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Lancaster and Eure is proud to be a recipient of the 2019 Bronze Sponsor Award from the Florida Workers Advocates annual forum. Each year, the FWA gathers its members for a multi-day informational seminar, providing the latest judiciary and legislative information attorneys representing injured workers throughout the state. This year, Lancaster & Eure attorneys Rosemary Eure and Eric Lancaster served as informational speakers, and presented their knowledge and expertise to attorneys throughout the state. The law firm of Lancaster & Eure is honored to promote the education and advancement of attorneys representing injured workers.  Lancaster & Eure is again a proud supporter of Red Nose Day. Money raised through Red Nose Day provides grants to support programs that ensure children who are living in poverty are safe, healthy and educated. Half of the money supports programs in America across all 50 states and Puerto Rico; the other half supports programs internationally in some of the poorest communities in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Commitment to this worthy organization demonstrates our members’ dedication to helping others.
Members of Lancaster & Eure took time from busy schedules to relax and unwind during a spectacular kayak voyage exploring the pristine, intercostal waterways of Sarasota Bay and mangrove tunnels of Lido Key. Our journey included manatee and dolphin sightings, as well a pair of amusing cormorants escorting our group in open waters. We are grateful for this magical adventure here in our local Sarasota waterways.   Whether it is for construction, pizza delivery, or anything in between, many people drive vehicles as part of their work responsibilities. Unfortunately, many of these workers end up injured as a result of a motor vehicle accident while driving on the job. A car accident that occurs during your work can result in various types of cases, all arising from the same incident. Most importantly, a worker injured in a car accident can be entitled to benefits through Worker’s Compensation as well as a personal injury lawsuit. However, the insurance carrier may be entitled to assert a lien on your eventual recovery, depending on the outcome of the case.
Although Worker’s Compensation does not provide any benefits due to pain and suffering, the treatment received from authorized medical providers is paid entirely by the worker’s compensation carrier. If you have been injured in a car accident while working, it is important to have skilled representation for both your personal injury and workers compensation case. At Lancaster & Eure, we have experience in both of these areas. Our personal injury and workers compensation teams will work side by side for you, to ensure the best possible outcome in your case. Call our offices today at (941) 365-7575 to schedule a free initial consultation and case evaluation with one of our experienced attorneys. Hard working L&E members started the day with pre-Easter Brunch, while displaying their fabulous Easter bonnets! We wish everyone a bright and shining Easter filled with family and friends!   The Social Security Administration and the Office of the Inspector General are joining forces to inform the public about scam phone calls. In these phone calls, the caller will pretend to be an employee of the Social Security Administration in order to gain sensitive information from their targets. This information includes social security numbers, and bank account numbers.
Although the Social Security Administration will sometimes call disability applicants, these phone calls are generally scheduled with you beforehand. A social security employee will never threaten you or promise to secure your benefits while over the phone. WHAT YOU CAN DO- If you receive a call and the person claims to be from Social Security, you can always hang up if the phone call seems suspicious. If you have an attorney representing you in your disability case, all phone calls can be made with the attorney on the line as well. If you believe that you have been contacted by a fraudulent person posing as a Social Security Administration, end the phone call immediately. You can report fraudulent calls to the office of the Inspector General fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or online at https://oig.ssa.gov/report.  This year’s Sarasota Salvation Army Glitz at the Ritz-Carlton award luncheon honored Schoenbaum Humanitarian Award recipients Brock and Julie Leach for the unwavering commitment to humanitarian work in our local communities of Manatee and Sarasota counties. Lancaster & Eure is proud to sponsor this event honoring the Leaches and their commitment to social justice, as well as the Salvation Army’s mission to improve the lives of vulnerable members of our society. https://salvationarmyflorida.org/sarasota   Lancaster & Eure’s 1st Quarter Employee Spotlight Award Recipient is: Louise Geers
Position: Bookkeeper Louise joined Lancaster & Eure in July of 2015 and has been a dedicated member of the firm going on 4 years. She is knowledgeable in bookkeeping practices and is reliable in timely completion of her duties, demonstrating that she is truly a dependable team member. Lancaster & Eure recognizes Louise’s talent and today we honor her for the commitment she brings to her position! What do you like most about your job? I find law to be very fascinating. I enjoy everything I do and like the way everyone works with one another as a team. Whenever anyone needs something bookkeeping related, I am able to provide them the information as quickly as possible. What aspect of your position gives you the most personal satisfaction? Projects ~ I strive to complete them quickly and accurately for both attorneys and legal support staff members. Tell us something that might surprise us about you. I started bookkeeping for my Dad’s business when I was 16. He had a very successful business with numerous employees. After high school, I went to Cincinnati Technical College to study psychology. My goal was to be someone who could help others and make a difference in peoples’ lives. However, I would always work in bookkeeping/accounting positions, having run an accounting business for over 7 years, working closely with CPAs. My grandmother had mentioned our family ancestors were accountants. Over the years, I have taken numerous accounting courses to improve my knowledge and skills. How do you define success? I evaluate success based on not only my work, but the work of the L&E team. For me to be successful, the team needs to achieve both individual and team goals. I define success based on outcomes. I also believe success stems from a happy, healthy life at home with family, good friends and pets. Who do you feel is the most influential person in your life… past or present? My Grandmother. Her name was Bernice Vane Taylor. She was a very successful, well educated, religious woman who was well respected by all who met her. She instilled in all her grandchildren to be “Bright and Cheerful”! Where is the best place you’ve traveled and why? Maggie Valley, North Carolina, where I married and spent my honeymoon. The wedding took place early in the morning on top of a mountain with a few friends. We stayed in a beautiful log cabin and ventured out each day to see amazing caves and waterfalls. It was very beautiful. What is your favorite thing to do? I love jet skiing on the Bay, taking long walks and enjoying the fresh air. I also enjoy bike riding and reading a good book.  Rain or Shine was the moto for this year’s Southeastern Guide Dogs Walkathon held at Nathan Benderson Park. Team Lancaster & Eure proudly participated in this valuable community event to raise funds to provide highly trained, elite guide or service dogs for community members who rely on their services. For a person who can’t wait to know the joy of independence, these guide dogs provide increased mobility, unconditional love, and freedom. https://www.guidedogs.org/  If you have been granted disability benefits by the Social Security Administration, you are also eligible for other benefits from the US Government. This includes the “Access Pass”, which is a free, lifetime pass offering free admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites throughout the US. Over 300 of these locations are in Florida, spanning from parks in Key West to the Panhandle. In addition to free admittance, the pass provides for free admittance to up to 3 adults traveling in the same vehicle as the pass holder. Many locations also offer discounts to pass holders for their expanded amenity fees, such as camping, swimming, and guided tours. There are multiple ways to apply for your access pass: you can apply online or via mail. Both of these options will also require a $10 application fee. However, you can apply in person for free at participating federal recreation sites or offices. You will need to bring identification and proof of your disability determination (such as your notice of award or favorable decision). For more information, visit: https://store.usgs.gov/faq#Access-Pass https://www.recreation.gov/   You should always report an on-the-job injury as soon as possible, but sometimes it is impossible to report an injury immediately. Under Florida Worker’s Compensation law, you are required to report the injury within 30 days after the accident occurs. Be sure to make a note of the date, time, and the person to whom you reported your injury.
Unlike many other types of injury cases, a Worker’s Compensation case has a statute of limitations that extends based upon your treatment. As long as you are examined by an authorized medical provider once every 365 days, your case remains open. It is important to see an authorized worker’s compensation medical provider more often, such as once every six months, so that your time does not expire. Many other issues may also affect the statute of limitations on your worker’s compensation case. You should discuss the details of your case with and experienced attorney so that you know your rights and resources. Call Lancaster & Eure at (941) 365-7575 to schedule a free consultation!  After a workplace injury, many Florida workers are unable to fulfill the usual physical demands of their job. Some injured workers become, at least temporarily, unable to work at all. And with less work often comes a lower paycheck.
Florida Worker’s Compensation law provides for injured workers to receive lost wages benefits while they heal and get treatment. This coverage is separated into two major categories- Temporary Total Disability and Temporary Partial Disability. The type of temporary benefits that you qualify for depends on what the Worker’s Compensation doctor decides about your injury. Temporary Total Disability benefits are due when the doctor says that at this time, you are completely unable to work. Temporary partial benefits are due when the doctor states that you may return to work, but only as long as you follow certain restrictions. Doctors provide this information by filling out a form known as the DWC-25. A copy of this form is provided to you at the end of the doctor’s appointment. It is a 2-page form that can be one of the most important documents in your Worker’s Compensation case, so make sure you ask for a copy if the doctor doesn’t provide one to you! Following the restrictions in your DWC-25 is one of the most important things you can do for your Worker’s Compensation case. When you receive the DWC-25, be sure to give a copy of it to your employer. Your employer is required to follow the restrictions in the DWC-25. If they offer you work that fits within your doctor’s restrictions, then you should perform that work, even if it is not a task you normally do. On the other hand, you can- and should- refuse work that does not follow the restrictions set by your Worker’s Compensation doctor. Work restrictions and lost wages are a complicated area of the law- the attorneys at Lancaster & Eure are here to answer your questions and guide you through this process. Attorneys and staff members at Lancaster & Eure are dedicated to assisting our clients and truly value their sincere appreciation:
“I just wanted to say thank you to you and your phenomenal team. It's been a tough road and you all made it easier to bear with your knowledge and support. I would happily recommend you and the company to the community without a second thought. My family and just can’t say thank you enough for your dedication to my situation and case and am forever in your debt. Again thank you, thank you, thank you.”  The amazing members of L&E were successful in reaching our blood donation goal today! We thank the Big Red Bus for allowing us to be part of assisting with the lifesaving needs of our local hospitals and patients in our community.  SSA Not Affected by Potential Government Shutdown
We’re sure you’ve heard that the government may partially shut down on Friday, December 21. Because the Social Security Administration received its Fiscal Year 2019 appropriation in September 2018, any potential shutdown will not affect SSA. Your hearings will be conducted as scheduled, and all district and hearing offices will be open as usual, even if there is a government shutdown. We also want to clarify that the prototype states that will be instituting reconsideration on January 1, 2019 are California (Los Angeles North and Los Angeles West), Colorado, Louisiana, New Hampshire and New York. This means that for any case in which an initial denial is issued on or after January 1, 2019 in those states, the next level of appeal is to file a request for reconsideration, not a request for an ALJ hearing. Reconsideration is scheduled to be reinstituted in Pennsylvania on April 1, 2019. Alabama and Michigan are scheduled to start reconsideration on October 1, 2019; Missouri on January 1, 2020; and Alaska on March 1, 2020. Members of Lancaster & Eure began this festive holiday season by participating in SPARCC’s (Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center) annual holiday gift drive. This valuable organization serves survivors of domestic and sexual violence as well as actively engages in promoting social change through community awareness and education in an effort to prevent violence in the future. L&E appreciates this opportunity to bring a bit of joy and happiness to those in our community facing a difficult period in their lives during the holidays. https://www.sparcc.net/get-involved/involved/   As 2018 comes to a close and 2019 approaches, it is important to be aware of changes in Social Security amounts that will come into effect in 2019.
For SSI, the 2019 monthly maximum benefit amount will be $771, an increase from $750 in 2018. An eligible couple will have a monthly maximum amount of $1,157, up from the 2018 benefit limit. How are these new amounts calculated? Social Security determines these amounts based on their determination of how the Cost of Living has increased from the prior year. The Social Security Administration has published their increase for 2019 is 2.8 percent. This is the largest annual increase since 2011. For individuals applying for disability benefits, the Social Security Administration also states that an applicant must be unable to engage in “substantial gainful activity,” which is an annually set amount of monthly earnings calculated before taxes. For non-blind individuals, in 2019 the SGA amount will increase to $1,220 per month. The SSA determines this amount based on the annual changes in the National Average Wage Index, which go into effect January 1, 2019. The process of filing for Social Security disability benefits can be both complicated and confusing. Call the offices of Lancaster & Eure today at 941-365-7575 for a free consultation regarding your potential disability case. The days surrounding Thanksgiving is considered one of the busiest traffic times of the year. More people on the road means that there is a greater possibility for traffic accidents, and Lancaster & Eure recommends the following:
 Lancaster & Eure's 4th Quarter Employee Spotlight Award Recipient is Leah Elting. Leah began her career with L&E in April, 2017. During the past 1-1/2 years, Leah has proven herself to be a knowledgeable, conscientious legal assistant providing guidance to clients. Won practice area. ] Leah always displays a pleasant demeanor even in challenging situations. Originally from Sacramento, CA, Leah began her career in law over thirty years ago, transitioning to Nashville, TN and then onto Bradenton, where she now resides with her husband. Lancaster & Eure values and recognizes Leah’s commitment to protecting our client’s rights and her ability to assist clients as they navigate through the legal process. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  What do you like most about your job?
The Challenge! What aspect of your position gives you the most personal satisfaction? My efforts. I try to do the best in everything I do, including my job. Who do you feel is the most influential person in your life… past or present? My parents. Tell us something that might surprise us about you. I love riding dirt bikes. How do you define success? Happiness. Where is the best place you’ve traveled and why? It’s a toss-up~ Redwoods in California for its serenity or Costa Maya, Mexico for its beauty! What are your favorite things to do? Camping, Boating & Jet skiing.  The Social Security Administration offers two different programs for people who cannot work for at least one year because of their medical conditions. The two programs are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The programs have a variety of different requirements in order for someone to be eligible.
For both programs, you need to prove the following:
The two programs have different requirements. For SSDI, you need to prove that you have worked and paid into the system for a sufficient amount of time depending upon your age. For SSI, you do not need a work history, but you must prove that your assets are low enough to qualify for assistance. In most cases, your initial application for disability will be denied. This happens to many individuals who have qualifying medical conditions. Speak with one of our experienced, professional attorneys today to determine if applying for disability is right for you. Call to schedule a free initial consultation at (941) 365-7575.
 Wishing everyone a Safe, Happy Halloween!
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