Hartwig Law Firm - September/October 2021

Hartwig Law Firm - September/October 2021

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This year marks the 25th anniversary since my senior year of high school. That year, and that fall particularly, was a milestone in my life because it was my last season of high school football. I grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, an old steeltown where high school football was like a religion — and Friday night games were like a weekly church service. I loved playing football and being part of something that the whole town enjoyed. Even more than that, though, I loved how it connected me to the teammates who, to this day, are some of my closest friends. I’ve been friends with some of the guys who I played football with since I started kindergarten in 1984. When you grow up with someone all through school and, in my case, play football with them, too, you can’t help but build lifelong bonds. Even though we all went our separate ways after we graduated high school, we’ve continued to stay in touch over the years, and we’re as close as we were 36 years ago. Every fall, for one weekend, we travel from all over the country back to where it all began. THE TEAM I CAN COUNT ON FOR LIFE

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Every Labor Day weekend, we gather together once again in Youngstown to celebrate the start of the football season! The atmosphere of the town around football season is always just as vibrant and exciting as I remember it, and nothing beats watching the Friday night game in the nice, cool fall weather. That weekend is always a reminder of the things that tied my lifelong friends and me together. Now, you might not be a football fan. That’s okay; not everyone is. But I think it’s safe to say that everyone has something, whether it be family, a hobby, or even a faith that binds you to other people who you no doubt become close with. And what I want to stress to you is this: those lifelong bonds, like the ones that I have with my high school football teammates, are essential for getting anyone through tough times. Every day, I work with clients who are enduring some of the toughest struggles they’ve ever had to go through. In working with them, I’ve come to find out that nothing gets you through those challenging seasons like a circle of people who can come alongside you and help you through them. I’ve had my close childhood friends to lean on in past hard times myself, and I’ve helped them through hard times, as well. When you’re close with someone, it’s not even something you question — you just help them because they’re in trouble. I hope that if you’re going through a challenging time right now, you have a community of people that you can fall back on. And, if the challenges you’re facing are related to an injury you’ve sustained in a car accident, work accident, or in some other way that’s no fault of your own, you can rest assured that, even though we haven’t known each other for long, we at Hartwig Law will be there for you.

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Hartwig Law Firm | (508) 732-8989

Don’t Fall This Fall! 3 Tips for Fall Prevention September marks the start of fall , but it also serves as an important reminder about falling . Falling is one of the greatest dangers seniors face. As adults age, take more medication, and lose some mobility, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay upright or regain balance — even when tripping over the smallest object. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 out of 5 falls cause serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries. Falling can also increase a senior’s chance of falling again. But for as common as it may be, falling doesn’t have to be your norm. You can lower your risk of falling and injury with a few simple steps. Move More Your body was designed to move! When you don’t move your body enough, which can happen when you age, your muscles and joints can become weak and stiff. The best way to strengthen your reactions and improve your balance is to move your body. A physical therapist can help you develop a routine that targets your balance while strengthening your muscles and joints.

Improve Your Home Your home just might be your biggest threat when it comes to falls, so improve it with a few changes! Install grab bars and railings on steps and in the bathtub for extra support. Grips on the bottom of the bathtub and on slippery surfaces can give you a secure footing, while lighting along the hallway and in stairwells can better illuminate walkways. Even something as simple as moving a table or decor item out of the hallway can be beneficial! Review Your Medicines Sometimes medication can influence balance and movement. Talk with your doctor about the side effects of your medication and adjust accordingly. You may need to consider alternatives, but if that’s not possible, physical therapy can provide assistance. It’s designed to help you improve your balance and get stronger — which can lower your risk of falling.

You can learn more about fall prevention and risks online at CDC.gov.

Life isn’t always easy, but luckily, we can find comfort and security in certain items, activities, foods, and seasons. Fall happens to be one of my family’s favorite seasons. The change in the weather from the sometimes inescapably hot summer days to the crisp fall days never fails to bring a smile to our faces. Then, once the leaves start turning, my kids ask if we can make one of their favorite fall treats: cinnamon biscuit donuts. It’s a fall tradition of ours to make them as a family, as sure as shorter days and football — and everyone loves making them almost as much as they love eating them! Since this recipe has brought my family so much joy over the years, I figured I would share it with all of you, so that you and your family can have as much fun making and eating these as we do. So, without further ado, here are the ingredients and directions for cinnamon biscuit donuts! Get a Taste of Fall With Stephany Barrineau’s Cinnamon Biscuit Donuts!

Ingredients: •

1 can of Pillsbury Grands! biscuits

• • •

Cooking oil

1 cup of sugar 2 tbsp cinnamon

Directions: 1. Line up your biscuits and use a cookie cutter to punch out the middle of each biscuit to make it look like a donut with a hole in the center. 2. Preheat cooking oil to 350 F and fry the donuts for a few minutes on each side. 3. Pull them out of the oil and let them cool and drain on some paper towels. 4. While they cool, mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Toss the donuts in the mixture, making sure you get a nice even coating around the whole donut.

5. Enjoy!

Nothing quite fills you up like a nice, warm, homemade donut on a crisp fall day. I hope that you enjoy these cinnamon-sugary treats just like my kids and I do!

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Knowing how the Social Security Administration (SSA) decides who qualifies for disability can prove extremely beneficial for anyone submitting a claim. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just proving you’re unable to work due to an injury. In order for a disability claim to be approved, there are five requirements needed, each overseen by an examiner, the Disability Determination Services (DDS) department, and a medical team. 1. Are you still working? The SSA first looks at an individual’s current employment. If the person is still working, regardless of the disability’s role, and earns a certain amount on a monthly basis, their claim will get rejected. The current amount is $1,310 per month or $1,820 if you’re blind. If you make more than these amounts, your claim will not be approved. 2. Is your disability considered severe by the SSA? While “severe” can be a scary word, the SSA’s definition is much more tame. Essentially, if the disability hinders sight, hearing, speaking, walking, or just about any other interaction you can think of, then it is considered severe. 3. Is your disability on the SSA’s lists? The SSA has lists of conditions that it considers disabling. This step simply boils down to whether your disability meets one of the conditions on the list. If your specific condition is not listed, the DDS will look to see if it is comparable to another disabling condition that is on the list. 4. Can you perform the same work as before? The DDS will then look to see how much the disability actually interferes with your daily work. If it believes you can still function in the same role, it will deny your claim. 5. Can you do any other work? The last thing that the DDS will evaluate is whether you can perform any other type of work. It looks at factors such as age, physical condition, skills, and work experience to determine if you could switch jobs and continue working. If the DDS finds that you meet this criteria, it could deny your claim. Meeting each of these steps still does not guarantee an approved claim. Many people have been rejected even though they meet every bit of criteria. Though the burden of proof shifts to the SSA, it still helps to have an experienced Social Security lawyer by your side. If you need help filing your SSDI or SSI claim, Hartwig Law Firm can answer your questions at (508) 732-8989. The Social Security Administration’s 5-Step Evaluation Process Ensuring Your Disability Claim Is Approved

ONE-PAN APPLE CIDER CHICKEN

Bring the taste of fall into your kitchen with this sizzling skillet meal.

INGREDIENTS

•

1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs

• • •

2 tsp Dijon mustard 4 tsp olive oil, divided 3 sweet apples, cut into 1/2-inch slices 2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped, plus more for garnish

• •

1 tsp salt, divided

1/2 tsp black pepper, divided 1/2 cup apple cider

•

•

DIRECTIONS

1. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Set aside. 2. In a small bowl, combine apple cider and mustard. Set aside. 3. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm 2 tsp olive oil. When shimmering, add chicken thighs top-side down. Cook for 4 minutes, then flip and cook for 4 more minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil. Wipe the skillet clean. 4. Heat the remaining oil in the skillet, then add sliced apples, remaining salt and pepper, and rosemary. Cook for 5 minutes. 5. Return the chicken to the skillet and add apple cider- mustard mixture. Cook for 5 minutes, then serve sprinkled with rosemary!

Answer on Page 4

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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

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The Team I Can Count on for Life Celebrate Fall Prevention Month With These 3 Tips The Taste of Fall: Cinnamon Biscuit Donuts! The Social Security Administration’s 5-Step Evaluation Process

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 [email protected], and you could be featured in our next newsletter!

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One-Pan Apple Cider Chicken

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A Few New Legal Dramas for Your List

NEW LEGAL DRAMAS FOR YOUR LIST Don’t Miss Out on These Gripping Stories!

Few places house events with higher stakes than the courtroom. Lawyers, judges, and jury work with (and against) one another, all while the fate of a person’s livelihood hangs in the balance. The courtroom has indeed captured our collective imagination, which is why television dramas about lawyers and courtrooms have been so popular for decades. Even in 2021, that hasn’t changed. So, if you’re a courtroom drama junkie and are looking for your next binge, then check out some of the following titles as we begin the season of new TV shows. ‘For Life’ The verdict isn’t always the end of the story — sometimes it’s the beginning. “For Life” follows a prison inmate wrongfully convicted of a life sentence and his desperate struggle to become a lawyer. He then works toward overturning his case and returning to his family.

This ABC show was a huge hit with critics and fans alike and has been greenlighted for a second season. ‘Defending Jacob’ Oaths in the court of law are strong, but are they stronger than the bonds of family? That’s what one former assistant district attorney will have to answer when one of his son’s classmates is discovered murdered, and many signs point to his son, Jacob, as the killer. This miniseries debuted on Apple TV+ in April 2020 and stars Chris Evans of “Captain America” fame. ‘Perry Mason’ If your taste in story settings is more art deco than postmodern, then you might enjoy this Emmy Award-nominated show from HBO. Set in 1931, Perry Mason is a top-notch criminal defense attorney, who takes on what could be the biggest case the bustling city of Los

Angeles has ever seen. As much a character study as it is a crime drama, the performances in this show may suck you in even more than the story itself. But if none of these seem particularly interesting to you, “Law & Order” is still there to help scratch your crime drama itch.

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Hartwig Law Firm | (508) 732-8989

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