If you are on Social Security Disability (SSD, SSDI) or Suplemental Security Income (SSI) and you want to explore your options for working, and maintaining your benefits, SSA holds Work Incentive Seminar Events (WISE) throughout the country, where you can learn more. Click on SSA: WISE Event Registration to find out the location of a future meeting near you.
Since the amendments of Act 57, it has become rare for an injured worker to be able to recover both workers compensation benefits and some other form of wage loss benefit. In Kellv v. WCAB (US Air), the Supreme Court allowed just such a “double recovery” to happen. Affirming the Commonwealth Court decision, the Supreme Court ruled that furlough benefits were not “severance benefits” under section 204 of the Act. Rather, furlough benefits, accumulated based on years of service, finite in duration, and paid to a worker with a right to be reinstated under the collective bargaining agreement were more akin to sick time or vacation benefits. Therefore, the employer was not entitled to a credit.
Congratulations to Larry Chabin, Esquire for his perserverance. Larry’s argument did not initially prevail before the WCJ or the Workers Compensation Appeal Board.
Life changed when Alison Schuback’s car was struck in October 1997. She became the victim of a head injury. Every head injury is unique. The effects vary greatly. For those with significant head injuries, however, their lives change forever. It is very difficult to recover from a head injury. The head injury victim’s options are often limited in permanent ways. Some might say that Alison was lucky, because she did not suffer from the cognitive deficits that often are caused by head injuries. Instead, she suffered very significant physical limitations. Read the linked story (or click here) about how this 2008 Inc. Entrepreneur of the Year overcame those limitations to not only start a company but to offer jobs to other head injury victims.The undoubted key to her success? Patience. Inspiring stuff. What’s stopping you from designing your new life?
