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Got great news.. His lawyer called today and told him he has a favorable decision, and is awaiting the written final decision.
Mac had a quad bypass at age 47, just 30 days before he turned 48. His 1 year recovery date is next month). The doc at the VA hospital told him he had less than 30 days to live with all the blockages he had, and that he was at the time "a massive coronary" waiting to happen. He also has edema in his lower legs. His last job was a tool and Die machinist (making tools, and stamping dies for the automotive industry), where he worked for 20 years.
And the docs at the vets home also say he is recovering very slowly but cannot return to work due to his existing condition.
So lets get back on track.. about retirement places for people under age 55, who may need a little help now and again.. any idea's?
Congratulations, I'm assuming his attorney presented other impairments. Make sure he checks his award letter to see when the ALJ recommends a CDR (continuing disability review.) BTW, I was an SSA attorney advisor at ODAR who helped decide and write the decisions. IOW, I know SSA disability policies, regulations and procedure.
In terms of housing, well, that's LiveContent's area of expertise, not mine. Good luck.
From my limited personal experience, the assisted living places that I now of, have no age limitations, if that's what you are referring to.
I now of no designated "retirement" housing at any age.
I'm sorry, but unless there are significant nonexertional impairments, your friend will not be awarded SS disability benefits. Lifting 30 pounds and walking 4 city blocks before needing a rest places him at the light level of exertion. Given his age, the "grids" deem him to be "not disabled" and the ALJ has no authority to override that determination. Unless his advocate is an idiot, I'm guessing the advocate threw in one or more nonexertional impairments that are fully backed up by your friend's medical records. In that case, the ALJ would only use the "grids" as a framework and could decide the additional impairments result in a finding of "disabled."
UPDATE: Mac was awarded 1200 a month for disability, due to VA medical records from his heart operation and visits, which clearly showed he has no chance of finding any kind of work "in current economic conditions, with his condition" according to the rehab specialist who was at his last hearing.
UPDATE: Mac was awarded 1200 a month for disability, due to VA medical records from his heart operation and visits, which clearly showed he has no chance of finding any kind of work "in current economic conditions, with his condition" according to the rehab specialist who was at his last hearing.
I was just going to repeat my congratulations, but then reread your post and saw the bolded phrase above. I don't want readers to assume that "current economic conditions" is relevant to a finding of disability, because it is NOT. I don't care what the "rehab specialist" reported, this is not true. Once the ALJ has determined the claimant's residual functional capacity "RFC" and that the claimant cannot perform his past relevant work, the ALJ will then ask the Vocational Expert "VE" if there are any existing jobs (not job openings) that a hypothetical person with the same RFC as the claimant, could perform. It is irrelevant that none of the employers (given the current economic conditions) are actually hiring. Certainly the ALJ found that there are no significant number of jobs that your friend can perform, given his impairments resulting in a limited functional capacity.
If you don't believe me, ask your friend if you can read his award notice.
I was under the impression that age-restricted communities (including mobile homes and modest places) can have some percentage of people who are under their age restriction, such as having people in their late 40s as about 20 percent of inhabintants. Most places for senior people are likely to have a lot of the accommodations that a person of other disabilities might need (wheelchair accessible curb cuts, wide doorways, ramps, and certainly single-level housing, if not elevator buildings. (I guess I really am thinking of modest trailer living. My father lived in a very modest trailer in a nice park for his last 15 years and his income was $1500/month from Social Security only.
Best wishes to OP and friend.
I was just going to repeat my congratulations, but then reread your post and saw the bolded phrase above. I don't want readers to assume that "current economic conditions" is relevant to a finding of disability, because it is NOT. I don't care what the "rehab specialist" reported, this is not true. Once the ALJ has determined the claimant's residual functional capacity "RFC" and that the claimant cannot perform his past relevant work, the ALJ will then ask the Vocational Expert "VE" if there are any existing jobs (not job openings) that a hypothetical person with the same RFC as the claimant, could perform. It is irrelevant that none of the employers (given the current economic conditions) are actually hiring. Certainly the ALJ found that there are no significant number of jobs that your friend can perform, given his impairments resulting in a limited functional capacity.
If you don't believe me, ask your friend if you can read his award notice.
I did one of these cases years ago and the ALJ found that that claimant was not disabled because theoretically he could work in a number of occupations including that of "potato inspector". Not a lot of potato inspectors getting hired around here.
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