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U.S. Supreme Court examines bright-line mental disability rule
In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that executing a mentally disabled (formerly referred to as mentally retarded) person violated the Eighth Amendment’s ban against cruel and unusual punishment. In a case known as Atkins v. Virginia, the Supreme Court…
What the Social Security COLA means to seniors
Despite a narrow brush with a new reduction to Social Security benefits, seniors will not see the proposed move to a more conservative cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, in 2014. President Barack Obama’s announcement on Feb. 2 that he was scrapping the…
The millennials come of age
The sheer number of millennials — about 80 million — makes then a significant force in the U.S. economy. But many of them have trouble accurately answering basic personal finance questions, spend more than they make and are worried about…
Retirement Quiz: The Basics
It’s quiz time! I’ve designed this one to cover some of the basics, with relatively new federal employees in mind. But midcareer and pre-retirement age federal employees may also find they have a few things to learn. 1. There is no…
A 2014 GOP Election Model
Republicans celebrating this week’s victory in a Florida special House election are right to take the race as proof that they’ve got a potent midterm weapon in ObamaCare. Those looking to mimic the model this fall would be even wiser…
Partisanship engulfs US Congress effort to avoid doctor pay cut
A bipartisan deal in Congress to spare doctors from recurring Medicare pay cuts was in jeopardy on Thursday, as Republicans ignored protests from physicians and moved forward with legislation that would use the so-called “doc fix” to undermine Obamacare. Hundreds of…
Editorial: Obamacare makes wrong diagnosis
When the Obama administration is not picking and choosing which parts of Obamacare should become law and which parts should be mothballed, it is facing ever-increasing litigation. The ills of Obamacare continue to mount as news came this week that a…
Your Cheat Sheet for Understanding Social Security Benefits
Social Security is a key component to many boomers’ retirement plans, but many of us don’t fully understand the system and how to make the most of it. Knowing when to start taking benefits can be overwhelming. Case in point: only…
Allsup Congratulates American Association of People with Disabilities Honorees
Allsup congratulates the 2014 American Association of People with Disabilities’ (AAPD) Awards Gala honorees. The awards will be presented Tuesday, March 18, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C. Allsup, a nationwide Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) representation…
Disability Insurance Reform: Ending Idleness As We Know It
There has been no lack of partisan disagreement this year about the costs and benefits of the U.S. “entitlement state.” Congressional Republicans succeeded in limiting unemployment benefits and seriously contemplated slashing food stamp benefits. Democrats countered that such measures were…