MEDIA ADVISORYContact: |
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Severn Williams |
510-336-9566 |
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Nina Erlich-Williams |
805-965-141 |
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Tuesday, August 11, 2009 Government stops unlawful Social Security suspensions; agrees to repay more than half a billion in back benefitsMore than 200,000 people would be eligible again through court settlementOakland, Calif. – The Social Security Administration has agreed to repay more than $500 million in benefits that were unlawfully withheld from 80,000 people whose benefits have been suspended or denied since January 1, 2007. In addition, people whose benefits were suspended or denied between 2000 and 2006 also will be notified and given a chance to re-establish eligibility. All told, more than 200,000 people will benefit from the settlement. A hearing on preliminary approval of the settlement will be held before U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11 in Oakland. Martinez v. Astrue was filed to challenge the enforcement of a narrowly drawn provision of the Social Security Act. Congress designed the provision to prevent people fleeing the law from using government benefits to avoid arrest. SSA relied on an automated database matching program to identify suspect beneficiaries, thus unlawfully suspending benefits from tens of thousands of beneficiaries each year. Targeted beneficiaries were routinely informed by SSA staff that they could not appeal SSA decisions. The plaintiffs in the case are represented by the National Senior Citizens Law Center, pro bono counsel from the law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson, the Urban Justice Center Mental Health Project, Disability Rights California, and the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County. To schedule interviews with plaintiffs and lead counsel in the case, access a detailed press release (embargoed until after the August 11 hearing concludes), receive profiles of individuals affected by the policy and settlement, and see copies of the complaint, settlement agreement and motion for preliminary approval, please contact Severn Williams at 510-336-9566 or sev@sevwilliams.com.### |
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