The Social Security Administration denying Veterans benefits in record numbers: WHY we ask are there so many HOMELESS Veterans

Personally I find this whole process to be bogus and depressing. If you have depression already, this process just adds to the problem. Their whole position on the matter is to deny everyone. VA doctors send you to the SSA to apply and you get the run around, and we ask why? are there so many homeless veterans. They would rather sleep on the streets, than to be belittled talked down too.

NO VETERAN SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION OF JUST BEING ANOTHER NUMBER!

The Many Ways to Define Disability

If you are wondering why the V.A. has approved you for disability benefits, but you got a Social Security Disability denial, the answer may lie in the fact that every government agency and private insurance company has its own definition of disability. Some of the public agencies are state workers compensation, state or county public assistance programs, the Veteran’s Administration, commonly known as the V.A., and the Social Security Administration. Some agencies even have more than one definition of disability, depending on the age of the claimant or other factors.

The Social Security Disability Definition

If you are a disabled worker, to be eligible for Social Security Disability, you must meet Social Security’s definition of disability, which is not the same as the V.A.’s definition. Social Security requires that you be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity in any type of job you have held in the past or, if you are under age fifty, in any other job you can perform. As of 2014, “substantial earnings” was generally defined as $1,800.00 for blind individuals and $1,070.00 for everyone else. You may have been approved for V.A. disability and denied Social Security Disability because Social Security does not make partial disability determinations and the V.A. does. For example, if the V.A. finds you to be 55% disabled, then they will pay you 55% of the full benefit. In contrast, Social Security does not pay such partial benefits. If you are able to earn substantial earnings, as defined by Social Security, then you are not eligible for benefits even if you have lost 55% of your function.

From: Mayor Garcetti's office Train to the Los Angeles Airport

Yesterday, the MTA board, of which I'm Vice Chair, approved building a train to the plane at LAX, a crucial step to building the world-class airport and world-class transit system that our world-class city deserves.

On July 1, I will become the Chair of MTA. It will be my priority to see that this project is completed in a timely and efficient manner so travelers can avoide the freeway -- especially the 405. And that eases traffic for all of us.

Are you looking forward to riding the rail to the airport? Let us know.

Thanks for believing in our city. Together, we're getting it done.

Eric Garcetti
Mayor

Mayor Garcetti Partners with Over 100 Employers and 40 Public Sector Partners to Hire 10,000 Local Veterans by 2017

LOS ANGELES—Mayor Eric Garcetti announced today a new regional veterans hiring initiative called “10,000 Strong” aimed at getting 10,000 veterans jobs by 2017. The initiative brings together over 100 companies and 40 non-profit and public-sector partners to offer supportive services or jobs for veterans.

“The 10,000 Strong initiative aims to serve those men and women who have done so much to serve our country," said Mayor Garcetti. "By bringing together a vast network of regional non-profits, public organizations, and private-sector employers, we can put 10,000 Angeleno veterans back to work, benefiting our families, our neighborhoods, and our economy."

Through this initiative, the City's Worksource Centers, as well as regional service providers such as the California State Employment Development Department, the Veterans Administration, the US Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service, and the Los Angeles County Worksource Centers will connect veterans to companies looking to hire them. The over 100 employer partners (listed in attached document) have offered to hire veterans over the next three years. By connecting and coordinating these services, we expect 10,000 veterans to find gainful employment.