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Prairie State Legal Services - "Making a Positive Difference" |
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Gary's Story Social Security |
| Medication had kept Gary’s severe schizophrenia under control. However, when the Social Security Administration erroneously terminated his benefits, he became homeless and unable to obtain and keep a supply of his medication. As a result, his schizophrenia became uncontrolled and he required numerous hospitalizations and was ultimately placed in a nursing home. |
| The social work department of the nursing home contacted Prairie State about Gary’s situation. Investigation of the matter revealed that his benefits had been terminated under a law which makes “fugitive felons” ineligible to receive SSI. The client has been on probation several years prior for a misdemeanor retail theft charge, but he was certainly not a fugitive felon. The termination of his SSI also had led to a claim that he had been overpaid $17,000 during the time he was supposedly an ineligible fugitive felon. |
| A Prairie State staff attorney filed an appeal and presented proof to the SSA that the client was not a fugitive felon. A decision was entered restoring his SSI assistance and removing the overpayment. With his restored income and medical coverage, the client was able to return to a more normal life in the community. |