National Disability Law Firm Heard & Smith Calls Newly-Introduced Child’s Insurance Benefits Improvements Act of 2014 a “Step in the Right Direction”
San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) December 23, 2014 -- Heard & Smith, a national disability law firm that concentrates on the disabled and the injured, is calling the newly-introduced Child’s Insurance Benefits Improvements Act of 2014 (H.R. 5715) a “step in the right direction.”
The bill, which was introduced in Congress last month by Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz (D-PA) and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), would enhance Social Security’s Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefit so that a child 18 or older who meets the requisite Social Security disability standard would get benefits based on his or her parent’s previous contributions -- provided that the parent is eligible for Social Security disability or retirement benefits, or has passed away and was insured under Social Security.
Specifically, the bill would allow children to qualify for the enhanced DAC benefit if their disability started before age 26. Currently, the cut off age 22. In addition, the bill would seek to extend Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) coverage to more people between the ages of 22-28 who have a relatively limited work history.
“This is an important bill and a step in the right direction, as it makes total sense that a qualifying disabled child should be entitled to his or her parent’s social security disability benefits,” commented Joshua C. Eyestone, an SSD lawyer in Heard & Smith’s Social Security Disability practice group. “We also support making disability benefits available to younger workers who, because of enrollment in a post-secondary education program or other legitimate factor, have a limited work history.”
The Child’s Insurance Benefits Improvements Act has been referred to Congress’ House Ways and Means Committee, and the House Energy and Commerce Committee. It would need to pass the House, the Senate, and be signed into law by the President before becoming law.
For inquiries, contact Joshua C. Eyestone at jeyestone(at)heardandsmith(dot)com or 210-820-3737.
About Heard & Smith L.L.P.
Heard & Smith helps thousands of clients each year get the disability benefits they are entitled to. The national disability law practice group at Heard & Smith represents deserving clients in all 50 states. Heard & Smith specializes in representing the disabled in Social Security Disability (SSD), and Veterans (VA) Disability matters.
Learn more at http://www.heardandsmith.com/
Joshua Eyestone, Heard & Smith, http://www.heardandsmith.com/ssdi_ssi.html, +1 (210) 477-5516, [email protected]
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