In District Court, we won a Social Security disability case for a client who has multiple impairments, including fibromyalgia, depression, back pain and other impairments. (Case No. 4:16-cv-023580-JSC.) We litigated fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act and received all requested fees.

PWDF is focusing on Social Security Administration (SSA) abuses related to severe mental illness and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities. We just agreed to represent on appeal an individual who was found to meet a psychosis listing, paranoid schizophrenia, which is the highest level of severity; however, the judge found he could engage in competitive employment and denied benefits to him even though he had no lawyer at the time.

We recently agreed to represent a person on appeal for disability benefits because the judge omitted evidence of involuntary admission to a hospital’s psychiatric ward, while at the same time finding there was no evidence of mental disability during the same time period.

PWDF is considering filing a complaint in federal court against the SSA on the basis that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries are having their benefits suspended without a required pre-termination due process hearing. If there is an ongoing recoupment of an overpayment during these illegal cessations/terminations/suspensions, the SSA has offset 100% of the SSI check amount, instead of the 10% maximum allowed by law, If and when these individuals’ benefits are reinstated.

PWDF’s next two legal clinics for Social Security disability beneficiaries with post-entitlement / eligibility issues are Tuesday, March 3 and Thursday, April 26 2018 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Consultations are by appointment only; for more information, call (415) 931-3070.

We are seeking to hire a Managing Attorney. See our Careers page for a description of this new position.