DISABILITY JUSTICE

[Pages:4]DISABILITY

JUSTICE

POND LEHOCKY STERN GIORDANO

2015 VOL. 1

IN THIS ISSUE

Announcing Disability Justice: Fighting for your rights at the national level

Partner Thomas Giordano, Jr. selected to The National Advocates Top 100 Lawyers

Social Security disability benefits ONLY increased 1.7 percent in 2015 Disability Justice now available 24/7 with new client portal: My Case Status We've moved our New York City office

Scranton office now handling Social Security disability

Did you know? Facts about Social Security disability

Our political action initiatives

DISABILITY JUSTICE, LLC

800.773.1330



Announcing Disability Justice: Fighting

for your rights at the national level

Pond Lehocky Stern Giordano has experienced tremendous growth over the past several years. In addition to representing workers' compensation clients throughout Pennsylvania, we have represented thousands of Social Security disability clients in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

In line with these developments, we're proud to announce that Pond Lehocky's Social Security disability department will now be called Disability Justice. It will function as a nationwide organization dedicated to advocating for disabled individuals, while delivering the same top-quality legal representation you have come to know and expect.

As a Pond Lehocky client, what does this mean for me?

For you, it's really just a name change. Rest assured that your Pond Lehocky attorney, team and case status won't change in any way. You will still receive the same expert representation and personal care you have come to expect. Plus, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that through

Disability Justice, we are now advocating even more forcefully for your rights and the rights of all disabled individuals.

Why do we need advocacy for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI)?

Congress must act before 2016 to prevent a 20 percent decrease in SSDI benefits. A reallocation of funds from the Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund to the Disability Insurance Trust Fund would prevent a decrease, but some politicians don't want to save SSDI and are painting it to be a welfare program or government handout. That is simply not true. It's crucial that everyone understand the truth about SSDI and how it helps hardworking Americans during their time of need.

As we continue to provide exceptional representation in the courtroom, we are also fighting on behalf of our clients in the political arena. We'll keep you updated in the coming months about the progress we're making in Washington.

Partner Thomas Giordano, Jr. selected to The National Advocates Top 100 Lawyers

Partner Thomas Giordano, Jr. became a member of The National Advocates Top 100 Lawyers, an exclusive, invitationonly organization composed of the top 100 attorneys from each state who serve those in need.

Under Tom's leadership, Disability Justice has grown to a nationwide practice. The department has expanded tremendously in just four years.

Beginning with three members, the Social Security disability department now has more than 100 members, including attorneys, all devoted to advocating and protecting the rights of the disabled. It has helped thousands of people receive their disability benefits in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Read more here.

Social Security disability benefits ONLY increased 1.7 percent in 2015

As of January 2015, the Social Security Administration included a cost of living adjustment -- a 1.7 percent increase -- for Social Security benefits. The average monthly payment for disabled workers rose from

$1,146 to $1,165. Approximately 64 million Americans benefited from this increase, which was determined by the Consumer Price Index provided by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Disability Justice now available 24/7 with new client portal: My Case Status

You know you can always reach out to us at Disability Justice with your questions and issues. Now there is an additional way to get fast updates about your case: My Case Status, our exclusive online client portal. It is a unique service that no other advocacy group of our kind offers.

Go to mycasestatus. to log into My Case Status. The portal is chock-full of useful resources and information for our Social Security disability clients, and it's accessible 24/7 -- anytime it's convenient for you.

Check the status and progress of your case See your case timeline and milestones -- including detailed explanations of each step -- and easily submit changes.

Receive communications from your attorney and legal team Get messages about important new developments in your case.

Send, receive and view medical documents for your case Our HIPAA-compliant Document Library makes the process simple and secure.

Send a secure message to your legal team You will also be notified of their response in real time, via email.

Quickly update your basic information Change things like your address and phone number without having to make a phone call. Watch videos of frequently asked questions Video FAQs make the legal process easier to understand.

Notify us of additional legal needs View a checklist of other legal services that you may need help with.

satellite office updates

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We've moved our New York City office

For the convenience of our clients, our New York City office is now located at: 355 Lexington Avenue, 10th Floor New York, NY 10017 Our Social Security disability attorneys Jacob Neff and Brynn Lapszynski head the New York office. To make an appointment, please call 800.773.1300.

Scranton office now handling Social Security disability

We are now available to see clients in our Scranton, PA office. Located at 532 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503, attorney Michael Parker is available to see clients. To make an appointment, please call 800.773.1300. Walk ins are also welcome.

Did you know?

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Pay to the order of

SALARY

Date

$

Dollars

6.2%

For every paycheck you earn, 6.2 percent of it goes to your Social Security.

You've

$

funded your

own Social

Security

disability

insurance.

Don't let politicians try to convince you that Social Security disability is a government handout.

It's your money that you saved in case you become disabled and cannot work.

DISABILITY JUSTICE

POND LEHOCKY STERN GIORDANO

DISABILITY JUSTICE, LLC

One Commerce Square 2005 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Suite 350 Philadelphia, PA 19103

800.773.1300



WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Social Security disability is under attack

The Social Security disability system may be in jeopardy if politicians do not act now and stand up for your rights. You have funded Social Security disability by working and paying into the system with every paycheck. It's your money, not a government handout as some politicians would have you believe. It is crucial that you contact your representative today and urge them to stand up for your rights. Here's why:

The benefits you've earned and rely on may

be reduced There may be a shortage of money in the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund in 2016 if lawmakers do not take action. This shortage could be prevented if funds are reallocated from the Social Security Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund to the DI Trust Fund, which has been done successfully 11 times in the past. Without a reallocation, disability benefits may see a 20 percent decrease in 2016.

to pass legislation to protect Social Security recipients. Funds would not be permitted to be reallocated from the OASI Trust Fund to the DI Trust Fund without benefit cuts or tax increases, putting your benefits at risk.

People are dying before they receive their benefits because of delays In most states, the wait time to receive a hearing is over a year. These lengthy delays within the system are impeding Americans' rights to collect the money that they've earned. In one study from the National Institutes of Health, 42,000 applicants died before a decision was made on their disability claims.

Here's how you can help We're doing everything we can to advocate on your behalf by contacting representatives and urging them to uphold your rights, but we need your help. We all need to work together to protect Social Security.

An option to keep Social Security solvent may

be taken away Republican members of the House made a change to their proposed rules package that makes it more difficult

Go to our Political Action page for letters you can send to your lawmaker. Tell them your rights are important!

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