Social Security Law, Policy, and Practice

This casebook covers Social Security law and practice, including selected current policy issues related to the scope and administration of the program. The book begins with an introductory chapter that places the Social Security Act in its historical and constitutional context. It also explores the future of Social Security with a brief discussion of selected contemporary policy issues. The remainder of the book can be divided into two parts. The first part consists of chapters on the eligibility requirements for benefits, including both financial and categorical criteria. The second part focuses on Social Security practice, including the administrative appeals process and judicial review. The book touches on all of the Act's major benefit programs; however, since the vast majority of contested Social Security claims involve disability benefits, the disability programs' eligibility criteria and related policy and practice issues are discussed in greater detail.

Social Security Law, Policy, and Practice, the new book from Professors Frank Bloch and Jon Dubin, provides a rich set of materials on the law and practice of social security law, especially social security disability law and practice, combined with a discussion of selected issues of social security policy. The book makes complex material clear and accessible and the chapters on social security practice and administrative advocacy are particularly timely and useful. Students and new lawyers will get a thorough exposure not only to the theoretical, policy, and doctrinal underpinnings of the law but also on how advocacy can translate these principles into action. Well done!" - Robert Dinerstein, Professor of Law & Associate Dean for Experiential Education, American University, Washington College of Law."Social Security law is a critically important area of law that is sprawling and complex. Mastery of the procedural regime is vital to practice in this field and the policy questions that our Social Security system deals with raise fundamental questions about our society that continue to be contested. Bloch Dubin's Social Security Law, Policy & Practice puts it all together in a clear and organized manner that enables students to understand both the big picture questions and the finer grained issues that make up the bread and butter of social security practice. Most importantly, it draws the connections between these different dimensions so that students can see how issues in individual cases link up to the larger policy questions. I cannot think of another single source that puts it all together so comprehensively and so clearly. It sets a new standard for teaching materials in this vital and growing field of practice." - Matthew Diller, Dean & Paul Fuller Professor of Law, Fordham University School of Law.