COMMUNITY Outreach

PWDF to Put on Clinic about Social Security Work Incentive Programs and Overpayments          

For over a decade People with Disabilities Foundation (PWDF) has focused on advocating for the rights of people with invisible disabilities. Through our work with this population, especially our work with cases involving the Social Security Administration (SSA), we have discovered that there is a real need for representation and advising individuals on continuing disability reviews which involve complex work incentive rules and regulations.

The SSA has increased quotas for the number of work activity reviews done by the field office each year, they have determined that every dollar spent on a work review results in $15 in savings for the SSA [1]. Accordingly more people are having their benefits ceased due to the increase in the number and aggressiveness of these reviews. Amongst the population that is affected by the increasing amount of work reviews, those with invisible disabilities are affected disproportionately due in large part to their inability to understand the complex rules and communications from the SSA. Our agency is currently suing the SSA for their discriminatory behavior towards this population regarding work reviews Terrence Davis v. Michael Astrue, Case No. 3:06-CV-6108 EMC (NC) and John Doe v. Michael Astrue, Case No. 3:09-CV-980 EMC (NC). We would like to help reach a broader population by working to train others on the intricacies of the complicated Social Security Work Reviews. Our proposal is for a clinic.

1.  Part one is training by PWDF regarding the complicated Social Security Disability Work Incentive rules which are not the same for SSDI and SSI. The training will cover cessation of benefits and some resulting in overpayments.

Some of the main topics covered will be Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE), Unsuccessful Work Attempts (UWA) and a variety of other special circumstances. The trainings will be hosted by different partner organizations around the S.F. Bay Area.

2.  The second part is the clinic which will be offered around the Bay Area at different sites where the individuals who participated in our training will advise people who are or will be having work activity reviews with the SSA.

Please respond back with your interest in this clinic, we are trying to gauge interest in this topic. Please feel free to pass this on to any individuals, organizations, groups or schools in the Bay Area that might have an interest in this clinic. All questions and interest in participation can be sent to education@pwdf.org or our Program Manager of Education and Public Awareness, Steven Leibof, at sleibof@pwdf.org.

PWDF Profile

Who We Are

People With Disabilities Foundation is an operating 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California, which focuses on the rights of the mentally and developmentally disabled.

Services

Advocacy: PWDF advocates for Social Security claimant's disability benefits in eight Bay Area counties. We also provide services in disability rights, on issues regarding returning to work, and in ADA consultations, including areas of employment, health care, and education, among others. There is representation before all levels of federal court and Administrative Law Judges. No one is declined due to their inability to pay, and we offer a sliding scale for attorney's fees.

Education/Public Awareness: To help eliminate the stigma against people with mental disabilities in society, PWDF's educational program organizes workshops and public seminars, provides guest speakers with backgrounds in mental health, and produces educational materials such as videos.

Continuing Education Provider: State Bar of California MCLE, California Board of Behavioral Sciences Continuing Education, and Commission of Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.