Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Crime may pay in the short run, but not the long.

VIA:



A man and woman living in different towns appeared Tuesday in U.S. District Court on two counts each of Social Security fraud in separate cases.
Jessica Bartlett, 28, of Brunswick and Mark Judd, 33, of Lisbon are accused of using a child’s Social Security number as his and her own to hide income, according to court documents.
Bartlett was released Tuesday on $10,000 unsecured bail. A bail hearing for Judd is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
Bartlett began receiving welfare assistance in 2001 from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, according to court documents.
Her son was assigned a Social Security number in 2007 after his birth.
Bartlett’s alleged fraud came to light late last year, when investigators discovered she had earned more than $1,700 and in October obtained a car loan using her son’s Social Security number, according to court documents. The 2007 Dodge Caravan was repossessed five months after it was purchased.
Judd was living in subsidized housing and began receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families in 2003, according to court documents. His son was assigned a Social Security number in 2004 after his birth.
He earned nearly $23,000 using his son’s Social Security number from two different employers, according to court documents. He also allegedly failed to report a change in income to the property management firm at his housing complex as required.
It could not be determined from court documents if Bartlett and Judd knew each other or worked on the scheme together or separately. Both were arrested Tuesday and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John Rich III in back-to-back hearings in federal court in Portland.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Joyce, who is prosecuting the case, declined Tuesday in an email to comment on whether the cases were connected.
If convicted, each faces up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. Bartlett and Judd also could be ordered to pay back the state and federal assistance they received but did not qualify for if they are found guilty.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Compassionate Allowance?

Social Security recently added in several new categories of what are called "compassionate allowances."  These are disabilities that have an obvious need to be expedited, or sped up.  The following conditions were added:

New Compassionate Allowances Conditions
Malignant Multiple Sclerosis
Paraneoplastic Pemphigus
Multicentric Castleman Disease
Pulmonary Kaposi Sarcoma
Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma
Primary Effusion Lymphoma
Angelman Syndrome
Lewy Body Dementia
Lowe Syndrome
Corticobasal Degeneration
Multiple System Atrophy
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
The ALS/Parkinsonism Dementia Complex

Should you have ANY of the above conditions, and think you are disabled, you should contact your Social Security office and apply.  You may also apply online.  If for any reason, you are denied, and you feel you have one of these conditions, please call Muse immediately at 1-800-922-4011.  Our experienced and helpful staff are ready to assist you.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Not sure where to start?

Many folks like yourself have disabling conditions and don't know where to start, or what to do.  As with most governmental organizations, Social Security requires that you fill out some paperwork.  Thankfully, they have automated this process a bit, and you can do most of the paperwork online!


Here's what you'll need, direct from the SSA:


DISABILITY APPLICATION

  • Military Service discharge information (Form DD 214) for all periods of active duty.
  • W-2 Form (or your IRS 1040 and Schedules C and SE if self-employed) from last year.
  • Social Security Number(s) for your spouse and minor children.
  • Checking or savings account number and bank routing number, if you want Direct Deposit for your benefit checks.

DISABILITY REPORT

  • Name, address and phone number of someone we can contact who knows about your medical conditions and can help with your claim.
  • Names, addresses, phone numbers, patient ID numbers, and dates of treatment for all doctors, hospitals, and clinics.
    Note: You may want to refer to any Medical Records you have.
  • Names of medicines you are taking and who prescribed them.
    Note: You may want to have your medicine bottles available.
  • Names and dates of medical tests you have had and who sent you for them.
  • Types of jobs and dates you worked for your last 5 jobs.
  • Information about any insurance or workers' compensation claims you filed, such as claim number and name, address and phone number of insurance company.


    Once you get all of the paperwork and documents you need, simply go here and appy! http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/disability.htm 

    We hope that you get the decision you deserve.  Should you need any help, don't hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-922-4011.  Muse Disability understands the frustration that can come with a denial, and we're here to help.  Call us from anywhere in the United States and speak to one of our representatives should you need any help.

    *The preceding is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration.  Muse Disability can be found at Http://www,musedisability.com