On the night of New Year’s Eve in 2014, a group of burglars experienced the fright of a lifetime. Expecting to rob a quiet home in Derby, England, the intruders instead came face to snout with Ludwig, a 240-pound potbellied pig. Abandoning all thoughts of crime once they spotted the pig, the burglars instantly fled the scene and ran for their lives. The “hero ham” had already become a popular figure in his town and was well-loved for his gentle demeanor. In fact, Michael Maughan, Ludwig’s owner, is confident that Ludwig wouldn’t have harmed the intruders, even if he does look quite intimidating. Local officers believe the robbers must have heard Ludwig’s Rottweiler-like “growl” and immediately hit the road, leaving the door wide open behind them. The story of this heroic potbellied pig became a sensation throughout Europe. Countless fans have applauded the Canadian-born hog for his loyalty to his owners. But the owners want to ensure people understand that Ludwig would never hurt anyone. Some fabricated web stories
made Ludwig sound more dangerous than he is, so Maughan
A Ham-Fisted Attempt at Robbery
spoke to the Toronto Star to dispute any defamations against Ludwig’s kindness.
“He’s being painted as a vicious creature when he’s actually quite a sweet animal,” he explained. “He didn’t exactly bare his tusks and charge, I don’t think. I think he got absolutely, ‘Arrgh,’ and they just ran for it.” In fact, Maughan detailed that after a two-month separation during their move to England, the pig shed tears during their reunion. Adorable and affectionate, Ludwig would have probably become friends with the intruders in no time. Even if his “bark” is worse than his bite, Ludwig succeeded in keeping his owners safe while also protecting their home. This 240-pound potbellied pig continues to enjoy his comfortable home in Derby and is considered a town hero. Anyone looking for a guard dog may want to consider a hefty hog instead!
INTRUDERS FLEE FROM LUDWIG THE PIG
Will I Get More SSDI Benefits? I HAVE MORE THAN ONE HEALTH CONDITION
Do you have more than one health condition? If so, you may ask what the best approach is when applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Should you add every condition to your application? Does this improve your chances of approval? Or is it better to focus on a single condition giving you the most trouble? And, if you have several conditions, do you qualify for more benefits? These are all critical questions to ask your attorney. You may only have one health problem stopping you from working, but many SSDI applicants have more than one condition. It is their combined impact that makes it difficult to work. Each condition may be more or less severe on its own, so the Social Security Administration (SSA) may look at the big picture for your case. Adding all eligible issues to your SSDI application is a good idea, even if you think something is minor. This includes both physical and mental impairments. When approving benefits, the SSA evaluates your disability as a whole and the nuance of how conditions interact. A minor impairment can worsen the symptoms of another health problem.
Those who have applied or whose claims the SSA has approved have wondered if they’ll gain more benefits by having more than one condition. The simple answer is no. Having more than one condition does not mean you will receive more money each month. SSDI benefits help cover any lost wages as a result of your disability. The point is that you are not able to work. Say you eliminated three of your conditions, for example. You would not be able to triple your wages at your current job. The same is true with disability benefits. The SSA looks at your case as a whole. The amount you receive does not increase with more health conditions. The extent of your disability benefits may depend on other factors, however. Just saying you have a condition may not be enough. Even if you think you cannot work, the SSA may see things differently. Documentation matters as the SSA looks very closely at the medical evidence. What are the doctors and other health professionals saying? Can other witnesses attest to your ability to work? An experienced attorney can help you present the most compelling case possible to SSA. Give us a call today to see how we can help you!
• 1-877-9-DISABLED (877-934-7225) • KeefeLaw.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator