An Update from the Frontlines

Last Thursday, we gathered with a group of our supporters at Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP to talk about our caseload so far this year and the challenges we are facing, and to celebrate the impact our donors and friends are helping make possible. Staff Attorney Hunter Wolff spoke about a case demonstrating the impact of new draconian federal policies, and Social Worker Cassie Walter discussed helping a client with significant mental health challenges.

Below is a story shared by Staff Attorney Hunter Wolff at the event. Click here for event photos.

“Edward” came to ALRP after Social Security abruptly shut off his Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits based on their determination that there had been an overpayment to him of $15,000.

Under SSI—a federal program that supports seniors and people with disabilities who have little to no income, limited assets, and are unable to work or collect disability or retirement benefits—an individual who has more than $2,000 in their bank account is no longer eligible for benefits (a figure that was set in the 1980s and has never been raised since). Edward had received a modest lawsuit payout that put him over the $2,000 limit, but that payout was not nearly enough to support him for very long.

In the past, Social Security would have dealt with a situation like this by withholding 10% of an individual’s monthly benefit until the overpayment was taken care of. Starting last spring, however, under the Trump Administration, the default withholding was raised to 100% for most cases—which for Edward was his entire $1,200 monthly income.

With his benefits cut off for three whole months and no solution in sight, Edward was unable to pay rent and cover food and other necessities. The stress of not being able to afford basic necessities such as toilet paper caused him extreme anxiety, leading him to consider suicide and begin using drugs.

Staff Attorney Hunter Wolff

Staff Attorney Hunter Wolff advocated for Edward’s SSI benefit to resume and went with him to the Social Security office to negotiate a solution. Ultimately, Social Security agreed to reinstate Edward’s benefits and withhold only $35 per month to recoup the overpayment, instead of continuing to withhold his entire income. And now that Edward’s benefits have been reinstated, our housing team is continuing to work with him to help him get current on rent.

Unfortunately, stories like Edward’s are all too common. So many disabled seniors are already in a tenuous position, relying on a small, fixed income that barely meets their needs in a city like San Francisco. With even more federal cuts to essential programs like Social Security, Medicaid, and food stamps coming down the pike over the next few months—including work requirements, immigration status restrictions, and senseless and punitive rules—we are only going to see more coming our way.