Martinez Settlement May Benefit You

The Social Security Administration has agreed to repay people whose benefits have been suspended or denied since January 1, 2007 based on the mere existence of an outstanding arrest warrant. Over 200,000 people whose benefits have been suspended or denied since January 1, 2000 are potentially eligible for retroactive benefits in varying amounts; approximately 80,000 are potentially eligible for full retroactive reinstatement of benefits totaling over $500 million.

Further Details/Info

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

Court Mandates Change in Communication for SSA and Visually Impaired

Currently, SSA communicates with beneficiaries with disabilities via letters and phone calls. A recent class-action suit found this practice violated people's rights to equal access to programs - specifically for individuals with a visual impairment.

The ruling mandates that SSA is to provide the nation's 3 million blind or visually impaired recipients the option of receiving benefit notices in braille or by audio computer disc by April, 15th.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/20/MNQ21A8D2F.DTL#ixzz0UZsatbWW

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

Important Notice Regarding the Visually Impaired

SSA would like to make you aware of a notice that will be of interest to people who are visually impaired (and their representatives) and who either receive or applied for Social Security retirement, survivors or disability insurance benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

A federal court has authorized a class action lawsuit against the Social Security Administration (SSA) on behalf of people with visual impairments who require communications from SSA to be in an accessible format in order to participate in the Social Security or SSI programs. The court has authorized two classes: If you have a visual impairment that substantially limits the major life activity of seeing and you (1) apply for or are receiving Social Security or SSI benefits, or (2) are the representative payee for a Social Security beneficiary or SSI recipient, then you are a member of at least one of the two classes. This means that the court's decision in this case may affect your rights. The case, called American Council of the Blind v. Astrue, No. C05-04696, is pending in the federal district court in San Francisco, California.

The court would like maximum input from the class members. The below number and e-mail may be used to provide class counsel with suggestions about how SSA can effectively communicate with people who have visual impairments. You should give class counsel your comments by December 31, 2008. To do so, contact this toll free number or E-mail address:

ARLENE B. MAYERSON
SILVIA YEE
DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND, INC. (DREDF)
Telephone: 1-800-348-4232
E-Mail: SSAinfo@dredf.org

To listen to an audio recording of the notice in English or Spanish, call our toll- free number, 866-940-0765.

For more information about this case, American Council of the Blind v. Astrue, read our online NOTICE at www.socialsecurity.gov/pgm/classaction.htm.

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com