1
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,640
Speaker 1: Welcome to my show. I'm Rashon McDonald, a host of

2
00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:06,080
Speaker 1: Money Making Conversations Masterclass, where we encourage people to stop

3
00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:09,959
Speaker 1: reading other people's success stories and start planning your own. Now,

4
00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,160
Speaker 1: you don't want to miss an episode, so please take

5
00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:14,760
Speaker 1: a moment right now to follow or subscribe to Money

6
00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:16,360
Speaker 1: Making Conversations Masterclass.

7
00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:17,200
Speaker 2: It's free.

8
00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:21,360
Speaker 1: You can follow me on the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, Apple Podcasts,

9
00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,400
Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your podcast. New Money Making

10
00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:28,040
Speaker 1: Conversations Masterclass episodes drop daily. I want to keep you

11
00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:30,680
Speaker 1: on alert because my guests provide tips on how you

12
00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:34,800
Speaker 1: can uplift your community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or

13
00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:38,440
Speaker 1: advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Now, let's

14
00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:42,560
Speaker 1: get this podcast started. My guest enjoys assisting to disable

15
00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:47,120
Speaker 1: with attaining Social Security disability benefits. He helps his clients

16
00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,360
Speaker 1: understand the impact that the law has on their lives.

17
00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:54,840
Speaker 1: As a candidate for disability, he interfaces with various attorneys

18
00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:58,320
Speaker 1: and judges to ensure that the client is fairly represented

19
00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,800
Speaker 1: in the court of law. Please welcome to the Money

20
00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:06,880
Speaker 1: Making Conversation Master Class. He's an advocate. Please welcome. Leonard Graham.

21
00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:07,840
Speaker 1: How you doing limit.

22
00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,440
Speaker 3: Heyshawn, thank you for having me on the show Man.

23
00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,640
Speaker 1: When I say an advocate, because we're not talking about

24
00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:19,560
Speaker 1: an attorney, an advocate for disability and the social security side,

25
00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:20,560
Speaker 1: what does that mean.

26
00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,840
Speaker 3: Well, it's it's in a sense kind of lack of attorney.

27
00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:31,039
Speaker 3: We still help clients with their representation all the way

28
00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:36,000
Speaker 3: from the beginning of the process through appeals to the end.

29
00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:39,720
Speaker 3: Relative to me, if they are awarded benefits.

30
00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:45,080
Speaker 1: Now you know, I'm sixty seven, Okay, I don't feel

31
00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,280
Speaker 1: I need benefits like that.

32
00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,040
Speaker 2: Who needs benefits like that?

33
00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:54,000
Speaker 3: Well, it's interesting that you say that because when you

34
00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:59,800
Speaker 3: say social security disability, most people will automatically think of

35
00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:04,840
Speaker 3: the elderly. Right, But what if, for instance, you get

36
00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:08,960
Speaker 3: in a car accident and you can't go back to work,

37
00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,560
Speaker 3: or you get hurt on the job and you can't

38
00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:16,400
Speaker 3: go back to work, or if you have a certain

39
00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,200
Speaker 3: illness or condition and you can't work. But those are

40
00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,320
Speaker 3: reasons for filing for disability.

41
00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:26,320
Speaker 2: Benefits and why does one file?

42
00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:31,720
Speaker 3: So what typically happens is you can file out on

43
00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:36,200
Speaker 3: your own. It's good to have a representative, whether it's

44
00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:40,760
Speaker 3: an attorney or an advocate, to help you you set

45
00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:44,080
Speaker 3: up a phone appointment or you can actually do an

46
00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:49,119
Speaker 3: application online with the Social Security Administration, and then they

47
00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:53,639
Speaker 3: ask you certain questions related to your conditions. They want

48
00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,000
Speaker 3: to know about what conditions are preventing you from being

49
00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:01,560
Speaker 3: able to work or work enough to sustain yourself. So

50
00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,200
Speaker 3: they ask you those types of questions whether or not

51
00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:09,000
Speaker 3: you are still working, because you can actually have a

52
00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:13,840
Speaker 3: claim and work, but you cannot gross over a certain

53
00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:18,440
Speaker 3: amount per month. It's what we call substantial gain for activity.

54
00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:25,120
Speaker 3: So right now, that threshold is sixteen hundred and ninety

55
00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:28,640
Speaker 3: dollars a month. So as long as you are under

56
00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,680
Speaker 3: that gross amount per month, you can still work and

57
00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:34,160
Speaker 3: have an active claim.

58
00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:36,440
Speaker 2: Oh okay, I didn't know that.

59
00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:38,880
Speaker 1: So in other words, I'm just that's why I wanted

60
00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,360
Speaker 1: you on the show because we can turn We could

61
00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:46,360
Speaker 1: lose out by not knowing. Yes, indeed, and that's a

62
00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,040
Speaker 1: situation here. So somebody said, man, you working, You can't

63
00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,840
Speaker 1: get that. That's somebody just shut you down with bad information.

64
00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,440
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a lot of that. And one of the

65
00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:58,800
Speaker 3: things that we do here at our law firm is

66
00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:03,440
Speaker 3: we tell our clients don't talk to somebody else about

67
00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:08,520
Speaker 3: your claim. There's no one said universal way of obtaining benefits.

68
00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:13,880
Speaker 3: Each claim is its own individual claim, so it's best

69
00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:17,240
Speaker 3: that you have your own claim. But don't talk to

70
00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:21,960
Speaker 3: your neighbor or even your relatives about your claim because

71
00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:25,200
Speaker 3: it's not going to do anything but frustrate you when

72
00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,080
Speaker 3: they say, well, I read this in the newspaper or

73
00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:32,200
Speaker 3: I saw this on the internet, and your situation is

74
00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,760
Speaker 3: worse than mine. And I'm already getting money because I

75
00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:37,680
Speaker 3: know the next call is going to be to me

76
00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,080
Speaker 3: asking me why am I not getting benefits?

77
00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:42,520
Speaker 2: Well, you mentioned a law firm.

78
00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:45,600
Speaker 1: Now you took They say, the GENI out of the bag,

79
00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:49,320
Speaker 1: Now the cook off the box. Because your law recently

80
00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,760
Speaker 1: did some fantastic for a young man. I'm gonna see

81
00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,640
Speaker 1: a young man because everybody who's alive is young. To

82
00:04:55,720 --> 00:05:01,880
Speaker 1: me that it came to the rescue legally and he tenderism.

83
00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:06,279
Speaker 1: If anybody not familiar with that viral word that came out.

84
00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:10,000
Speaker 1: Attorney Ken Harris, he's at your law firm, correct.

85
00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,919
Speaker 3: Yes, Hen Harrison is the senior attorney at the law firm.

86
00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,599
Speaker 3: He and I have been in business partners for over

87
00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:18,760
Speaker 3: thirty five years.

88
00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,839
Speaker 1: So you know exactly the type of environment that this

89
00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,719
Speaker 1: company works out of. Because I'm not saying I'm not

90
00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,960
Speaker 1: interviewr Kin, but you got to know the story about

91
00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:32,960
Speaker 1: how that came about and shared with my audience because

92
00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,120
Speaker 1: reason to ask you to share with my audience, because

93
00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,479
Speaker 1: that's a prime example of what you guys are doing

94
00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:42,440
Speaker 1: at this law firm. You're helping the needy when they

95
00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:45,360
Speaker 1: don't have no what to turn and a lot of

96
00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,599
Speaker 1: people who need your services are people of color and

97
00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:49,520
Speaker 1: black correct.

98
00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:53,720
Speaker 3: Yes, And that's one of the things of major focuses

99
00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,159
Speaker 3: we have here at the law firm is trying to

100
00:05:56,320 --> 00:06:01,440
Speaker 3: educate the black community because they're things that they don't

101
00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,679
Speaker 3: understand or feel like they don't have anywhere to turn

102
00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,200
Speaker 3: to or somebody to talk to to help educate them

103
00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:10,440
Speaker 3: on certain things. So that's what we're here for.

104
00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:13,240
Speaker 1: Why is that, you know, I would just you know,

105
00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,080
Speaker 1: you know, I grew up in a black neighborhood. My

106
00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:18,880
Speaker 1: father had a third grade education. He was a truck driver,

107
00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:22,280
Speaker 1: He put food on the table. I am where I

108
00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:23,680
Speaker 1: am today because he raised me.

109
00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:25,440
Speaker 2: Right. My mom, she knows she.

110
00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:28,920
Speaker 1: Graduated from high school. So education plays a role, but

111
00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,920
Speaker 1: also fear plays a role. And what we do as

112
00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:37,839
Speaker 1: an African American community because we're afraid to confront something

113
00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,000
Speaker 1: even though it might be a benefit for us.

114
00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:42,640
Speaker 2: How do we change that? Leonard?

115
00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,479
Speaker 3: Well, one of the things that I've run into, or

116
00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:51,880
Speaker 3: we run into here, is when we're talking to individuals,

117
00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:57,600
Speaker 3: there's a certain element of ego and pride. So we

118
00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:02,320
Speaker 3: try to tell people sometimes you have to be vulnerable

119
00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,040
Speaker 3: and speak to people and let them know exactly what

120
00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:09,760
Speaker 3: you're going through and that you don't understand. That way

121
00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:13,520
Speaker 3: you can get educated and know which are the next

122
00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:17,040
Speaker 3: steps to take to try to help improve your life.

123
00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,680
Speaker 1: Now, again, as we as we as I stated earlier

124
00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:26,680
Speaker 1: about social security disability. Now I know about social security payments,

125
00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,720
Speaker 1: I know about Medicare. There's a lot of words out

126
00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:32,520
Speaker 1: there that we're throwing out there that's tied to social security.

127
00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:34,960
Speaker 1: What is the difference between if you're going to educate me,

128
00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:39,800
Speaker 1: educate me right, between medicare and social security disability?

129
00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:41,160
Speaker 2: If you can help me there.

130
00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:47,800
Speaker 3: Well, when you're filing for soci security benefits, okay, that

131
00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:51,080
Speaker 3: is based off of the benefit where you say you

132
00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,280
Speaker 3: can't work, you unable.

133
00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,120
Speaker 2: To work, okay, okay, And.

134
00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:59,640
Speaker 3: So that comes to the benefit related to a benefit

135
00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:03,560
Speaker 3: or amount of dollars that you get. Medicare is the

136
00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:09,000
Speaker 3: insurance that covers you once you are awarded benefits.

137
00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,360
Speaker 1: Oh okay, okay, So that's just another words. When I

138
00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,080
Speaker 1: go to the doctor's office or when I go to

139
00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,880
Speaker 1: a pharmacy, that's where MEDICAC covers me. As far as

140
00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:23,120
Speaker 1: insurance or the disability, Can you actually present you a check?

141
00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:29,640
Speaker 3: Yes, yes, So when you unable to work and you

142
00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:33,120
Speaker 3: don't have any income coming in, that's why you file

143
00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,800
Speaker 3: for Social Security disability. And then there are two different

144
00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:41,960
Speaker 3: types of benefits. When you're filing for Social Security disability benefits,

145
00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:47,560
Speaker 3: you have Social Security Disability Income or SSDI, which is

146
00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:52,240
Speaker 3: the larger of the two benefits. That's based off of

147
00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:55,960
Speaker 3: your individual earnings. So when you work and you pay

148
00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,600
Speaker 3: your taxes, you're paying it to the Social Security system.

149
00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:04,199
Speaker 3: That system is based off what we call credits or quarters,

150
00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:08,959
Speaker 3: so you get one credit for every eighteen hundred dollars

151
00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:12,800
Speaker 3: that you earn. The credit amount changes every year with

152
00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:17,240
Speaker 3: the cost of living. You have to have a minimum

153
00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:23,040
Speaker 3: of twenty credits to qualify for disability, and forty to

154
00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:27,080
Speaker 3: get your maximum benefit, which basically equates if you work

155
00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,560
Speaker 3: the past five to ten years. Then you should have

156
00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:35,880
Speaker 3: to qualifying credits to qualify for disability. Because it's an

157
00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:40,640
Speaker 3: earnings based benefit. You can have a million dollars in

158
00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:46,400
Speaker 3: the bank and still file for soci security disability. Now,

159
00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:51,960
Speaker 3: if you awarded soci security disability benefits, then you qualify

160
00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:57,160
Speaker 3: for medical care. That's after you've been disabled for twenty

161
00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:58,199
Speaker 3: four months.

162
00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:01,880
Speaker 1: Okay, cool, Let me ask you this right quick. Is

163
00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:05,280
Speaker 1: there an age restriction? In other words, you have to

164
00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:07,920
Speaker 1: be over sixty, be over fifty or over seventy. That'll

165
00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,840
Speaker 1: be able to over forty? Is there any there's Social

166
00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:15,120
Speaker 1: security disability doesn't have an age where it only happens

167
00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:16,960
Speaker 1: for you or you only can qualify for it.

168
00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:21,200
Speaker 3: No, No, there isn't. As long as you work and

169
00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:26,079
Speaker 3: have the qualifying credits, then you potentially qualify for that benefit.

170
00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:29,440
Speaker 3: So there is no age restrictions.

171
00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:31,520
Speaker 2: So you'd be thirty years old and qualified for this

172
00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:32,439
Speaker 2: if you have.

173
00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:37,160
Speaker 3: Work, If you work long enough to have the qualifying credits,

174
00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:41,560
Speaker 3: you potentially qualify for SoC Security Disability income benefit.

175
00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:43,280
Speaker 2: Let me ask you this then, Leonard.

176
00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:47,400
Speaker 1: Would somebody feel like they wouldn't they wouldn't apply because

177
00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:49,920
Speaker 1: they feel like it might be a stigma, might make

178
00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:51,880
Speaker 1: them look bad. I'm just trying to go through the

179
00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:55,560
Speaker 1: process that the way people think, the way people are

180
00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:59,600
Speaker 1: not filing because again it's there for them, two files.

181
00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,440
Speaker 1: And that's doing this interview to educate people on stop

182
00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:08,240
Speaker 1: letting stereotypes, stop feel like you stigmatize. Talk to us

183
00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:09,000
Speaker 1: about that, Leonard.

184
00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,880
Speaker 3: Yeah, a lot of people do that. They feel like, hey,

185
00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:17,400
Speaker 3: if I apply for benefits or if I'm awarded benefits,

186
00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:20,240
Speaker 3: that people will look at me in a certain type

187
00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:24,400
Speaker 3: of way or feel like I'm not well enough to

188
00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:29,120
Speaker 3: do a job. But it's yeared for helping you when

189
00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:34,040
Speaker 3: you're unable to work and obtain money or earnings to

190
00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:37,520
Speaker 3: help you pay your bills. So let's suppose you you

191
00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:42,600
Speaker 3: are awarded benefit. You don't have to keep the benefit.

192
00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:46,480
Speaker 3: If God blesses you and you get well again and

193
00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:48,400
Speaker 3: you're able to go back to work, all you have

194
00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:51,280
Speaker 3: to do is just call the SOB Security Administration and

195
00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:54,960
Speaker 3: tell them I'm better now, I'm back at work. You

196
00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,319
Speaker 3: can stop my benefits and they'll stop it.

197
00:11:57,760 --> 00:11:58,880
Speaker 2: Please don't go anywhere.

198
00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:02,120
Speaker 1: We'll be right back when more Money Making Conversations Masterclass.

199
00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:05,240
Speaker 1: No need for you to do me a favor right

200
00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:08,920
Speaker 1: now to follow or subscribe to Money Making Conversation. It's

201
00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:13,000
Speaker 1: free and you can find it on the iHeartRadio app, Spotify,

202
00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:17,160
Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Please do

203
00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:25,120
Speaker 1: me that favor, follow or subscribe money Making Conversations. Welcome

204
00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:28,640
Speaker 1: back to Money Making Conversations master Class with me Rashawn McDonald.

205
00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,120
Speaker 1: So with that being said, let's go through the steps again.

206
00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:36,360
Speaker 1: I'm talking to Larry Graham. You know you know he enjoys.

207
00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:38,560
Speaker 1: Let me just tell you something he enjoys. Assistant to

208
00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:43,760
Speaker 1: disable with attaining Social Security disability benefits. He's already told you. Well,

209
00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:46,000
Speaker 1: you hear the word disability and the word social security.

210
00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,840
Speaker 1: You always think I gotta be over sixty five, I

211
00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,679
Speaker 1: gotta be over the seventy. I gotta be a retireer zone.

212
00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:54,520
Speaker 1: He just told you that's not true. As long as

213
00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:59,920
Speaker 1: you reach are achieve the credits. He said twenty and forty,

214
00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:03,200
Speaker 1: and that means you have to have had a work history.

215
00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:06,120
Speaker 1: As long as you have a work history, you can

216
00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:09,760
Speaker 1: qualify this at hell, if you've been working since U fifteen,

217
00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:13,160
Speaker 1: you qualified twenty five, you qualified thirty. As long as

218
00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:17,360
Speaker 1: you have work credits to qualify. So that's first stigma

219
00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:20,320
Speaker 1: we're trying to get out the way. There's no age issue.

220
00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:24,960
Speaker 1: The second stigma is that don't allow people to believe

221
00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:28,439
Speaker 1: just because you on disability that that's something you should

222
00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:29,080
Speaker 1: be ashamed of.

223
00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:32,760
Speaker 3: Correct letter, That is correct, And I do want to

224
00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:36,840
Speaker 3: mention the other part of the benefit, which is SSI

225
00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:44,240
Speaker 3: Supplemental Security Income. That's based off of individual's resources. So

226
00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:49,240
Speaker 3: if you have worked, but you don't have enough credits,

227
00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:54,320
Speaker 3: or you haven't worked at all, then you still have

228
00:13:54,480 --> 00:14:00,880
Speaker 3: the opportunity to apply for SSI benefits as a resource benefit.

229
00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:07,240
Speaker 3: With SSI, they look at your resources, so your resources

230
00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:11,319
Speaker 3: can't be over two thousand dollars a month if you're single,

231
00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:15,319
Speaker 3: three thousand dollars a month if you're married. So what

232
00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:19,000
Speaker 3: they do is they when you file and they're doing

233
00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:22,880
Speaker 3: their interview, they ask you financial questions, whether or not

234
00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:25,200
Speaker 3: you have a check in or save as account, if

235
00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:29,720
Speaker 3: you have for one K or property or multiple cars,

236
00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:33,720
Speaker 3: things of value. As long as that value is not

237
00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:38,240
Speaker 3: over two thousand dollars or three thousand dollars, you could

238
00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:43,760
Speaker 3: potentially qualify for SSI benefits. Now, they do not count

239
00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:48,800
Speaker 3: your primary home or your primary vehicle. But if you

240
00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:54,080
Speaker 3: have other property or vehicles, then they take that into account.

241
00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:58,000
Speaker 2: So let's go all get you the big word, the fraud.

242
00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:01,720
Speaker 1: What shouldn't they be come on that, Leonard, because that's

243
00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:04,360
Speaker 1: where we were drifted, you know, because you said, hey,

244
00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:06,680
Speaker 1: they do not charge, they do.

245
00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:09,240
Speaker 2: Not kind a primary home or primary car.

246
00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:14,040
Speaker 1: So to avoid fraud, what should our listeners do besides

247
00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:15,920
Speaker 1: call you?

248
00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:19,480
Speaker 3: Just just tell the truth. That's the best thing to do.

249
00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:23,280
Speaker 3: Just tell the truth. When you're applying. You can potentially

250
00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:27,080
Speaker 3: be awarded benefits because if they catch you on the

251
00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:31,600
Speaker 3: fraud side, then you're gonna wind up having an overpayment.

252
00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,520
Speaker 3: You're going to pay the money back that they that

253
00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,920
Speaker 3: they sent you if you awarded benefits, and they will

254
00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:39,920
Speaker 3: stay on you to get that money back.

255
00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:42,920
Speaker 2: Yes they will, Yes they will. That be saying tell

256
00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:44,160
Speaker 2: us how to get in touch with you, Leonard.

257
00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:51,360
Speaker 3: So here at the lawlaw firm, we actually have two firms.

258
00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:55,840
Speaker 3: We have Ken Harrison Associalist Law Firm, and then Ken

259
00:15:55,880 --> 00:16:03,560
Speaker 3: and I started a national firm called USSA United States

260
00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:09,560
Speaker 3: Social Security Advocates. So we have the ability to help

261
00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:14,360
Speaker 3: clients all across the country. We don't have to be

262
00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:18,800
Speaker 3: in a certain state to help clients. You don't have

263
00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:22,080
Speaker 3: to be an attorney to be in another state. We

264
00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:26,440
Speaker 3: have clients from coast to coast. We have clients in

265
00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:33,840
Speaker 3: d C, Baltimore, California, Texas, but they can reach us

266
00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:38,840
Speaker 3: here at the office at seven zero four six two

267
00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,520
Speaker 3: one eight three six seven.

268
00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:46,200
Speaker 1: Okay, you're based in Charlotte, but can be work with

269
00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:49,040
Speaker 1: anybody throughout the domestic of the United States.

270
00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:50,960
Speaker 3: Okay, yes, anybody.

271
00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:52,720
Speaker 1: Okay, let me ask a couple more questions before I

272
00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,040
Speaker 1: get you out of here. What happens if I get denied?

273
00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:56,600
Speaker 1: What can you do for me?

274
00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:56,880
Speaker 2: Then?

275
00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:01,520
Speaker 3: What typically happens? And that's a great question because a

276
00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:04,520
Speaker 3: lot of people who especially who file on their own,

277
00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:08,080
Speaker 3: they have the thought, well, let me I know I

278
00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,760
Speaker 3: can't work, let me go ahead and file so I

279
00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,200
Speaker 3: can here, you get and have some benefits and insurance

280
00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:17,639
Speaker 3: coming in, and I can continue on with my life.

281
00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:21,119
Speaker 3: And when they file and they get denied, they get

282
00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:25,240
Speaker 3: mad and frustrated and say, forget it right. If you

283
00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:31,240
Speaker 3: get a denial, you have sixty days to appeal a decision.

284
00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:36,320
Speaker 3: So the key with the situation is to continue on

285
00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:40,520
Speaker 3: with the claim, getting a denial at initial filing is

286
00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:44,040
Speaker 3: nothing out of the normal. I'd say ninety ninety five

287
00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,960
Speaker 3: percent of initial filings are denied. The key is to

288
00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:51,800
Speaker 3: continue with the claim to appeal that decision. It's what

289
00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:56,840
Speaker 3: we call the request for reconsideration. If that is denied,

290
00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:01,080
Speaker 3: we still continue on and do another appeal to request

291
00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:05,560
Speaker 3: the hearing date to go before the administrative law That's

292
00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:09,080
Speaker 3: where you have a better chance of obtaining benefits because

293
00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,520
Speaker 3: now you get a chance to go before the administrative

294
00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:16,880
Speaker 3: law judge to talk to somebody. So the administrative law

295
00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:21,800
Speaker 3: judge takes your testimony along with the medical evidence, and

296
00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:26,440
Speaker 3: that judge renders his own decision separate and distinct from

297
00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:28,600
Speaker 3: the two potential denials you may have got.

298
00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:32,399
Speaker 1: Now that sounds like a loan process. Should I be

299
00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:35,640
Speaker 1: patient or or is it months of weeks? How long

300
00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:37,080
Speaker 1: does the process like that take?

301
00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:41,960
Speaker 3: Leonard, Patience is a key because this can be a

302
00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:47,560
Speaker 3: lengthy process. They don't have enough representatives at Social Security

303
00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:51,199
Speaker 3: Administration for all the claims that they have, so it

304
00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:56,680
Speaker 3: can take a while. But the key is being patient

305
00:18:57,040 --> 00:19:00,359
Speaker 3: and just moving forward and going through with the process.

306
00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:04,480
Speaker 3: There are times where we get what we calld and

307
00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:09,760
Speaker 3: on the record award OTR, So you could file and

308
00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:13,920
Speaker 3: it could be an initial filing or reconsideration where you

309
00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:17,440
Speaker 3: are awarded based off the medical evidence that they see.

310
00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:21,639
Speaker 3: So with all the pins, we could have some of

311
00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:24,639
Speaker 3: the same conditions, but your condition may be a little

312
00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:29,960
Speaker 3: worse than mine. Right, your age plays apart, your education

313
00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:34,400
Speaker 3: plays apart, your past work history, all that plays apart

314
00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:37,320
Speaker 3: when you're talking about social security disability benefits.

315
00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:39,720
Speaker 1: I ask you two more questions you, Leonard. One is

316
00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,600
Speaker 1: I'll be honest with you. When I got sixty five,

317
00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:47,959
Speaker 1: I finally saw that check from Social Secure, they go,

318
00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:52,280
Speaker 1: are you kidding me? I can't live off this, you know,

319
00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:55,000
Speaker 1: because they play it off like you know, we've retired,

320
00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:59,640
Speaker 1: got so security check. Coming that check is a grave disappointment. Now,

321
00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:05,960
Speaker 1: medic fantastic, the Social Security check whatever. What type of

322
00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:09,640
Speaker 1: benefits in the disability world are you looking? Is one

323
00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:13,600
Speaker 1: looking to possibly get if they qualify on the twenty

324
00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:17,920
Speaker 1: credits and they qualify on the forty credits.

325
00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:20,919
Speaker 3: Well that's based upon your earnings. But if you have

326
00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:26,000
Speaker 3: the credits and you're awarded, whether it's the twenty or

327
00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,640
Speaker 3: the forty, if you're awarded, you awarded and what they

328
00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:32,240
Speaker 3: do is they look at your earnings over a thirty

329
00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:36,000
Speaker 3: five year period. Even if you hadn't worked thirty five years,

330
00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:38,399
Speaker 3: they'll just put zeros in for the years that you

331
00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:42,679
Speaker 3: hadn't worked, and their calculation based off of that to

332
00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:44,840
Speaker 3: let you know what your monthly benefit would be.

333
00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:49,960
Speaker 2: Wow. Now, my last question. What happens when I get approved?

334
00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:56,840
Speaker 3: When you get approved, typically what happens is soci Security

335
00:20:56,880 --> 00:20:59,400
Speaker 3: will send out what we call the notice of award,

336
00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:04,200
Speaker 3: letting you know that you've been awarded benefits. It'll usually

337
00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:07,760
Speaker 3: have the breakdown of what your monthly benefit will be

338
00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:11,600
Speaker 3: about the time you should receive it, if there's any

339
00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,320
Speaker 3: back pay that's recovered, what your back pay is going

340
00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:18,119
Speaker 3: to be. If you have a representative who has helped you,

341
00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:23,040
Speaker 3: it'll even let you know what the representative representative is

342
00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:23,639
Speaker 3: entitled to.

343
00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:25,639
Speaker 2: Wow, it's been fantastic.

344
00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:27,879
Speaker 1: Again, give me that number one more time after we

345
00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:29,399
Speaker 1: wrap up this interview, Leonard.

346
00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:32,760
Speaker 3: The number here at the law firm is seven zero

347
00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:39,960
Speaker 3: four six two one eight three six seven.

348
00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:43,800
Speaker 1: And this is you provide services. Even though you're based

349
00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:47,640
Speaker 1: in Charlotte, North Carolina. It doesn't matter what state as

350
00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:50,240
Speaker 1: long as you in the United States. You can provide

351
00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:54,760
Speaker 1: services for individual anybody who's trying to get their Social

352
00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:57,960
Speaker 1: Security disability payments exactly.

353
00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,639
Speaker 3: And another thing, I wanted to just make sure that

354
00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:06,119
Speaker 3: people know there is no upfront costs relating to a claim.

355
00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,919
Speaker 3: We only get paid number one if you are approved

356
00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:14,760
Speaker 3: for benefits and number two, if there's any back pay

357
00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:18,400
Speaker 3: that is recovered, we get paid out of the back pay.

358
00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:21,720
Speaker 3: But we don't touch any other money or handle any

359
00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:26,040
Speaker 3: other benefit. Social Security does all of that. They make

360
00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:29,479
Speaker 3: the determination of what our fee is. We don't, and

361
00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:33,600
Speaker 3: then they'll send that directly to us. Everything else goes

362
00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:34,520
Speaker 3: to the individual.

363
00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:37,280
Speaker 2: Well learn her. Thank you man for coming on the show.

364
00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:41,479
Speaker 1: I really when I say that, man, because knowledge is power,

365
00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,879
Speaker 1: and in our community, meaning the community of color, the

366
00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:49,000
Speaker 1: Black community, that knowledge seems to be either doesn't come

367
00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:51,760
Speaker 1: into our community, goes over our community, or flat our

368
00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:56,639
Speaker 1: skips our community. But you offered us an opportunity to

369
00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:57,800
Speaker 1: change people's lives.

370
00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:02,080
Speaker 3: Man. I really appreciate shake the time, and please, by

371
00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:05,320
Speaker 3: all means, all of your listeners, if you have questions

372
00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:09,040
Speaker 3: related to some Security disability, please feel free to give

373
00:23:09,119 --> 00:23:09,600
Speaker 3: us a call.

374
00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:12,959
Speaker 2: We will thank you for coming on money Making Conversations Masterclass.

375
00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:16,280
Speaker 2: Appreciate you. Thank you for listening to this episode.

376
00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:18,080
Speaker 1: Now I need for you to do me a favor

377
00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:22,200
Speaker 1: right now to follow or subscribe to Money Making Conversation.

378
00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:26,800
Speaker 1: It's free and you can find it on the iHeartRadio app, Spotify,

379
00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:30,960
Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Please do

380
00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:35,240
Speaker 1: me that favor, follow or subscribe Money Making Conversations.

381
00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:36,200
Speaker 2: Keep winning