Hartwig Law Firm - September/October 2020

Hartwig Law Firm - September/October 2020

THE ADVISOR

With National Grandparents Day celebrated on Sept. 13, I’ve been thinking a lot about my grandparents and the role they played in my childhood. It also means I have to think about my own three kids and just how important my parents and my wife’s parents are to them. Even though there’s some distance between them now because of the pandemic, these bonds are still so very important. My mom’s mom, Grandma Jones, who we called Granny J, was a wonderful woman. She was the daughter of Serbian immigrants and born in 1915 in my hometown of Campbell, Ohio. During her high school years, Granny J lived through the Great Depression, and it made a huge impact on her for the rest of her life. Life was very difficult in that time, but despite all the hardships, she never let that stop her. Even though she was the daughter of immigrants who didn’t speak the language, she went on to nursing school after high school and became a nurse. She was a very strong, very determined person — a true matriarch in our family. Later in life, she married my grandfather, who was a union pipefitter, and had my mom and her four siblings. Despite raising five kids, Granny J worked full time as a nurse; she was one tough cookie. She was fiercely maternal toward her kids and grandkids when we came along. I’m one of her 14 grandchildren, and all of us grew up locally MY GRANNY J: ONE TOUGH COOKIE

sit down, and start critiquing my game. That was a big part of who she was; she was always straightforward and told you whatever she thought, right to your face. As I was going through college and preparing to go to law school, I still went to visit her whenever I could. She had her own apartment, and I’d go over for breakfast or lunch, and the two of us would just talk. Then, when I was studying for the LSAT, Granny J made sure I came to visit her the morning of the exam so I could have a truly proper breakfast. She wanted my mind to be sharp and for me to have enough energy to make it through — Granny J didn’t want to leave anything to chance. As it turns out, I did much better on the exam than I thought. To this day, I give my Granny J a lot of the credit because she made me confident in every way. She was the type of person who was always pushing me and telling me that I could do it. So when I walked in that day to take the test, after a thorough breakfast from her (and because of her support) I was ready to go. Granny J instilled such amazing life lessons in us. She showed us what determination and a strong work ethic looked like, as well as an unwavering amount of loyalty to our families. Remembering everything she’s done for us, I’m filled with gratitude at how involved my parents and my wife’s parents are with our own children, even at a distance. Despite not being able to give grandma and grandpa a hug, the relationships between my children and their grandparents are strong ones. It’s been very difficult for our parents and my kids — they can see them, but they can’t touch them. Yet, because of today’s technology, I’m so incredibly grateful that they still have the chance to talk to them. I remember when I was away at college or in law school and I couldn’t see my grandma, I could still call her to talk whenever I wanted. Because we build these connections, it still feels so good to hop on the phone with our grandparents to chat for a few minutes. I believe it’s important for all of us to find ways to maintain that connection in as safe a way as possible during these challenging times. There’s nothing better that I could do for my kids than provide them with a grandparent/grandchild relationship like I had growing up. It does wonders for your life.

in the 1970s and ’80s. At that time, she was retired and very involved in our lives. Granny J never missed an event of ours. Whether it was a sporting event, a school play, a piano recital — whatever it was, she was there, watching and supporting us. When I got into high school, Granny J supported me as I played different varsity sports. She always made time to watch me or catch my game on the radio when she couldn’t make it. I remember when I had Friday night basketball games, she would tune in on the radio, following along with the game and keeping score. Later, when I went over on Saturday and Sunday, she’d make me breakfast,

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Hartwig Law Firm | (508) 732-8989

SPOOKY CITY REGULATIONS HALLOWEEN LAWS ACROSS THE U.S.

Halloween can be a mischievous holiday. The most innocent of us reserve it for backyard parties and trick-or-treating, but some like to get a little rowdier than others. That’s exactly why various city councils across the U.S. have passed some seemingly unusual laws to regulate spooky festivities.

From midnight on Oct. 31 until noon on Nov. 1, no one is allowed to spray, sell, or distribute Silly String in public locations. Use of Silly String got so popular in the city on Halloween that the mess left behind became a strain on sanitation workers, and the city sympathized with them. BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS: NO 8TH GRADERS Trick-or-treating is most often viewed as an activity reserved for younger generations, but how do you determine what age is “too old” for this type of generally good-natured fun? Well, the city of Belleville settled the ambiguity by passing a law restricting teenagers who are past the eighth grade — generally older than 13 — from going door to door on Halloween. WALNUT, CALIFORNIA: NO MASKS WITHOUT PERMITS In a simpler time, there was no paperwork required to celebrate Halloween to the fullest. But in the city of Walnut, no one can wear a mask or other disguise on public streets without a permit from the sheriff. The law doesn’t specify any exceptions, so residents are left to assume that everyone from age 5 to 100 must abide. Whatever your Halloween celebrations might look like this year, it’s important to have fun, but remember to abide by any rules or laws your city might have in place in an effort to keep its citizens safe.

REHOBOTH BEACH, DELAWARE: NO SUNDAY TRICK-OR-TREATING If Halloween falls on a Sunday, children in Rehoboth Beach are required to trick-or-treat the night before. The explanation in the city code is simple, but ambiguous: to prevent children and their guardians from going door to door on Sunday evenings. Rehoboth Beach law also forbids children from roaming the streets on Halloween “with the intent to cause trouble,” but what exactly that means is ambiguous as well. HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA: NO SILLY STRING The Los Angeles City Council has banned Silly String and all other brands of aerosol string from use on Halloween in the Hollywood area.

MEET JEN OUR MEDICAL RECORDS SPECIALIST

Meet Jen, our medical records specialist. You may speak to her at any time working with Hartwig Law Firm, but if your claim goes to a hearing, Jen will be your primary contact in making sure your file is up to date and accurate. As a medical records specialist, Jen obtains medical records for clients who are scheduled for a hearing, guiding them through the hearing process. Jen understands that having a hearing can be daunting, and she works on making the process as straightforward as possible for our clients. She has a strong understanding of HIPAA and the medical record retrieval practices at a multitude of medical facilities. Jen monitors the hearing schedule and evidence deadlines. She requests medical records from clients’ providers and does the follow-up contact to ensure the records are delivered on time to both Hartwig Law Firm and the hearing office. Jen grew up in Rockland, a small town on the south shore where everyone knew everyone else. She went through the Rockland Public Schools, where her grandfather was her elementary school principal. She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology/social services from UMass Dartmouth. She continued her education at Northeastern University, earning a master’s of science in criminal justice. Jen spent

the next 17 years working as a case manager — first at a juvenile detention center and then in a behavioral health hospital — before completing her paralegal certificate and joining Hartwig Law Firm.

Jen spends her free time walking local trails and beaches with her camera in hand, with the occasional trip into Boston to do the tourist thing as a local, including frequent stops at Bova’s Bakery in the North End. She enjoys spending time with her family and fiancé as well as her tuxedo cat, who is the true boss.

As a member of Hartwig Law Firm, Jen enjoys working in an environment where helping clients is the primary focus. While her primary role is working as a medical records specialist, Jen helps out in almost every other aspect of the practice. If you are looking into Social Security Disability or have questions about your claim, feel free to call anytime. Jen will be more than happy to help.

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Hartwig Law Firm | (508) 732-8989

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SPOOKY STRAWBERRY GHOSTS

Inspired by Candiquik.com

INGREDIENTS

•

16 oz white chocolate, chopped

•

24 strawberries

Filing for and going through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) system is a complex process, and unfortunately, it is not always fair or logical. Within the system, there are rules and regulations that determine who will and won’t receive disability benefits. Even someone who has worked hard and pays into the system for years has no guarantee that those benefits will be there for them when they really need them. TWO SSDI MISCONCEPTIONS ITíS IMPORTANT TO STAY INFORMED

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1 package mini dark chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the white chocolate at 50% power for 30 seconds. Remove it and stir, then repeat the process until melted. 2. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper. 3. One by one, dip the strawberries into the melted white chocolate and set them on the parchment. Allow the extra chocolate to pool to form a “tail” effect. 4. Before the chocolate coating fully cools, add three mini chocolate chips to each berry to form two eyes and a mouth. 5. Let chocolate set, then serve your spooky snacks!

In such a system, there are many misconceptions. Here are two of the most common:

“My doctor has taken me out of work and says that I am disabled. So, I should automatically be able to receive disability benefits.”

The truth is that Social Security (SS) will certainly consider your doctor’s opinion, but they don’t have to agree with them. SS has its own in-house doctors or medical examiners, who have never seen or treated you before. They will give their own opinion of how sick or disabled you are and what you can and cannot do. SS can also send you to a doctor they’ve picked and paid for — called a consultative examiner — to compare their assessment and your doctor’s side by side. Often, SS will give preference to the opinion of its own examiners over your doctor’s.

“I can’t do my job anymore, so SS will find me disabled.”

As mentioned above, the SS system simply isn’t fair. It’s not designed to make those benefits easily obtainable for you, and, regrettably, being unable to do your job — after an injury or due to age — doesn’t mean they’ll find you disabled. For most people (particularly those under 50), SS not only looks at whether your impairments keep you from doing the work you did at your original job but also at whether you can do any other type of work. This includes sit-down or stationary work.

If you have any questions about these or any other misconceptions, call our firm at 508-732-8989 today.

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Hartwig Law Firm | (508) 732-8989

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

385 Court St., Suite 210 Plymouth, MA 02360 (508) 732-8989 www.HartwigLawFirm.com

SHARE YOUR STORY! Do you want to share a story about your disability claim, experience with Hartwig Law Firm, or just a funny story in general? Contact Andrea at (508) 732-8989 or via email at Patrick@hartwiglawfirm. com and you could be featured in our next newsletter!

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MY GRANNY J: ONE TOUGH COOKIE WEIRD AND WACKY HALLOWEEN LAWS

MEET JEN, OUR MEDICAL RECORDS SPECIALIST

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KNOWING FACT FROM FICTION

CELEBRITY COUPLES MAKE FACE MASKS LOOK GOOD

SEEING DOUBLE CELEBRITY COUPLES ARE MATCHING MASKS AND STAYING SAFE Celebrity trends have a way of influencing the public, and the latest spotlight is on face masks. Some go big and bold with rhinestones and glitter while others opt for muted simplicity, but the newest trend to hit the tabloids is couples wearing matching face masks. The attention these masks are drawing is proving to be another great way to get citizens aboard the health and safety train. Starting all the way back in May, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez have been matching masks. They’ve been seen biking through their Miami neighborhood wearing neon-accented gray masks, and they often take to Instagram for a couples photoshoot in them. Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas have spent all of 2020 perfecting their synchronized couple stroll. They’re frequently spotted wearing masks to complement their respective outfits, but they have also been seen wearing matching versions featuring pastel prints. Chris Pine and his girlfriend Annabelle Wallis like to stroll through Los Angeles together sporting flashy bandanas tied around the lower half of their faces. They may not match patterns, but their cowboy-style face covering still screams “couple.”

Justin and Hailey Bieber got a little goofy with an Instagram photoshoot to showcase twinning blue masks with cartoon mouths, proving that proper health and safety can be both entertaining and artistic. This trend of celebrities finding ways to express themselves while staying safe and healthy isn’t just fun — it provides great examples for how others can do the same. Donning a mask doesn’t have to feel like a chore or a burden if it’s turned into an opportunity to get creative. As with these celebrities, standout matching sets of masks can garner attention, start conversations, and, most importantly of all, demonstrate that proper safety measures deserve extra dedication. Make mask shopping fun with your significant other or your family by finding masks that you’ll all enjoy wearing in public together. It’s a great opportunity to show your personality as a collective unit and say “yes” to staying healthy!

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Hartwig Law Firm | (508) 732-8989

Published by The Newsletter Pro | www.TheNewsletterPro.com