As of March 16, 2012, the Social Security Administration will now require representatives to file Appeals electronically.

Now when filing either a Request for Reconsideration or for a Hearing Before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), representatives and Attorneys must do so electonically.

SSA will provide a webcast informing representatives and attorneys of this Appeal change on March 7, 2012.

If you are disabled or over 65 you may qualify for Fairfax County real estate and car tax relief. Residents must file an application for relief between January 1 and April 1, 2012 if they have filed before. New applicants have until December 31, 2012 to file.

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR REAL ESTATE TAX RELIEF?

•To qualify for a Real Estate tax exemption under the Tax Relief Program, the following requirements must be met:

•The applicant must be at least 65 years of age, or permanently and totally disabled. Applicants who turn 65 or become permanently and totally disabled during the year of application may also qualify for tax relief on a prorated basis.

•If the dwelling is jointly owned by an applicant and spouse, either the applicant or the spouse must be at least 65 years of age or older, or permanently and totally disabled.

•The gross income from all sources of the owners of the dwelling and any relatives of the owners who reside in the dwelling may not exceed $72,000. The following income limitations and percentage of relief apply:

Gross Income——————————————–Amount of Tax Relief

$52,000 or less ———————————————-100%

$52,001 to $62,000——————————————– 50%

$62,001 to $72,000———————————————25%

•For each relative (other than spouse) residing in the dwelling, the first $6,500 of income may be excluded. Disabled applicants may exclude the first $7,500 of income.

•The total combined net assets of owners of the dwelling and of the spouse of any owner who resides in the dwelling may not be greater than $340,000 (not including the value of the home, its furnishings and up to one acre of land).

•When the property is jointly owned and the co-owner is deceased, a certified copy of the death certificate must be provided.

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR CAR TAX OR
PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

•To qualify for a Personal Property tax exemption under the Tax Relief Program, the following requirements must be met:

•The applicant must be a resident of Fairfax County.

•The exempted vehicle must be owned and used primarily by or for an applicant who is at least 65 years of age or an applicant found to be permanently and totally disabled.

•The gross income of the applicant may not exceed $22,000.

•Disabled applicants may exclude the first $7,500 of income, i.e., an effective gross income of $29,500.

•The total combined net assets of the applicant and spouse may not exceed $75,000.

•Personal Property tax relief shall only be granted on one vehicle.

•Personal Property tax relief on mobile homes applies only to those homes used as a full time residence.

For more information contact the Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration at

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta/taxrelief_home.htm.

USA Today Editorial: Opposing view: Disability Benefits Remains a Vital Lifeline by Charles Martin

Social Security Disability Insurance remains a vital lifeline for citizens who once held full-time jobs but have become too ill or injured to work. It is a time-honored expression of our nation’s commitment to help care for those who must stop working due to illness or injury.

While any large government program will have problems — and Social Security is no exception — we should work on fixing the problems and not join the current rush to condemn an entire system because of rare instances of abuse or mounting political pressures to cut federal spending.

As an attorney who has spent more than 34 years helping thousands of Social Security applicants, let me be clear that getting disability approval is harder than ever. Undocumented pain, alcoholism and drug abuse have been disqualified. Mental retardation and HIV standards are tougher. Diabetes and obesity are no longer distinct disabilities. Illegal immigrants are now disqualified. Applicants must now present objective medical evidence of disability. This is no rubber-stamp process.

Moreover, it is a misrepresentation to claim that there is a surge in unemployed applicants looking to get on the public dole. Applications have increased due to social, medical and economic mega-trends (such as more insured women and aged workers).

Yes, today’s Social Security Disability Insurance system is huge, complex, costly and certainly imperfect. But it deserves to be improved, not scorned. Claimants’ representatives play an important role by discouraging frivolous applications and assisting those who can prove disability navigate a daunting and often confusing bureaucracy.

The road to restoring Social Security to full health is not to conduct a witch hunt for the rare but inevitable undeserving claimants or deficient judges, but through sensible measures such as giving more help to people with disabilities who want to work, giving employers incentives to hire them, and upgrading the gathering and delivery of medical treatment and information.

Tough times can bring out the best in people. Let’s not let our frustration over a lousy economy cause us to turn on those who are most in need. Let’s improve a system that reflects the true spirit of American compassion.

Charles Martin, a Decatur, Ga.-based attorney, is president of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives.