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Why does it take so long to receive a decision on my SSDI/SSI claim?

Initial Level There are multiple steps in the SSDI/SSI application process. When you submit your initial application to the Social Security Administration (SSA), your claim is “developed” by an SSA employee known as an “adjudicator.” It is the adjudicators responsibility to request your medical records, send you the necessary paperwork, and request further medical exams… Read more

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Matthew Wilson to present at Tough Problems in Workers’ Compensation

(Philadelphia) –Martin Law partner Matthew Wilson will be a presenting case law at the Tough Problems in Workers’ Compensation CLE on April 3, 2017. Matthew Wilson is a partner of Martin Law and practices exclusively in the area of workers’ compensation law for over 25 years. For the last 10 years he has co-authored the… Read more

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2017 PA WORKERS’ COMP AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE ANNOUNCED

According to the Workers’ Compensation Act, injured workers are entitled to indemnity (wage-loss) benefits equal to two-thirds of their weekly wage for a work-related injury. However, there are minimum and maximum adjustments provided in the Act, and the benefit rate is set using the annual maximum in place at the time of injury. The maximum… Read more

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Why You Should Hire A Lawyer For Your VA Appeal

If you have been denied the full compensation you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), you have the right to handle the entire process yourself. However, you should consider working with a knowledgeable veterans law attorney. You will be at a significant disadvantage without one. The appeals process that follows a denial can… Read more

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Special workers’ Compensation Protections For Pennsylvania Firefighters

The Firefighters Cancer Presumption Act and other laws provide increased workers’ comp coverage for firefighters.When the calls for help come in, firefighters charge into burning buildings while other people run out of them. The real risks of the job, however, often appear years later. Firefighters have a significantly higher risk of cancer and certain other… Read more

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Can I Obtain Workers’ Comp And Social Security Disability Benefits?

Injured workers can receive Workers’ comp and SSDI at the same time, but benefit amounts may be reduced.If you have been permanently disabled in a work-related accident, you may wonder if you can obtain Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits in addition to your workers’ compensation benefits. In many cases, you can. Workers who are… Read more

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Appellate Court: Chasing Thief Was In Course Of Employment

A Pennsylvania appellate court held that a convenience store worker who suffered fatal injuries while chasing a thief was eligible for workers’ comp benefits.Walter Wetzel died in April 2010, several months after he was run over in his employer’s convenience store parking lot while trying to stop a thief. Three years later, a Pennsylvania appellate… Read more

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Worker Misclassification: How Job Titles Affect workers’ Comp And Other Benefits

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

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An unusual twist on attempted murder

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

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Facilities fail to report the existence of toxic chemicals on properties

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