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Social Security Disability Insurance and SSI Benefits for the Mentally Ill
Produced on January 21, 2016
Course Information
Course Description
Of the more than 14 million people in the U.S. currently receiving Social Security Disability (“SSD”) or Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) benefits, about 33% qualified in whole or in part due to the severity of their mental illness. However, proving that a client’s mental illness symptoms are severe enough to prevent him or her from working at even a low-stress job is fraught with challenges, from hostile agency reviewers and psychologists at the initial evaluation to skeptical Administrative Law Judges at the hearing level.
Stephen M. Jackel, a New York City attorney with 18 years in the field of Social Security Disability law, first provides an overview of the administrative process for obtaining disability benefits, then explains the requirements for establishing disability based on mental illness, and finally offers some examples of both potential pitfalls and winning strategies.
Learning Objectives:
I. Understand the basics of Social Security Disability and SSI benefits
II. Define the mental impairments that qualify for Social Security disability benefits
III. Explore the evidence necessary to prove a claim for SSD or SSI benefits based on mental illness
Credit Information
Faculty
Stephen M. Jackel
Law Office of Stephen M. Jackel
Mr. Jackel has been practicing law in New York City since 1980, beginning with a clerkship with a Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of New York. After a stint with a general practice firm in Manhattan, he took a hiatus to work as a journalist covering municipal labor unions. Mr. Jackel returned to the law as an Administrative Law Judge for two New York City agencies – the Taxi and Limousine Commission and the Parking Violations Bureau – and for years was part of the team at PVB training new judges. Using his experience in administrative law, he opened his own office in 1998 and began representing claimants fighting to obtain their Social Security disability benefits. He has maintained an 88%-success rate in the field, despite an increasingly difficult environment for disability claimants.
Mr. Jackel received his B.S. from the University of Rochester and his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. He also has a Master's degree from the Columbia School of Journalism.
Reviews
very composed and knowledgeable on a tough topic
Good information and good lecturer
Great class!
Well organized, logical presentation.
very interesting class
The instructor had a good mix of legal information and practical advice.
excellent
excellent discourse on a broken system
Great class overall ~ and the last ten minutes...invaluable.
Good presentation.
Excellent presentation, and step by step analysis of applying for SSI and SSD on behalf of a client who is a person with a mental illness. The speaker provided very insightful tips!. I would have liked to hear more about the appellate process.
This is a useful CLE program.
Excellent
This really was a highly informative course and answered a lot of questions which I had going in.
Informative CLE on the basics of Social Security Disability law
Great instructor!
The speaker had some interesting and useful insights regarding judges.
Great speaker.
highly recommend!
Extremely informative.
Enjoyed the class
thank you
Great
Excellent, thank you.
Very informative.
Ease of use! Excellent!
Outstanding lecture. Very informative
Not even close to my area of practice, but excellent written materials and interesting.
informative.
Very enlightening!
Best lecturer
Great!
One of the best CLE classes
Interesting and informative
The speaker knows the administrative process very well and also related his personal experiences in a meaningful way.
Very informative
EXCELLENT PRESENTATION
Good information.
Very interesting presentation. Also very disturbing to hear the lack of knowledge some judges have regarding mental illness. Well done.
Always been curious - very helpful.
Good program.
Very good program. Highly recommended.
Thank you lawline.
The cases were very informative
I appreciate the presenter's passion for his work.
distinction between SSD & SSi was helpful re guardianship issuesl
Excellent
Informative
informative
I particularly like the references to experiences with the judge.
Great information
Excellent speaker and program!
Attorney Jackal has a very professional demeanor and comforting voice. Perfect for a great disability attorney. Thank you for an interesting seminar. The time flew.
Very informative