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What is Social Security Disability Insurance?

The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program was created through the Social Security Act of 1935 to partially replace an individual's lost earnings due to a physical or mental impairment that prevents the individual from working. A qualified disabled worker's condition is one that leaves the individual unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable impairment that has lasted or is expected to last at least twelve months, or to end in death.

Res Judicata and Reopening of Social Security Decisions

The hallmark of res judicata is finality. Essentially, once a court has entered a final judgment conclusively establishing the rights of the parties on the merits of the dispute, such decision is final and will bar subsequent actions based on the same claim or cause of action. This rule of civil procedure has been adapted and applied to administrative actions, including social security decisions.

Nonprofit and Charitable Employers

Nonprofit and charitable employers are not treated the same in every state for purposes of workers' compensation. Some states expressly exclude them from the operation of the workers' compensation statute while others expressly include them or neglect to address them at all. Despite this, the majority of jurisdictions hold that nonprofit and charitable employers are, in fact, subject to the workers' compensation system. Such employers may include churches and synagogues, educational institutions, charitable organizations such as the Salvation Army that are designed to aid the community, and the like.

Judicial Review of Social Security Administration Action

Aggrieved parties may seek judicial review of final Social Security Administration (SSA) decisions by filing a civil action in federal court. Generally, aggrieved parties must first exhaust their administrative remedies prior to initiating an action for judicial review. In juxtaposition to the administrative exhaustion rule, aggrieved parties may file a mandamus action to compel the performance of a duty owed by the SSA. The appropriateness of mandamus relief is based on considerations of 1) whether the party has any other adequate way to obtain the necessary relief, 2) whether the SSA has a clear duty to act as requested, and 3) whether the party is entitled to have the SSA so act.

Arbitration and Mediation

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) has come to play an increasing role in the resolution of workers' compensation disputes. Almost half the states now offer arbitration and/or mediation as viable ADR methods.