LSNYC Protects Vulnerable New Yorker from Losing Life-Saving Benefits

An SSI applicant came close to losing out on critical retroactive benefits after being misinformed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding an appeal deadline. When the client visited a local SSA field office to submit the appeal, a staff member incorrectly told them the deadline had passed and advised them they needed to file a new application or submit a statement to show good cause for late filing—a move that would have caused the client to lose out on the full scope of benefits owed.
Fortunately, the client turned to LSNYC. Within days, an LSNYC attorney reviewed the case and quickly identified that the appeal deadline had not actually passed. Together with the client, the attorney called the SSA and pressed the agency to process the appeal. Even when another staff member doubled down on the misinformation, LSNYC refused to back down. After persistent advocacy, SSA finally admitted the attorney was correct and accepted the appeal.
Because of LSNYC’s intervention, the client preserved their right to appeal—and with it, access to the critical income they depend on for basic survival.
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