Securing Benefits for Belinda's Child

Meet Belinda, a single mom with low income. Belinda and her boyfriend had a child together, but then the father passed away. During this time of grief, Belinda realized that the father had never signed a legal document such as a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity or birth certificate to establish parentage over the child. Without this, the child could not receive survivor benefits for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) based on the father’s death. There was nothing legally tying the father with the child. Belinda needed help. That is when Belinda turned to PSLS. PSLS attorneys researched the legal requirements to establish parentage with the deceased father. A key step was helping Belinda obtain a series of DNA tests, but the tests are expensive. That is when PSLS turned to a community partner for help. The community partner provided funding to Belinda for the required DNA tests, totaling $600. Today, thanks to help from PSLS and its community partner, parentage has been established, and Belinda can apply for SSI survivor benefits for her child!

Name was changed to protect client confidentiality.