Law Office of Donna Simpson

09/21/2025

Too often, our curricula and media position racial and sexual identities as either/ors, despite the contradiction of the lives of our LGBTQ+ students of color.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, uplift LGBTQ+ Latinx voices when discussing and celebrating Hispanic Heritage ❤️. Revisit this Learning for Justice feature on how educators can counter this erasure: https://bit.ly/42A6xrf

09/20/2025

Trump’s social security chief says ‘everything’ is on the table and retirement is about to get a ‘different set of rules’
Source: Fortune

With Social Security projected to be insolvent by 2032, Commissioner Frank Bisignano says options like raising the retirement age are on the table for U.S.

09/20/2025

Having a handicap license pass displayed on my mirror I parked and got out of the car, I had this lady say to me, "well, you look perfectly normal to me!", as I turned to look at her and said, very seriously, "maybe that's part of the problem, you can't see what's lurking under my shell." The look on her face was priceless! Just because YOU can't SEE it doesn't mean it doesn't exist! Until you have walked in our shoes and have felt the pain we feel, keep your cruel and ignorant comments and opinions to yourself. I'm posting to stop people from mocking and laughing at people for things beyond their control...
Not one of my Facebook friends will copy and paste (but I am counting on a true family member or friend to do it). If you would be there no matter what then copy and paste this. I'm doing this to prove a friend wrong that someone is always listening. I care.
Hard to explain to someone who has no clue. It's a daily struggle being in pain or feeling sick on the inside while you look fine on the outside.
Please put this as your status for at least 1 hour if you or someone you know has an invisible illness (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), IBS, Crohn's, PTSD, Anxiety, Arthritis, Cancer, Heart Disease, Bipolar, Depression, Diabetes, Lupus, Fibromyalgia, MS, Scoliosis, AS, ME, , Epilepsy, hereditary angioedema , Migraines, Hashimotos, AUTISM, Borderline personality disorder, M.D.,D.D.D., CFS, Histiocytosis, O.D.D, A.D.H.D, RSD, RA (rheumatoid arthritis ) PBC,RLS ,COPD, Sarcoidosis, etc.) Never judge cause you cannot see a traumatic brain injury(stroke victim) ❤ 🙏
For those who don't know how to copy and paste on FB...hold your finger on the text.
I'm doing this for any family member or friend who is disabled but don't look it on the outside!
COPIED:
I’m posting this to support all those with invisible illnesses!!❤️🙏😇

11/11/2024

Today, we honor the brave men and women who have served our nation with distinction and commitment. As we observe Veterans Day, we convey our heartfelt thanks for your selflessness and tireless efforts to safeguard our freedoms. Your service is deeply appreciated.

09/02/2024

Don’t forget, Labor Day is OUR DAY! Happy Labor Day to every brother and sister, you make our proud.

05/13/2024

If the overpayment of your benefit is under $2000, Social Security will now grant a waiver upon request.

As the issue of overpayments commands more public attention, the media turns to NOSSCR to lend expertise and depth to this systemic problem. NOSSCR CEO David Camp shared insights in a recent CNBC report examining changes the Social Security Administration is making to its repayment program. The new....

12/07/2023

December 7, 2023

We Can't Wait Act Introduced in Senate

Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have introduced the We Can't Wait Act "to amend title II of the Social Security Act to permit disabled individuals to elect to receive disability insurance benefits during the disability insurance benefit waiting period...." The bill number is S.3400, and it has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Senator Stabenow announced this bill in her keynote address at NOSSCR's May 2023 annual conference. Ending the five-month SSDI exclusion has been the goal of several legislative proposals we support, but We Can't Wait is NOSSCR's top priority because it has no net impact on the trust fund and already has strong bipartisan support. Denying SSDI claimants benefits for the first five months is bankrupting the disabled and denying earned insurance benefits to the terminally ill. This bill gives claimants a choice to receive benefits without delay. NOSSCR is part of the We Can't Wait Coalition, which includes Paralyzed Veterans of America, NAMI, NADR, and the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network.

The bill's text will be posted here soon. If you want to learn how to support this vital effort, contact NOSSCR at [email protected].

We will keep you updated as the bill progresses.

The NOSSCR Team

02/17/2021

The sun is peaking through but it is still icy out. Our office is closed again today, February 17, because of the weather. Stay safe.

02/16/2021

We are closed for icy and cold weather. Our power has been mostly on but the sidewalk is icy and dangerous. Stay home and stay safe.

11/15/2020

Thanks to Charles T. Hall for bringing this press release to my attention.

Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John B. Larson (D-CT), and Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced it would finalize a rule on December 16, 2020 to change the Social Security Administration’s appeals process by replacing independent and impartial Administrative Law Judges with internal agency lawyers:
“For nearly two years, we’ve sounded the alarm that this change would erode due process for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income applicants and beneficiaries and threaten their access to their earned benefits. The rule puts unqualified agency staff in control of deciding appeals hearings and contradicts the congressional intent of the law governing such proceedings. We condemn this political decision that will go into effect just as the Trump Administration is on its way out the door. It is our hope that the Biden Administration rights this grievous wrong and ensures that all those who are eligible can access their disability, retirement, and survivors’ benefits.”

I join Richard Neal in this request to the Biden Administration to bring independent AAJ's back to the Appeals Council. This agency has to have independent judges to insure impartiality.