Take a look at our newsletter this month.
AUGUST 2018
Our Attorneys Fight for Your Future THE ADVISOR
LOCATIONS IN PENNSYLVANIA & NEW JERSEY PA: 215-883-8532 NJ: 609-796-9852
I f you’re reading this, congratulations! You’ve just received the very first edition of our firm’s newsletter! We’ve always been big believers in fostering a connection with the people we work with, because where legal representation is concerned, you deserve to know who is working for you. I believe it is important that you know a little bit about the people who are representing your interests. I currently reside in Bucks County. I’m an avid sports fan and bleed Eagles green. I have been married for 34 years and have a 27-year-old daughter. I am also passionate about animals (particularly dogs) and currently have a 9-year-old cockapoo named Marley. Since childhood, I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer. I grew up in a working-class, row-home neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia and was the first person in my family to go to college. Ours was a one-income household, and my father had a true middle-class blue-collar work ethic. Like many people in my neighborhood, my dad had a limited education, so he aspired to provide a better life for myself and my sister. While my parents didn’t push me toward any specific career, they truly believed that education was the key to a better life. TRUE TO MY ROOTS MY PATH TO BECOMING A LAWYER
heart attack at the age of 52. The event left him bedridden and unable to work, putting our family in dire straits almost instantly. I bore witness to the slow struggle my parents went through to get support from Social
Security over the next two years. When my dad passed away at the age of 54, I was only 19 years old. That furthered my desire to go to law school and to work in the areas of both Social Security Disability Insurance and bankruptcy. While my father’s death had a deep impact on my family, I carried forward my parents’ desire for me to get a higher education, graduating cum laude from La Salle University. After receiving my law degree from Widener University, I knew I wanted to practice in the areas that affected people like my parents. If I could advocate for families facing the same medical and financial hardship my own endured, I could feel I was making a real difference. I went into disability and bankruptcy law because I know their impact firsthand. Since that time, I have suffered with my own medical issues, and I understand that we’re all one calamity away from losing things that we hold most dear. When you’re in dire straits, I know how much you depend on your attorney. While my personal focus has remained primarily on disability and bankruptcy, our firm has expanded to other areas of practice, including criminal defense and personal injury. I hope I have made a difference to many of you, and I will continue to try to make a difference in the future. I want to personally thank all the people who have helped support me and our firm over the last 30 years — it has always been sincerely appreciated. We look forward to assisting you in the future. –Paul H. Young
Like many women of her era, my mom was a stay-at-home mother, but she was also an open-minded and politically engaged woman. She preferred to debate rather than dictate. Under different circumstances and in a different era, I always believed my mother would have actually been a fine lawyer. She was a warm, caring person. She passed away just a few years ago at the age of 84. At the risk of showing my age, I’ll also mention that I was influenced by the Watergate era. I was extremely interested in politics. Next to sports, I would say politics was my greatest interest as a teenager. During that time, my dad suffered a “I went into disability and bankruptcy law because I know their impacts first-hand. We’re all just one calamity away from losing the things we hold most dear.”
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TRANSPORTATION SAFETY TIPS PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN DURING THEIR COMMUTE
With the school year fast approaching, families are in preparation mode. Parents are busy buying new clothes and school
bus approaches — a minimum of three large steps or 6 feet from the street. Tell your kids about the importance of sitting still and not standing in the bus while it’s in motion. Kids on the Road Whether your child is biking, walking, or even skateboarding, it’s vital that they know and follow the rules of the road. All children should practice road safety behavior, such as riding on the right side of the road, wearing helmets, stopping at stop signs, and watching out for cars. Internalizing these habits will help them stay aware of their surroundings when traveling to and from school. Sharing the Road When school starts, the roads become even more cluttered than usual. On top of people heading to work, there are large buses making frequent stops, parents rushing to drop their kids off, and young kids biking or walking to school. With the added tension on the road, it’s important to be alert and move cautiously. Slowing down in school zones or around young pedestrians will keep you vigilant and could potentially save lives.
On Aug. 31, 2006, Ryan Howard stepped up to the plate and into Phillies history. It was a hot, humid evening at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, but the former Rookie of the Year was coming off three consecutive games with home runs. The last had tied Mike Schmidt’s single-season record. Howard didn’t just set a new bar for Philly greatness that day; he did so in style. The Nationals were up by 1 when Howard came to bat, striking his signature stance, pointing at the pitcher’s mound. That’s when Pedro Astacio made the mistake of feeding the rising star a fastball right over the plate. Howard caught the pitch up in the zone and crushed it to the upper deck. That straightaway moonshot tied the game and made Howard a bona fide Phillies legend. While that would be his 49th homer in an already impressive season, “The Big Piece” was far from done. Howard would close out the season with a staggering 58 bombs, easily earning him the NL MVP title. Unsurprisingly, this is the season when pitchers learned to fear mighty #6. He would end up breaking another club record: most intentional walks. While there were many great moments throughout Howard’s early career, this 49th home run of the 2006 season is what made the young man from St. Louis a true Philly hero. supplies and thinking about the best way to get their kids safely to school. Keeping your child safe on their commute starts with knowing the transportation method that works best for you and the rules that accompany that method. Taking the School Bus According to the United States Department of Transportation, the school bus is the safest means of transportation to and from school. Buses are built to withstand a hit and distribute the damage throughout the vehicle, keeping its passengers safe and sound. Knowing basic bus safety will help kids be mindful when taking the bus. Before the school year starts, take your children to the bus stop and show them where they should stand when the
Teach your kids to be prepared and safe on the road to ensure that they have a healthy and safe school year.
THIS MONTH IN PHILLY SPORTS HISTORY
RYAN HOWARD SURPASSES MIKE SCHMIDT
Of course, not many sports stories end with “happily ever after.” These golden years, and the expectations they set, directly contributed to what many baseball fans inside and outside of Philly consider to be one of the worst extension deals in history. Howard’s later seasons were plagued by underperformance
as defenses learned #6 was powerful but predictable. The defensive shift proved too much of a counter for Howard, who was further
weakened by multiple sports injuries. While his final seasons may have been underwhelming, there is no doubt Ryan Howard deserves a permanent place in both MLB and Philly history.
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WHY IS MY DISABILITY CASE TAKING SO LONG?
One of the most pressing questions people seeking Social
Security or SSI benefits have is how long their claim will take. Unfortunately, the timeline can vary widely based on the specifics of your claim. Whether you are in the middle of an appeal or have just submitted your application, it can be helpful to understand the road ahead. Here’s a brief road map of what the process looks like and the speed bumps that can slow your case. The Initial Decision The first time you apply for disability benefits, the Social Security Administration will gather your medical records and make a ruling on whether or not you qualify. Depending on how old you are, the nature of your disability, and how complete your medical records are, this initial evaluation can take some time, generally 30–90 days. Due to the sheer number of applications the SSA processes, the most “clear-cut” cases of disability are processed and approved faster. Request for Reconsideration If your claim is denied, you can request the SSA re-examine your case. You must file an appeal within 60 days of receiving your initial decision. Only about 14 percent of applicants are approved during the reconsideration stage, but certain states, including New Jersey, require you to take this step before moving forward.
Appeals Most claims go to the appeal or hearing stage, where an administrative law judge
(ALJ) will evaluate the merits of your case. This is often the longest part of the process. Due to the large backlog of cases and limited number of ALJs, its not uncommon for a hearing to be delayed by a year or more. However, considering 65 percent of claims are approved during this process, this represents your absolute best chance for receiving benefits. While you can’t control how long it takes the SSA or an ALJ to get to your case, you can ensure that you are putting your best foot forward when they eventually do. Identifying the gaps in information that may have gotten your original claim denied and addressing them in subsequent requests is key to a prompt decision. An experienced team of SSD attorneys can help ensure that you are presenting your strongest case. At Young Marr & Associates, our SSD attorneys are former SSA employees with deep knowledge of this lengthy, involved process. Please reach out to us for a free consultation about your case.
GREEN BEAN AND SESAME SALAD
SUDOKU
INGREDIENTS
•
3 cups green beans, ends trimmed
•
1 small red onion, finely chopped
• • •
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• • •
Small bunch of fresh mint Small bunch of flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
Salt and pepper, to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Bring a large saucepan of water to boil; cook green beans for 4–5 minutes; drain well. 2. In a blender, mix finely chopped mint and parsley with olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Blend until combined. 3. Add dressing, onion, and sesame seeds to beans. Toss together. Cool dish, then refrigerate until ready to serve. inspired by the Delicious magazine
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We’re a firm dedicated to representing people in matters regarding Social Security Disability, long-term disability, bankruptcy, and criminal defense. If you have another legal matter, please feel free to contact us, as we work closely with only the best referral sources.
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YOUNG, MARR & ASSOCIATES, LLC 3554 HULMEVILLE ROAD, SUITE 102 BENSALEM, PA 19020
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YOUNGMARRLAW.COM PA: 215-883-8532 NJ: 609-796-9852
1 Paul Young’s Humble Beginnings 2 Keep Your Kids Safe on the Way to School This Month in Philly Sports History 3 Why Disability Cases Take So Long Green Bean and Sesame Salad 4 Sleep Better and Feel Great INSIDE THIS ISSUE
HOW TO ACHIEVE A MORE RESTFUL NIGHT’S SLEEP
One study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research found that the quality of your sleep is much more important than the quantity — that is, if you want to feel rested. And we all want to feel rested. So, what can you do to improve the quality of your sleep and get the rest you need? Listen to your body. This, above all else, is crucial to a good night’s sleep. Your body knows when it’s time for bed. Generally, you want to go to bed when you feel tired, whether that’s at 8 p.m. or 1 a.m. Whenever your body tells you it needs rest, you should make a habit of going to bed then. The more consistent you are, the better your sleep will be. Wake up naturally. Jolting yourself awake with an alarm or radio isn’t doing your brain and body any favors (it can be stressful on the body and even elevate blood pressure, which is not good first thing in the morning). If you do need an alarm, consider a wake- up light. Wake-up lights mimic the sunrise, slowly brightening the room, waking your body in a natural, gentle way. Kick the screen habit. You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again: Looking at an electronic screen — a TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone — before bed is detrimental to sleep quality.
Light from these devices is disruptive to your brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which helps regulate your circadian rhythm, and screen time before bed can throw off normal SCN function. Put your excuses for staying up too late to bed. Say no to
“one more episode.” And all those emails? They can wait until tomorrow. Not getting enough quality sleep is harmful to your mental and physical health. When you get into the habit of following these three tips, you’ll find yourself feeling rested and refreshed in no time.
4 | PA: 215-883-8532 | NJ: 609-796-9852
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