November 27, 2024 by Ashley Norris
Lone Star Legal Aid’s Julie Flowers Secures Full SSI Benefits for Disabled Client
Topic
Story of Justice
Life’s challenges can sometimes become overwhelming, especially for those with disabilities facing financial hardship. At Lone Star Legal Aid, we strive to advocate for individuals who find themselves in difficult circumstances. One such client was Lauren, a determined woman who, after facing a divorce and serious health issues, sought our help in securing her rightful Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
Lauren, once a dedicated schoolteacher in Texas, had been forced to leave her career due to debilitating health issues that left her reliant on a motorized wheelchair and struggling with limited use of her hands. Despite her intelligence and experience, her physical limitations made it impossible for her to work in any capacity, even in a teleworking setting. Compounding her difficulties, her past as a schoolteacher left her ineligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and she had already tapped into her modest teacher retirement fund.
After her husband left, Lauren moved in with her elderly mother, who was also on a fixed income. This situation added another layer of complexity to her SSI claim, as the Social Security Administration (SSA) initially classified her as receiving partial SSI benefits due to her mother’s income. Lauren felt a mix of guilt and fear about relying on her mother’s limited resources, further exacerbating her financial and emotional distress.
Recognizing the importance of securing the full amount of SSI for her, Staff Attorney Julie Flowers collaborated with our Public Benefits team to devise a strategy to advocate for her. We engaged in discussions with her SSA representative, both in-person and over the phone. After persistent efforts to demonstrate that she was indeed contributing her fair share to household expenses, the SSA finally agreed to adjust her benefits.
The outcome was significant: Lauren’s SSI benefits increased by approximately $300 a month. For individuals living at or below the poverty line, this increase can be life changing. The relief and gratitude she expressed were palpable, as she realized that she could rely on her income without feeling as though she was draining her mother’s limited financial resources.
In addition to securing her full SSI, Julie also assisted her in obtaining food stamps and Medicaid, further stabilizing her situation. This case stands as a poignant reminder of the impact we can have on our clients’ lives, particularly those who are among the most vulnerable. It’s cases like these that truly illustrate the difference that dedicated legal advocacy can make.
Of the case, Julie remarks: “It’s cases like this that remind me why I became a legal aid lawyer. They remind me of what inspired 22-year-old Julie to participate in her law school’s legal aid clinic and pursue that type of work.”
Names have been changed to protect the identity of the client(s).
Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. LSLA focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety, stability, health, and wellbeing; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those with disabilities, the aging, survivors of crime and disasters, the unemployed and underemployed, the unhoused, those with limited English language skills, and the LGBTQIA+ community. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.LoneStarLegal.org.
Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org.
