A trend of hiring contingent workers rather than employees is raising concerns about worker misclassification and its effect on workers’ compensation.United Parcel Service (UPS) and FedEx Ground are major competitors in the U.S. package delivery service. UPS’ iconic brown and FedEx Ground’s navy blue uniforms are familiar to millions of people. For the delivery drivers,… Read more

When a person thinks of the workers’ compensation system, he or she rarely considers attempted murder. However, a woman who was attacked by her own son can actually receive workers’ compensation benefits, according to a ruling from Commonwealth Court. The woman was caring for her son via a state compensation agreement. According to records, the… Read more

A Reuters examination has uncovered that a national program, which is intended to flag and inform the public of the presence of hazardous chemicals, is not working in many states. This is because the program has poor oversight and plant owners are subsequently becoming careless with reporting issues. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act The… Read more

Many disabled individuals rely on the income provided by workers’ compensation benefits in order to meet their day-to-day expenses. Eligibility for workers’ compensation is subject to change, however. For example, if the person finds a new job, this may affect whether he or she can continue to receive workers’ compensation (or how much those benefits… Read more

Nearly 400,000 Pennsylvania residents qualified for disability in 2011, and the numbers have grown from there. This follows a national trend of more Americans applying for disability payments, and being awarded them through Social Security. The CBO states that the numbers have tripled in the last 40 years. The Social Security Administration handles the disability… Read more

The Social Security Administration (SSA), which has served the most vulnerable Americans for decades, discovered years ago that some Supplementary Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program participants were likely to receive disability benefits their entire lives. Many of these beneficiaries wanted to work, but were limited by SSA program rules which… Read more

The United States government recently announced a new initiative aimed at improving the long-term health, education and employment outcomes for children with disabilities who are currently receiving Supplemental Security Income. The new initiative is known as Promoting Readiness of Minors in Supplemental Security Income, or PROMISE. It will involve a coordination of efforts between the… Read more

The number of people receiving Social Security disability benefits is on the rise. It has almost tripled since 1980, when there were about 2.8 million workers and 1.8 million dependents receiving Social Security disability insurance payments. By 2010, this number rose to 8.2 million workers and 2.1 million dependents, reports Reuters news. Social Security disability… Read more

Although it is natural to feel defeated when a claim for SSD has been denied, the process is nowhere near over. In fact, the majority of individuals who apply for SSD are rejected on their initial application. So long as it is filed within 60 days of the initial decision, an individual can appeal the… Read more

Many people who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, sometimes known as Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome, face skepticism from the general public. But it is a very real and very debilitating condition. The cause of CFS is uncertain, and no treatment has proven very effective. However, a promising study out of Norway has shown… Read more