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The Disability DIGEST
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August 2024
A BRIGHTER FUTURE? Looking at Recent Improvements to Social Security
As an attorney representing clients with their Social Security disability cases, it can feel like we are just battling the Social Security Administration because they constantly make things worse. This seems to have started after a notorious case in which a judge consistently awarded victory in cases to a particular lawyer; it turns out the two were working together, and that corruption sent ripples through the government.
Memory is fickle, and not everyone has an up-to-date and accurate record of their previous decade and a half of employers, workplaces, duties, accolades, and the physical requirements of that work. Thankfully, effective June 22, 2024, the Social Security Administration only requires applicants’ last five years of work history rather than 15, easing the process significantly. It will also prevent the Social Security Administration from recommending you pick up a job you did over a decade ago that you may have no memory of rather than granting your application. This is a welcome change for the millions of people who apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) each year. Updated Occupational Titles For years, Social Security has employed vocational experts who recommend applicants take up work from a list of jobs that were, according to an article by The Washington Post, 47 years old. The 12,700 skilled and unskilled jobs were last updated during the Jimmy Carter administration. While the Department of Labor may confirm that these jobs do exist, they are not the same jobs they were decades ago when they compiled the list. This can pose a serious problem because a job that may have been unskilled labor over 40 years ago could now be significantly
more complicated and require a great deal of technological and computer knowledge to perform successfully. Instead of doubling down and continuing to turn down applicants based on a woefully out-of-date list of jobs, Social Security decided to make some changes. The Social Security Administration put out a list of no longer relevant jobs and a list of new jobs for consideration, reducing the odds that applicants will be turned down to absurd vocational recommendations. To give you an idea of just how odd these titles could be, until recently, vocational experts may have recommended you return to work as a “nut sorter” or “magnetic-tape winder.” Looking Forward to the Future Far be it from me to give credit to someone in government, but the Social Security Administration under Martin O’Malley, former Governor of Maryland, has made strides we just have not seen in recent decades . He may be out of a job in six months — and many of my clients might be happy to hear that because it would mean we have a new president — but we can only hope he continues in this role or the person who picks up the mantle will continue moving things in the right direction.
Of course, you will rarely find me complimenting a government
agency, let alone the Social Security Administration, but recently, they have made some improvements that deserve examination. For one, they have improved the system for checking the status of Social Security cases, making what used to be a tiresome, difficult process much less so. They have also raised the fee cap for disability claims, allowing attorneys who work on these to earn a better living and incentivizing attorneys who previously refused to take these cases to return to the fold. These changes, and more, give me hope that the Social Security Administration may be on an upward trajectory for the first time in a long time. Past Relevant Work Social Security is in the business of determining whether applicants have a disability. In an effort to do this, they used to require applicants to provide the last 15 years of work history.
–Joel Thrift
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Virtual Museum Tours Make Art and History Accessible DIGITAL DISCOVERY
The priceless artwork, artifacts, and other attractions draw tourists worldwide to museums. However, not everyone can travel the globe to view the works of accomplished artists, curious historical figures, and inventions of esteemed engineers. Luckily, famed institutions like the Louvre in Paris; The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia; and Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C., all have something in common: Patrons can enjoy them online . The internet helps bring esteemed exhibitions to your browser, where you can take virtual tours free of charge . Here are three incredible museums with virtual tours for all to enjoy! The Louvre Built partly in the ruins of a 12th-century fortress, France’s national museum
and art gallery is the most popular destination of its kind. The French revolutionary government opened the Louvre in 1793, and Napoleon expanded it. Today, it houses some of the world’s most famous works of art, including Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” You can enjoy great swathes of its exhibits through virtual tours on its website. National Museum of Natural History Part of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the National Museum of Natural History is the most-visited natural history museum in the world . Its 1.5 million-square- foot grounds house a dizzying array of exhibits to delight visitors of all ages. Virtual tours are available on its
website and include spectacular views of its awe-inspiring exhibits. The State Hermitage Museum Founded by Catherine the Great in 1764, the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum is in the Russian city of St. Petersburg. Nicholas I and the Soviet Union, among others, have reconstructed and expanded it since then. While some of its works were sold to fund Soviet industrialization, it is still a tremendous beacon of art and culture. With political tension and despotic rule making it more difficult for those in the West to visit Russia at all , its virtual tours, which you can find on Google’s Arts and Culture website, are the safest way to view its contents.
PSYCHOLOGY OF SUCCESS
HARNESSING THE POWER OF A GROWTH MINDSET While there are no treadmills for the mind or ellipticals for our neurons, science tells us that mental exercise can help us obtain a growth mindset . The American Psychological Association
A growth mindset is the antithesis of a “fixed mindset,” which people exhibit when they quickly give up if they can’t solve a problem. Nurturing a growth mindset, in contrast, can help you view failure or setbacks as opportunities for learning. More Than Effort Having a growth mindset is about more than just effort. It is the belief that you can develop your abilities and talents, as well as a perspective on how you approach life’s lessons and learning. That belief allows you to learn more quickly and achieve greater results, no matter what you aim to achieve. This does not mean simply having an open mind; it also
means finding a way to continue striving to improve your knowledge, attitude, and performance. Some call it having “grit.” Cultivating Success With a growth mindset, success plays second fiddle to self-improvement. Celebrating the effort we put into each task motivates and encourages us to work harder and accomplish more in the future. Rather than focusing on the destination, the focus is on the journey. A growth mindset is a great way to become more positive, successful, and adaptable. By incorporating more facets of a growth mindset into your life, you will be well on your way to changing things for the better.
defines a growth mindset as “the belief that a person’s intelligence and abilities can grow and improve with practice.”
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TAKE A BREAK
Secret languages, born from a mixture of pragmatism, seclusion, and boredom, are spoken and understood only by a select few. From Pig Latin uttered in schoolyards to whispers of Lunfardo in the prisons of Argentina, the secretive languages of the world have origins that may delight and surprise you. Boontling In Northern California, a small community speaks a unique amalgamation of an Appalachian dialect, Spanish, and the language of the Pomo tribe called Boontling. It originated in the late 19th or early 20th century in Boonville. There, you can find locals referring to doctors as shoveltooths and roaring flames as jeffers . It supposedly originated among the women and children who toiled in the local hop fields and quickly spread throughout the community. Somehow, despite existing only in a small farm town, it has an expansive 1,600-word vocabulary and around 100 fluent speakers! Pig Latin Ancay ouyay understandyay isthay entencesay? You may decipher that question if you remember Pig Latin from elementary school. Despite disagreements about its linguistic credibility, Pig Latin has existed since Shakespeare’s time (around 400 years ago). Ironically, it is completely unrelated to Latin, and the origin of its name is a mystery. Famous speakers of Pig Latin include founding father Thomas Jefferson, who reportedly wrote letters using the light-hearted language. Lunfardo This language is so secretive that it’s practically criminal . Lunfardo began in the prisons of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where inmates masked their words from the nosy guards. The language has components from Portuguese, Galician, French, and German. For example, if an inmate wanted to compliment a pretty woman, they would call them a papirusa , which means “beautiful woman.” These days, Lunfardo exists mainly in the lyrics of Argentine tango music. Exploring the Origins of Secret Languages HIDDEN MEANING
BACKPACK BEES
MELON MOON
MUSTARD OLYMPICS PEACH SANDCASTLE SCHOOL TWINS
VACATION ZUCCHINI
Not Your Average Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
• 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp salt • 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup butter, softened • 2 cups granulated sugar • 3 large eggs • 2 tsp vanilla extract • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. 2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside. 3. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. 4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended; then add vanilla extract. 5. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients; mix until blended. 6. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. 7. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 8. Cool in pans, then invert onto a plate. If desired, frost and stack the cakes for a double layer!
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Celebrating Positive Changes to Social Security
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Exploring Famous Museums Virtually
The Role of a Growth Mindset in Overcoming Challenges
Not Your Average Chocolate Cake
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Decoding the World’s Secret Languages
The Truth About France’s Marie Antoinette
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HEADLESS OF STATE Facts About the Late French Queen Marie Antoinette
Cake: Not on the Menu Although many ascribe the infamous words, “Let them eat cake,” to Marie Antoinette, she likely never uttered them at all. Many other royals, including the French noblewoman Marie Therese more than a century earlier, had been credited with uttering the notorious sentence. So, someone else had likely said it before the French Revolution ever happened. Young Newlyweds Talk about a crowded household: Marie Antoinette was the 11th daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Francis I, the head of the powerful and influential Habsburg dynasty. She did not spend many years at home, however, because she was just 14 years old when she married the future king of France, Louis XVI.
While France may be known for its artwork, culture, and cuisine, the French Revolution was anything but beautiful, cultured, or tasteful. Instead, it was a brutal, vengeful affair, culminating in the ruthless execution of the French royal family and the end of their royal line. One of the most famous characters from this brutal time was the French queen, Marie Antoinette. She became a symbol for all complaints levied against the French throne, from extravagant spending to their brutal crackdowns on dissent, even though she wasn’t the actual perpetrator. In the end, it didn’t matter. Marie Antoinette, at age 37, was beheaded by guillotine in October 1793. Here are three true facts about Marie Antoinette.
Faux Farmer Despite her regal estate and lavish lifestyle, one of Marie Antoinette’s favorite pastimes was pretending to work as a farmer. She had an entire fake farm built on the grounds of her palace in Versailles, where she and other noblewomen would dress in costumes and pretend to be sheepherders and milkmaids.
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