Social Security Law Office for the Rio Grande Valley - Mark Di Carlo, PLLC

10/13/2026

Generally and legally, "obesity" is supposed to be considered by the Social Security Disability Judges in determining your disabling conditions, particularly in conjunction with musculoskeletal problems.

Practically, however, I do not think they consider "obesity" at all, although they do address it in the decision. For example stating your B.M.I., that is body mass index.

10/05/2026

It could happen.

I had represented a man 8 years ago. He came in today for representation because the Administration terminated his disability benefits. He did not have the reasons why they terminated them, but usually they state your condition is "improved."

From what I could tell his conditions have not improved.

So we began the process of appealing the decision to stop disability benefits.

09/26/2026

I was recently appealing a Judges decision, for a client, who had represented herself, and lost.

The Judge found she could do "Medium work". However, the client stated at the hearing that she has a home health care provider.

I had the client bring in proof that she had a home health care provider, about 17 hours a week. I then attached the document to the appeal, and asserted the client could not do medium work, if she couldn't take care of herself.

09/16/2026

Just spoke to a man who wanted to discuss applying for social security disability, and hiring me to represent him. I told him that it would greatly improve his chances of winning disability if he were regularly seeing Doctors for treatment.

He took great offense when I said that, and when I tried to discuss this issue with him he got angry and hung up on me.

I was only trying to help him win his case.

08/22/2026

I recently had a woman call me who had represented herself at a social security disability hearing and had lost the hearing.

I agreed to represent her, and to appeal the Judges unfavorable decision.

07/28/2026

I have a client who has been with me awhile, if we lose at the hearing and before the appeals court in Virginia; I intend to file a lawsuit on his behalf in Federal Court. I feel the client has been treated unfairly.

Such lawsuits are rarely filed for several reasons such as delay, the amount of work the Attorney is required to do, and brcause generally if you win, you do not really win, but you case is remanded or sent back to the same Judge who originally denied you.

06/23/2026

One of the biggest problems a client and applicant for social security disability has, is how are they going to economically survive until the case is, hopefully decided in their favor.

Basically, they cannot work and have no income.

That is because generally the case takes from four to eighteen months to win.

That is something, I cannot really help them with.

05/30/2026

Me, generally explaining the two Disability programs to a possible client:

"Well, you have to have worked 5 of the past 10 years to get social security disability. And you have not.

As to the other program, for Supplemental Security Income. Your husband works and makes good money at $100,000.00 per year, so you do not qualify for Supplemental Security Income because your income is too high.

So generally, no matter how disabled you are, if God forbid you didn't have any arms or legs you could not get either program and do not qualify for either program."

05/07/2026

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8pYgJbm/

Check out Mark A. Di Carlo, PLLC’s video.

04/30/2026

Generally, you have to be seeing Doctors on a regular basis to win your social security disability case.