After 24 months, a claimant must prove that he or she cannot perform “any occupation.” Usually, the definition includes “any occupation” that the claimant can perform based on his or her education, background, and skills. The “any occupation” standard often includes a salary percentage component. This provision means the company cannot deny benefits because the claimant can perform the duties of any job at any wage. Instead, to support a denial, the insurance company must identify occupations that usually pay the claimant at least 80 percent (typically) of their pre-disability income. In many cases, the disability insurance company will pay benefits for the first 24-month “own occupation” period, then terminate benefits under the “any occupation” provision. This triggers the start of the administrative appeal process, the same as an initial claim denial. Jim helped us develop a detailed educational and work-experience background, with special attention to his lack of computer experience. We also got vocational expert input of our own to prove that, although physically capable, Jim did not have the skill set to perform all the duties of the alternative occupations the insurance company had identified. HE INSURER WRONG! nst Unjust Benefit Termination
THE ORIGINS OF LOUISIANA’S KING CAKE TRADITION As January rolls around, many Americans commit to healthy diets and lifestyle changes for the New Year. However, in places like Louisiana, people celebrate the start of the new year with a special pastry called a king cake! This popular treat is typically sold in bakeries from January to early spring and is associated with celebrations like Mardi Gras or Epiphany.
But the question is, how did the king cake tradition in Louisiana start?
Back to the Beginning The origin of a popular sweet treat can be traced back to ancient European celebrations that took place before the spread of Christianity. These celebrations included a ritual sacrifice, where a man was chosen to be the “sacred king” and was treated like a king for a year. At the end of the year, he was sacrificed to ensure a good harvest. To determine “the king,” some communities followed a tradition where townspeople would gather and eat cake with a coin or bean hidden inside. The person who finds the coin or bean is considered the “winner.” The King Cake Comes to Louisiana As Christianity spread across different parts of the world, it replaced many other religions, and during this time, the tradition of king cake was also adopted by Christians. However, instead of a sacrifice, the cake was mainly used to honor the three wise men mentioned in the Bible who traveled to Bethlehem to visit the newborn Jesus. So, when the French traveled to Louisiana in the 1700s, they brought many of their customs with them. One of those customs was the king cake, traditionally eaten during a special event called Epiphany, a Christian feast day. However, in the 1800s, Mardi Gras became a more popular celebration than Epiphany, and the king cake became linked with this holiday instead. The King Cake We Know Today The king cake we know today is usually a twisted ring of sweet bread-like dough covered with icing or sugar in the colors of Mardi Gras — green, gold, and purple. However, some people like to make the cake even more delicious by deep-frying it and filling it with cream cheese and praline. Often, a small trinket, usually a baby (said to be baby Jesus), is hidden inside the cake, and whoever finds it is believed to have good luck for the rest of the year!
With this additional evidence added to the record in our appeal, the insurance company’s vocational expert agreed that Jim remained disabled. He was awarded all back pay owed and will receive benefits going forward to age 67! • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 1/4 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp salt • 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional) World’s Best Brownies Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease an 8-inch square baking pan. 2. Melt butter and chocolate in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, then remove from heat and let cool slightly. 3. In a large bowl, beat together sugar, eggs, and vanilla, then add melted chocolate mixture and blend well. 4. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. 5. Gradually add flour mixture to chocolate mixture, stirring until blended, then stir in nuts if desired. 6. Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. 7. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Ingredients • 2/3 cup butter • 2 oz unsweetened chocolate • 1 cup granulated sugar • 2 large eggs
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