05April

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Hannalore Merritt Named Partner and President of Osterhout Berger Disability Law!

Posted by OBL

Congratulations to Hannalore Merritt! As of April 1, Hannalore has been named a Partner and our new President at OBL! Her new duties can be best understood as what is usually called "Managing Partner," and will be responsible not only for her own department (the Appellate Department), but also for typical managing partner duties including setting the vision for OBL going forward outwardly in terms of marketing, outreach, etc., as well, as inwardly in terms of improving our internal systems and office environment. We are very excited to have her as a Partner, colleague, and friend. As Karl remembers: "My employee search game...

31March

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We Appreciate Social Workers and Case Managers!

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As we close out National Professional Social Work Month, we wanted to take a minute to say thank you to the social workers and case managers that give so much of their time making our world a better place. Lindsay Osterhout regularly works with local social workers and had the following to say: I am so grateful that this month is set aside to highlight the essential work these professionals perform for our community. We work with case managers from service providers in Western Pennsylvania and the Jacksonville, Florida. These individuals display patience and dedication to what is a lot of...

26March

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OBL Featured at NADR’s 2021 Conference

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We are just back from the National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR) 2021 Annual Conference and had a great time talking to other representatives! It was a hybrid conference so we were able to connect with attendees in-person and virtually. Not only did Osterhout Berger sponsor the conference, but our own Lindsay Osterhout was also a presenter! Lindsay's highly reviewed presentation instructed attendees on how to make convincing prehearing briefs that clearly outline the theory of the case so that the judge can better understand the argument. We are so glad NADR holds events that allow disability representatives and attorneys from...

12March

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Karl Osterhout Offers Regular Training to OBL FDC Partners!

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We have the benefit of reviewing hundreds of cases and hearing audio a month and Karl Osterhout has been at this for decades. Karl knows what works in ALJ hearings and what doesn't, especially when it comes to vocational expert cross-examination and he shares this insight with representatives who use OBL for federal court appeals of disability claims. Recently, Karl offered a complimentary zoom training titled "Vocational Potpourri" where he reviewed several vocational issues that regularly come up in hearings. If you would like to become an FDC referral partner and receive regular zoom training from Karl, contact us today! The...

08March

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Colon Cancer Awareness Month – Get Your Colonoscopy!

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[embed]https://youtu.be/Se6oEJuyVLQ[/embed] Months of recovery from surgery. Months of chemo. Just avoided an ileostomy (this is where you have a permanent device that you wear on your body because your colon doesn’t work anymore, to collect you know what). Incredible wear and tear on my family, and my business. I could write 5000 words on any one of the sentences, but I’ll spare you that. Probably all of it (or most of it anyway) could have been avoided if I had just gotten the colonoscopy… Schedule yours as soon as you can! Here are some basic facts: A colonoscopy is painless. Yes, the...

19February

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OBL in the Community: KNEAD Community Cafe

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There's more to OBL than disability benefits; we are truly passionate about giving back! The last year has been so hard for so many. We recognize that we are in a position that allows us to help in small ways and enjoy doing so! Thanks to the wonderful people at Knead Community Cafe, we were able to help a little by sponsoring a Grab N' Go dinner yesterday evening that fed over 250 people! Our very own Amy DeSanto was on site to help pass out meals. Knead Community Café located in downtown New Kensington, Pa, is committed to serving healthy...

05February

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7 Things to Know About the Social Security Disability Trial Work Period

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Sometimes beneficiaries mistakenly think that once they start receiving disability benefits, they are “stuck” and can never go back to work again, even if their condition improves. Thankfully, the Social Security Administration (SSA) supports individuals who want to try to return to work through various work incentives that allow beneficiaries to attempt to work without jeopardizing their monthly disability income and Medicare benefits. One of these incentives is called the Trial Work Period, commonly abbreviated as TWP. The TWP, is a special allowance that allows you to work up to nine months without losing your monthly disability payments. Disability Benefit decisions...

26January

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Can You Get Disability Benefits Because of Migraine Headaches?

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Migraine headaches can absolutely interfere with full-time work so does SSA pay disability to people that suffer from them? The answer is yes, sometimes, but you need good documentation! When applying for benefits, there are several pieces of information that the SSA will likely want record of. For instance, the SSA will look at limitations that the applicant experiences on a regular basis, but they’ll also look at what kinds of employment options they have. Plus, the SSA will look at the medical evidence to determine whether or not it backs up the claims that the applicant is making. Learn more...

22January

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SSA ALJ Hearings During Covid

Posted by OBL

in Blog, Covid-19

Since March of 2020, SSA has been conducting Administrative Law Judge hearings by telephone. Our firm has been successful with this new format and we find that it actually offers many benefits to claimants! At first, many of our clients were hesitant that the Judge wouldn't "see" them. "I know folks are concerned about a Judge denying them easier with a phone hearing. I have not noticed any difference in outcomes between in-person and phone hearings. A plus that I have found is that clients don’t have the stress or expense of physically getting to a hearing office." explains OBL...

13January

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Panic Disorder Can Be Disabling!

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People with Panic Disorder can have episodes of intense fear that isn’t caused by an outside environmental factor that it would be reasonable to fear. Panic attacks can last for several minutes or longer, and they can make going to work and doing a job well all the more difficult or maybe even impossible. Anyone who thinks that they have a panic disorder should learn about the condition, how it’s treated, and ways that they can receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. Panic disorders are covered in the Social Security Administration’s Blue Book under the listing of Anxiety Disorders....

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