Navigation The Social Security Administration (SSA) is a federal agency with local offices throughout the country. The organization receives funding via employment taxes. Many people rely on the SSA for retirement benefits when they cease working full-time. A smaller subset of the population relies on disability benefits administered by the SSA when they cannot work. Some […]
'Gardberg & Kemmerly Blog' Category Archives
Can addiction affect your Veterans’ disability application?
Veterans’ disability benefits aim to support individuals with injuries or illnesses connected to their military service. These benefits encompass mental health challenges, including substance use disorders. Still, to receive these benefits you must prove a connection between the condition and your military service. Addictions as a service-connected disability The Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes substance use […]
VA to Research Link Between PFAS Exposure and Kidney Cancer
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has initiated a scientific assessment to investigate the potential link between exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during military service and the incidence of kidney cancer among Veterans. Mandated by the PACT Act, this evaluation aims to determine whether kidney cancer should be classified as a presumptive […]
VA Expanded Burial Benefits
The VA has amended its regulations regarding burial benefits to comply with the statutory changes enacted by the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 and the Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022. These changes expand reimbursement of transportation […]
Cost-of-Living Adjustment for 2025
On October 10, 2024, the Social Security Administration announced a 2.5% benefit increase for 2025. This cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is smaller than last year’s COLA which saw a benefit increase of 3.2%. Over the last decade, the COLA increase has averaged about 2.6%. Beginning in January of 2025, approximately 68 million Social Security beneficiaries will […]