Gillette Law - September 2018

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ILLETTE

GAZETTE

SEPTEMBER 2018

LIVING EVERY DAY WITH PASSION AND PURPOSE

O ver the years, I have often been asked, “Why do you do what you do?” It’s a very personal question and an ongoing conversation I have with myself. The answer to this question is the foundation of my role as the leader of my firm and as an advisor to my clients: I’m motivated to become the best version of myself while helping others to become the best versions of themselves. At the Gillette Law Group, we come to work to help people make smart decisions to improve their lives. Our goals are to find clients who want to improve their lives and to work together with them so we can all succeed. We are looking for people to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us in pursuit of a better life. We are not interested in judging people, but in lifting them up and encouraging them forward. Helping individuals get approved for Social Security disability benefits can be a significant first step toward getting them the medical care and monthly income they need to address their health conditions and improve their lives. Unfortunately, the Social Security disability system doesn’t always reward those individuals who are struggling to be their best. Sometimes an individual’s attempts at self-improvement are seen as evidence of an individual’s ability to do even more. As a human being, I always want to help those around me find a way to flourish in this world. But as your legal representative, the last thing I want to do is give advice that might hurt your claim. For example, attempting to work or seeking educational opportunities can be interpreted as inconsistent with a claim that an individual is incapable of working full-time on a consistent basis. I’m always interested in discussing these situations with my clients so that I can help them make smart decisions to improve their lives. If you have not yet been approved for disability benefits and are considering a return to work or school, call my office to schedule a time for us to talk. As I discussed last month, if you are receiving disability benefits, you should learn more about the “Ticket to Work” program (choosework. ssa.gov/about/how-it-works/index.html) before returning to work or school. In particular, you should learn more about work incentives that make it possible for you to explore work while still receiving benefits. You may be able to keep your Medicaid/Medicare while you work, have access to individualized support services, and keep some or all of your benefits during your transition period. Also, if you assign your “ticket” to an approved service provider before you receive notice of a medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR), you will not have to undergo the medical review while you are participating in the Ticket to Work program and making progress within Social Security’s timeframes.

As I said, I’m motivated to become the best version of myself while helping others to become the best versions of themselves. A book that helped me bring this into focus is “The Rhythm of Life” by Matthew Kelly. Subtitled “Living Every Day With Passion and Purpose,” Kelly’s inspirational work is all about redefining how we see success in others and ourselves. “The Rhythm of Life” reminds us not to mistake material success for greatness and not to prioritize being busy over being happy. As Kelly says, “We need to dedicate ourselves to development as a person — body, heart, mind, and soul. There is nothing more important in life.”

Helping individuals get approved for Social Security disability benefits can be a significant first step toward getting them the medical care and monthly income they need to address their health conditions and improve their lives.”

This emphasis on the importance of personal development over material wealth has significantly influenced me over the years. In fact, taking inspiration from Kelly’s other famous work, “The Dream Manager,” I made it a priority at both my firm and the Center for Child and Family Services, Inc., the nonprofit I chair, to focus on the development of my employees. Sure, this means that some of our team members outgrow us and move on to their next big things. But so long as that next step is in the direction of that team member’s personal goals and aspirations, I see it as a win-win. There is more to life than work. I try to strike a balance between helping people find success and being an effective disability attorney by remembering that only my clients can define success for themselves. By giving you the tools and resources to help you navigate the complex Social Security disability system, I hope to help you find the fulfillment you’re looking for. If you’ve found that success and want to do your part to help others do the same, we’d love to hear from you! The process of seeking disability benefits can be painfully long, and many people lose hope

N e x t D o o r Bu

while waiting for relief. Hearing stories from those who have made it through this process and found fulfillment in life, in any shape or form, can be a powerful beacon of hope. If you’d like to share your story in this newsletter, check inside for details! –Brian Gillette

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SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS From Your Hip Replacement Implant?

• Hip pain • Groin pain • Pain when standing or weight bearing • Low back pain • Buttock pain If you or a loved one are suffering from:

• Start up pain when walking • Inability to resist during straight leg raise test • Audible clicking sounds • Sensing that hip is not “in place” • High chromium/cobalt levels

You may be entitled to compensation, but your time to collect may be running out. Give us a call and learn how we can help. 757-220-4529

HERE’S TO 11 YEARS And to You

As our firm turns another year older this month, it seems fitting to dedicate this moment to the people who made these last 11 years possible. So, to all those who have referred friends and family to our firm over the years, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We have been able to keep our firm down-to-earth and client-focused thanks to your votes of confidence.

naturally through these referrals, recommendations, and family connections. Just in the past year, we have been able to help more than 100 people who were referred to us by clients and friends of the firm. Any lawyer can go out and get clients with enough TV advertisements and billboards. But growing such amazing connections through

Your referrals have done far more than kept the lights on over the years. A referral is the sincerest endorsement one can receive in our profession. It takes a substantial

referrals takes time, talent, and commitment — three traits desperately needed in disability law. The members of our law group wake up every day energized by the faith our clients have placed in us.

amount of trust to place a loved one’s disability claim in the hands of a

lawyer. That so many of you have thought of us in your friends’ and family members’ moments of need is deeply humbling. We strive every day to be worthy of these endorsements, treating every client as if they were family.

When you recommend someone to our legal services, we’re always sure to reach out and thank you

personally. Each and every referral means the world to us. But on this 11th anniversary, reflecting on the totality of our votes of confidence

we’ve received, we cannot help but again reach out to say thank you to everyone who has shown such faith in our services. We will continue to strive to be worthy of such praise.

And in a way, they are. As a small, community-based firm, the Gillette Law Group has been fortunate enough to grow

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WHAT’S YOUR STORY? YOU CAN HELP OTHERS BY SHARING

Here are some questions to get you thinking:

As Brian discussed on the cover, some folks going through the disability claims process find it hard to imagine a brighter future. We want these people to know there is hope, and that men and women just like them faced these challenges and were able not just to persevere, but to thrive. That’s why we are reaching out to you, dear readers, to lend your voices to those in need of a little hope. We’d like to begin featuring a “Your Story” section in this newsletter, featuring stories from people who have found personal or professional success in the aftermath of a disability claim. We are not looking for testimonials on how we helped with your claims process. We want these submissions to focus on you , your journey, and any advice you have for those who find themselves facing similar struggles. If you or a loved one would like to share a success story with us, please call us, or send an email to [email protected] and we will arrange an interview. If we feature your story in our newsletter, we’ll send you a GIFT as a token of our gratitude!

What challenges did you face when you became unable to work?

How long did your claim take to get approved?

How did you perservere and stay motivated during this time?

What community resources did you find helpful?

In what ways have you moved forward?

What accomplishment are you proudest of after this process?

What advice would you give someone seeking a disability claim?

Please consider sharing your story with others . Stories of success — big and small — can be a bright ray of sunshine for those new to the challenges of waiting for a disability claim. Your words can make a positive impact in people’s lives.

AUTUMN SALAD RECIPE BY LAUREN MOWERY, CASE MANAGER

DAD JOKE

Dad Joke courtesy of Lauren’s daughter, Jacqueline: Q: Why was the stadium so quiet after the game? A: All the fans left.

Ingredients

• 1/2 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed • 3 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved • 1/2 medium head of cauliflower, trimmed and cut in large pieces

• 1 red onion, halved and thickly sliced • 1/2–1 cup pomegranate seeds • 1/2–1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

• 2–3 tablespoons olive oil • Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. Arrange butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and onion on a baking sheet. 3. Drizzle with olive oil and toss. Season with salt and pepper. 4. Roast in oven for 30–35 minutes, or until squash is done and Brussels sprouts are brown.

5. Remove from oven and place in a large bowl. 6. Add cannellini beans and pomegranate seeds. Toss until well-mixed. 7. Serve immediately or cold.

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INSIDE This Issue

Helping Others to Become the Best Versions of Themselves page 1 Hip Replacement Complications? page 2

Tell Us About Your Success! page 3

Autumn Salad Recipe page 3 Pigs to the Rescue page 4

Thank You page 2

THAT’LL DO, PIG

More and more Americans are keeping pigs as pets than ever before. With their keen intelligence, laid-back amiability, goofy snorts, and, of course, their stubby little legs, it’s no surprise that people take to these plump, fuzzy animals. And here’s an extra bonus: Apparently, they also save lives! Take the aptly-named Lucky , for example. When Illinois resident Ina Farler woke up to the frantic porcine screams of her best friend, she knew something was up. “He would jump down, run to the door, and then jump back on the bed and hit me really hard,” she told Chicago 5 News. “When I sat up, I realized the room was really smoky.” Her house was ablaze, and her room was quickly turning into an oven. But thanks to Lucky, she was able to grab her two grandchildren, escape from the house, and call the fire department to stifle the blaze before it took down the entire property. Lucky isn’t the only hog to have saved the day. Jo Ann and Jack Altsman adopted Lulu the pot-bellied pig after baby-sitting her for their daughter. Lulu grew to be great pals with Bear, the family’s American Eskimo dog. When Jo Ann suffered a heart attack while her husband was away on a fishing trip and no one else was around, Bear and Lulu teamed up to rescue their beloved owner.

Sensing something was up, Bear barked furiously to get the attention of Lulu, who was out in the yard. Though she’d never come into the house from the yard before, she crammed her bulk through the much-too-small doggie door. In the process, she scraped her belly badly, drawing blood, but she pressed on in order to check on Jo Ann. Realizing that something was seriously wrong, she slammed back through the doggie door and scrambled out into the road, where she lay down. Lulu eventually convinced one conscientious motorist to slow down and see what the commotion was about. He found Jo Ann unconscious in her home and quickly dialed 911. Though Lulu wasn’t allowed in the ambulance, her owner was rescued and recovered after an intense open-heart surgery. And, of course, Lulu got patched up too!

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