Florida Company Introduces First Vehicle Designed Exclusively for Wheelchair Users

Labels: Americans with Disabilities Act disability disabled Florida vehicle

First Potential Lupus-Specific Treatment in Sight!

Today, Human Genome Sciences (HGS) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced positive results from a year-long clinical trial of BENLYSTA for treating lupus. When the 52-week study concluded, the lupus patients who were treated with BENLYSTA had improvement. The patients receiving BENLYSTA also were able to reduce their intake of steroid medications. The study is the largest ever for lupus.

With no new drugs for more than 50 years, The Lupus Foundation of America is greatly encouraged by the results.  An estimated 1.5 million Americans and more than 5 million people worldwide live with lupus.

Should the FDA ultimately approve BENLYSTA, it would become the first drug successfully developed to treat lupus since the disease was discovered more than a century ago.  Assuming positive results in November from second Phase 3 trial of BENLYSTA, companies plan to submit marketing applications in the U.S., Europe and other regions in the first half of 2010.

Fore more information on BENLYSTA click HERE.

If you or someone you know has been denied long-term disability benefits for their claim for Lupus, please contact Stacey Burke of SMSH at (800) 282-2122.  Stacey is currently reprepsenting clients with denied claims for Lupus and other auto-immune diseases.

Labels: Auto-Immune Disease benefit Benlysta Chronic Illness disability disability benefit disability insurance disabled Long Term Disability LTD Lupus Short Term Disability social security disability social security disability insurance SSA ssd ssdi STD

Protecting Your Job While Coping With a Chronic Illness

Chronically ill employees face job uncertainty.  Legal protection available to chronically ill workers can seem unclear. To protect themselves, workers have to try and understand their employers' policies, which consist of lengthy contracts packed full of legalese.  Often the policies include short- and long-term disability plans, with definitions and stipulations that can make most people's heads spin.

Lesley Alderman's New York Times article recommends the following steps for chronically ill employees:
1.  Inform your employer of your condition
2.  Ask for adjustments
3.  Know your employer's time-off policies
4.  Explore alternatives within your job

If you or someone you know needs assistance with a long-term disability claim, please contact Stacey Burke or Dennis McElwee at SMSH toll-free at (800) 282-2122.  We handle LTD denial cases nationwide.  Also follow us on Twitter @Lawyer4ERISA.

Labels: benefit CFS Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Chronic Illness chronic pain disability disability benefit disability insurance disabled ERISA Fibromyalgia Long Term Disability LTD Short Term Disability social security disability social security disability insurance SSA ssd ssdi STD Twitter

BREAKING NEWS: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Cause, Mechanism & Diagnostic Test Discovered, Researchers Say

This could be the biggest news ever concerning chronic fatigue syndrome.  Prominent researcher Kenny de Meirleir announced that he and his Belgian research team have uncovered a major cause and a major underlying mechanism of the condition.  What's more, he says they've also developed a simple and inexpensive home test kit.

The Cause & Mechanism

According to Dr. de Meirleir, a major cause is a high level of hydrogen sulphate (H2S). H2S can build up after antibiotic use, salmonella infection, or too much mercury exposure.

The Test

Dr. de Meirleir says the diagnostic test accurately shows whether you have high levels of hydrogen sulphate in your urine. It's a simple color-change test, similar to what's commonly used in home pregnancy tests. It will soon be available from Dr. de Meirleir's company Protea Biopharma.

View slides used in Dr. de Meirleir's press conference HERE.

The attorneys of SMSH currently represent numerous clients with Chronic Fatigue and related syndromes against insurance companies who have wrongfully denied disability benefits.  For more information please contact Stacey Burke at (800) 282-2122.

Labels: benefit CFS Chronic Fatigue Syndrome chronic pain disability disability benefit disability insurance disabled ERISA insurance Kenny de Meirleir Long Term Disability LTD Protea Biopharma Short Term Disability social security disability social security disability insurance SSA ssd ssdi STD

Financial Impact on Disabled Individuals Can Be Staggering, Says New Study

In the absence of insurance, a majority of Americans would have to make difficult financial decisions, or even drastic lifestyle changes, in order to cover the costs associated with disability, whether the disability is short- or long-term.

The financial impact of a disability -- equal to lost income plus expenses -- to be as high as nearly $1 million for a 40-year-old, single male earning $50,000 per year who suffers a long-term disability lasting until age 65 -- nearly 20 times his pre-disability earnings.

The study also shows that the costs associated with short-term disabilities can be quite significant -- equaling one to nearly two times income in some cases for a disability lasting just two years.

The study found those hit hardest by the costs resulting from a disability are single individuals, who do not have a second income to rely on; lower-income individuals, because added expenses are greater relative to the lost income; and those who suffer longer-term disabilities due to the high associated costs.

Couple this information with the fact that as a result of the recession, many Americans have less savings and investments to fall back on should they become disabled and can't work, and you have the potential for a financial crisis for many Americans.

If you have questions about your existing disability insurance or a claims denial, please call Stacey Burke at (800) 282-2122.

Labels: benefit disability disability benefit disability insurance disabled ERISA Injury insurance Long Term Disability LTD Short Term Disability STD

Get to Know Fibro on National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

On May 12, millions of people affected by the chronic pain disorder fibromyalgia will join together with friends and family to commemorate National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.

To help educate people about the disorder and encourage those living with fibromyalgia to partner with their healthcare provider to manage their symptoms, best-selling author and renowned life coach Martha Beck is speaking out about her 30-year battle with fibromyalgia as the national spokesperson for Know Fibro.  She hopes others will be inspired by her story and use the helpful lifestyle tools available at KnowFibro.com.

Download the Understanding Fibromyalgia fact sheet HERE.

Download a copy of the "Get to Know Fibro" book featuring Martha Beck HERE.

Labels: benefit chronic pain disability disability benefit disabled ERISA Fibromyalgia Long Term Disability LTD Martha Beck National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day STD

Hit Hard by the Economy, Americans Risk Knockout Without Disability Insurance

The results of a new survey show the historic recession has left many Americans with less in savings and investments and as a consequence, more vulnerable to serious financial hardship in the event of illness or disability. According to the nonprofit LIFE Foundation, 27% of working Americans say they would have trouble supporting themselves financially immediately following a disability that keeps them out of work, while 49% would reach that point in a month or less.

The LIFE Foundation released the survey findings to support Disability Insurance Awareness Month, a national campaign targeting the estimated 90 million U.S. workers who lack disability income protection.

Money Saving Tips for Obtaining or Maintaining Disability Coverage

• Look into Group Disability Insurance - One of the most cost-effective ways to obtain disability insurance is through your employer. Employer-provided group disability insurance is typically easier to qualify for because the underwriting is often more lenient than for individual policies. With most group plans, employees are offered the same premium as others in their general age bracket, regardless of their health status or actual age. If you have the option to enroll in a group plan, look to sign up for a short-term disability (STD), which generally replaces a percentage of your income for three months, and long-term disability (LTD), which typically pays 40% to 60% of your pre-tax base salary for a longer period of time. To find out what your employer offers, talk to your benefits manager at work.

• Consider obtaining coverage through professional organizations or associations - If you don't have coverage options through work, look for alternate programs through organizations and associations which provide affordable disability assistance to qualifying individuals. Many professional associations offer members the opportunity to purchase insurance through a group plan. Other sources of coverage include the Veterans Administration pension (for veterans); civil service disability pay (for federal/state government workers); black lung program (for miners); state vocational rehabilitation programs or group union disability coverage.

• Check to see if you can qualify for lower premiums on your individual disability insurance policy - One of the primary ways of getting coverage is to purchase an individual disability insurance policy on your own. If you have your own policy, you may be able to qualify for lower premiums if, for instance, you have quit smoking, lost a substantial amount of weight or have made significant improvements to your health. In addition, in some cases changing careers may mean lower premiums. For example, if you go from being a construction supervisor to owning the company, your rates may decrease. If you're thinking of a new career, especially in today's economy, check into savings that may exist on the same amount of coverage.

• Modify your current coverage options on your individual policy - If you are wondering if your budget will allow you to hold onto your policy, talk to your insurance agent or company. One way to reduce your premiums is to lengthen the waiting period--the time you begin receiving the benefit after claiming disability--say, from 90 days to six months. If this is something you're considering, be sure that you would be able to provide for yourself and your family for that period of time until your benefits take effect.

Labels: benefit disability disability benefit Disability Insurance Awareness Month disabled ERISA Injury LIFE Foundation Long Term Disability LTD STD

Congressman 'Disgusted' By AIG Delaying and Denying Claims

Rep Elijah Cummings, (D-MD), a senior member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, is calling for hearings to examine AIG's handling of disability benefits for civilian contractors injured in Iraq after a joint investigation by ABC News, the Los Angeles Times and the non-profit group ProPublica revealed that the company has been playing hardball with injured workers with a pattern of "delaying and denying" claims.

An analysis by ProPublica of tens of thousands of claims filed by people working for American defense contractors overseas found that AIG challenged nearly half – 43 percent – of the most serious claims.

Injured contractors are entitled to medical and disability benefits under a federal law called the Defense Base Act. AIG covers about 90 percent of the claims for these overseas workers under this program.

Click here to watch the full story on 20/20.

If you or someone you know has a claim against AIG for denial of disability benefits, please contact Stacey Burke at (800) 282-2122 for a free consultation on your case.

Labels: AIG benefit Defense Base Act disability disability benefit disabled Injury Long Term Disability LTD

Genes Linked to Stroke May Raise Risk by a Third, Study Finds

Two gene variants newly linked to stroke may increase by about 30 percent a person’s risk for the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., according to a study of about 20,000 patients.  Stroke was the top reason for serious long-term disability in the U.S. in 2008, costing about $65.5 billion in lost wages and medical treatment, according to the American Heart Association.  Almost 780,000 strokes occur in the U.S. every year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. 

Warning signs of a stroke include numbness or weakness on one side of the body, sudden confusion, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, and loss of balance or coordination, according to the Mayo Clinic Web site.

Besides a family history, risk factors include age of 55 or older, high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking. Women are more likely to die of strokes than men, although they have strokes at the same rate, according to the Mayo Clinic.

If you or someone you know has been disabled by a stroke and needs assistance with obtaining Long-Term Disability Benefits, please contact Stacey Burke at SMSH at (800) 282-2122.

Labels: American Heart Association benefit CDC Centers for Disease Control disability disability benefit disabled ERISA Long Term Disability LTD Mayo Clinic Stroke

Another Teen Death After Police Taser Use Leads to Plans for a Lawsuit

The family of 16-year-old Robert Mitchell plan to file a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that police used excessive force when they struck the unarmed, 5 foot tall, 125-pound teenager with a Taser stun gun last week. The family believes the shock delivered by the Taser ultimately lead to the teen’s death, which may be the third teen Taser death this year, and the second in the past 30 days in the state of Michigan.

Taser stun guns deliver electro-muscular shocks that affect neuromuscular function and thereby temporarily disable individuals.  Although they are designed to provide non-lethal force, Amnesty International has reported that over 350 Taser-related deaths have occurred in the United States since 2001, leading to calls for the stun guns to only be used in life-threatening situations.

Robert Mitchell, who had a learning disability, died after he was struck with a Taser by police in Warren, Michigan. The teen fled police after a traffic stop for an expired license plate and ran into an abandoned building to hide, where police struck him with the stun gun while apprehending him.

Last month, another Michigan teen died after being struck by a Taser gun in Bay City. Brett Elder, who was 15 years old at the time of his death, was struck after he started to fight with officers while they were attempting to intervene in a dispute between the teen and another person.

In December 2008, Amnesty International released a report that found 90% of all Taser gun deaths examined involved people who were unarmed and did not appear to present a serious threat to officers. In addition, a number of deaths have been associated with inappropriate use of the weapons, such as repeated firings, shocks that last longer than five seconds or delivering a charge to the neck or head.

If you or someone you know has been wrongfully injured or killed by a Taser, please call the experienced lawyers of SMSH at (800) 282-2122.

Labels: Death disability disabled Michigan Safety Taser Wrongful Death

AARP: More than 19 million Americans live with a work disability

The AARP reported today that over 19 million Americans have a work disability.  That's 10.9 percent of people ages 21 to 64.  Fewer than half of those disabled workers collect monthly checks from Social Security Disability Insurance, a fund built by federal tax deductions from workers' pay checks. Right now, 9.3 million Americans and their dependents get the money.  The Social Security Administration, now facing an unprecedented backlog of disability claims, expects the problem to worsen as more Americans lose their jobs and file for disability benefits.

Labels: benefit disability disability benefit disabled Long Term Disability LTD social security disability social security disability insurance SSA ssd ssdi

Lyme Disease Cases Jump in DC Region

SMSH Attorney Stacey Burke, along with additional counsel, currently represents multiple clients seeking to reinstate their disability benefits for complications arising from Lyme Disease.  For more information call (800) 282-2122 or email Stacey at sburke@smslegal.com.

The latest statistics show reports of Lyme Disease are way up around the D.C. region. The number of reported cases nearly doubled in the District, tripled in Howard County, and quadrupled in Montgomery County from 2006 to 2007.

Half the cases reported in Virginia come from Loudoun County. County Health Director Dr. David Goodfriend, says when he first started working there in 2001, there were only 20 to 30 cases. But last year, there were 500.

Health officials say the ticks are often found on deer and also on white-tailed mice. They jump onto people from tall grasses and low-lying vegetation.

To avoid being infected, experts recommend that people where long pants and use insect repellent when they outdoors from spring through early fall.

Labels: disability disabled Long Term Disability Lyme Lyme Disease

Follow Stacey Burke on Twitter

SMSH Associate Attorney Stacey Burke will now be posting regular updates on her Twitter page concerning Long Term Disability Benefits, ERISA cases and other disability benefit issues.  Follow here here at Lawyer4ERISA on Twitter.

Labels: benefit disability disability benefit ERISA Long Term Disability LTD