this book was, "If my best friend became disabled and filed for Social Security disability benefits, and I couldn't be there to help, what are the most important


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things I would want him to know?"

This "Consumer Guide" defines terms in understandable language; it explains which medicalconditions (such as arthritis, psychological diseases, epilepsy, MS, etc.) and other factors arerelevant in determining whether a person qualifies for disability benefits; it walks you throughthe disability determination process; it busts myths about Social Security Disability; it warnsabout potential pitfalls in the claims process; and it analyzes nine different specific potential"fatal mistakes" for you to avoid. I urge anyone who is facing disability, either personally or for aloved one or friend, to obtain this extremely practical "cookbook"-style guide to navigating your way through the confusing maze of disability claims, and to read it as soon as possible, beforemaking any "fatal mistakes."

By the way, I am a business disputes lawyer, and I regularly write and publish articles on variouslegally-related topics. I hope that mine are as well-written and useful to readers as this

information-packed 90-page guidebook.

The Social Security Benefits Handbook [BargainPrice][Paperback] Stanley Tomkiel III (Author)

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4.0 out of 5 stars Try C ommon C ents Very helpful if you are looking for a simple

guide to benefits, but if you want morecommentary on issues, books recommended by socialsecurity.org might be moreinformative.Published on November 19, 1999 byStephen B. Cobb

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1.0 out of 5 stars Review of The SocialSecurity Benefits Handbook

I found this book not to be a goodinvestment. It is an extraction of certainSSA publications, all available in user-friendly format at the official SSA website.The major drawback is that the tables of values for benefits and earnings limits stopat the year 2002. The edition I received inJanuary, 2003 is the third edition dated May,


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2002. While the content is...Read the full review Published on January 9, 2003 by Neil

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4.0 out of 5 stars Try C ommon C ents , November 19, 1999

ByStephen B. C obb "Shameless Reductionist" (Nashua, New Hampshire, USA) - See all myreviews (R EAL NAME)

This review is from: Social Security Benefits Handbook (Social Security Benefits

Handbook, 2nd ed) (Paperback) Very helpful if you are looking for a simple guide to benefits, but if you want more commentaryon issues, books recommended by socialsecurity.org might be more informative.Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? YesNo R eport abuse |Permalink Comment Comment


1.0 out of 5 stars Review of The Social Security Benefits Handbook , January 9, 2003ByN eil (Meadville, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Social Security Benefits Handbook, 3rd Edition (Paperback)

I found this book not to be a good investment. It is an extraction of certain SSA publications, allavailable in user-friendly format at the official SSA website. The major drawback is that thetables of values for benefits and earnings limits stop at the year 2002. The edition I received inJanuary, 2003 is the third edition dated May, 2002. While the content is current to 2002 and theSSA regulations may not have changed substantially, it is not helpful for referencing 2003numbers and beyond.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Good Reference on Basic Law and Procedures , December 19, 2000

ByDavid C . Veeneman (Southern California) - See all my reviews (R EAL NAME)


This review is from: Social Security Benefits Handbook (Social Security BenefitsHandbook, 2nd ed) (Paperback)

Tomkiel has written a good reference for non-lawyers on the basics of Social Security law andhow it is administered. It goes into some detail, so if you are looking for something light and

breezy, it may be a bit much. But if you want to know what benefits are available, who is eligiblefor them, and how they are calculated, this book will fill the bill nicely.

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Litrature of Social Security