Should I File Chapter 7 or Chapter 13

One of the threshold questions for people considering a personal bankruptcy has to do with choosing the appropriate type of bankruptcy.  For most individuals, the choice comes down to Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13.  In this Google Hangout, Jonathan and Susan discuss the different types of bankruptcy and how to make an informed choice.



For more information, of course, please visit our web site at http://www.atlanta-bankruptcy-attorney.com.

How do I Know that the Time has Come to Call a Bankruptcy Lawyer

If you are like many of our clients, the idea of picking up your phone to call a bankruptcy lawyer may seem overwhelming.  For must of us, bankruptcy law firms are a blind item - people generally do not discuss their bankruptcy filings and you may be worried about what you will get if you call a TV lawyer.

Ginsberg Law Offices offers advice and legal services to hardworking people who have found themselves in a bind financially.  With over 30 years combined experience, attorneys Jonathan Ginsberg and Susan Blum take the time to explain both bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy options to our clients and we do not delegate your case to a new associate or paralegal.

In this Google Hangout video, Jonathan and Susan discuss a question that comes up in most client consultations - how do I know that I should really be considering a bankruptcy filing.
For more information about filing bankruptcy in the Atlanta area, we invite you to visit our web site at http://www.atlanta-bankruptcy-attorney.com.

When Does an Approved SSDI Claimant Become Eligible for Medicare

For many SSDI claimants, the Medicare benefits associated with Title II disability are equally or more important than the monthly cash payments from SSDI. SSDI claimants also become eligible for Medicare, although this eligibility is not immediate.

There is a 24 month waiting period from the first date you become eligible to receive SSDI payments and the date you become eligible for Medicare.  This 24 month waiting period should not be confused with the five (5) month waiting period associated with SSDI benefits.

Here are a couple of examples that might help you better understand the 24 month waiting period and its interaction with the 5 month waiting period:

Example 1: Sue’s last day of work is August 10, 2010. She files for SSDI on August 11, 2010 using August 10 as her alleged onset date. Sue and her lawyer appear at a hearing in July 2012 and she is approved as of her alleged onset date. 

• Sue first becomes eligible for SSDI payments as of February 1, 2011. This is because the five month waiting period for SSDI runs September, 2010 – January, 2011. Note that the five month waiting period refers to five full months – thus, August, 2010 does not count towards the five month waiting period. Sue becomes eligible for Medicare on the 25th month after her first SSDI payment, or March 1, 2013. 

Example 2: Tom stops working due to severe back problems on March 3, 2005. He does not apply for SSDI until July 18, 2008. Tom appears at a hearing in September, 2010 and receives a fully favorable decision using the March 3, 2005 onset.

• Tom first becomes eligible for SSDI payments in July 2007. His five month waiting period runs from April, 2005 through August, 2005, but he can only collect benefits one year prior to the date of his application, which is July 18, 2007. His Medicare eligibility begins as of September, 2008, which is during the 25th month after his first eligibility for SSDI payment. 

As you can see, it can be confusing to try to figure out when one's first payment becomes due and when Medicare eligibility kicks in.  Social Security does send out letters but they do not provide any sort of breakdown and tend to raise more questions than they answer.

Here is a link to SSA’s page about Medicare eligibility – http://1.usa.gov/11CbEEW.  If you have any questions about Social Security disability claims in Georgia, please visit my web site at http://www.georgiasocialsecuritydisabilityattorney.com.  Please also feel free to connect with me on Google+.

Jonathan Added to Faculty of Solo Practice University

I am pleased to announce that I have been invited to serve as a faculty member at Solo Practice University. SPU is an online learning community designed to help lawyers gain practical understanding about how to enter into the world of solo practice.

I will be teaching a course about how to set up a Social Security disability practice, but there are dozens of other course offerings, including bankruptcy, litigation, personal injury, wills and estates, criminal defense, law technology, blogging and virtual office staffing.

Blog Platforms

This is my first attempt to create a blog using the blogger platform. My other blogs have been created using a customized version of Wordpress called Semiologic.

Ginsberg Law - Other Sites

Ginsberg Law Offices
Social Security Disability Law blog
Social Security Disability podcast
Georgia Social Security Disability Attorney
Atlanta bankruptcy blog
Georgia DUI and Criminal Defense Law blog
Georgia Workers Compensation Law blog