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Social Security Administration to Pay SSI and Social Security recipients and applicants $500 Million under Settlement

U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilkens on August 11 tentatively approved a settlement that ends SSA's policy of denying or suspending benefits based on an arrest warrant alone. As of April 1, 2009, no one applying for benefits will be denied benefits because of a felony warrant unless the applicant is in fact "fleeing." SSA will pay $500 million in back benefits withheld from 80,000 people since January 1, 2007. Those whose benefits were denied or suspended between 2000 and 2006 and who are not receiving benefits will be notified so that they can re-establish eligibility. For more information about the settlement and the changes in Social Security's policies, go here: http://www.nsclc.org/ and here: http://www.nsclc.org/areas/social-security-ssi/Martinez-Settlement.

Read the Notice to Class Members about the settlement and about the Fairness Hearing on September 24 before Judge Wilkins. http://www.nsclc.org/areas/social-security-ssi/Martinez-Settlement/Court-Documents/class-notice/at_download/attachment.

Disability Rights challenges the state's plans.

• Judge backs lawsuit by disabled pair for independent living (12/29/09 charlotteobserver.com) and Two with disabilities win time (12/29/09 newsobserver.com)

• And a supportive editorial was published in the Greensboro News & Record December 28, 2009, Mental health cuts go to court

• Judge halts mental health cut (12/28/09 newsobserver.com)

• Feds join in suit against DHHS (12/24/09 WRAL.com)

• U.S. out to halt state's mental health cuts (12/24/09 N&O)

• Disability Rights NC suing over alleged discrimination (12/21/09 News14.com)

• Group Home Residents Sue (12/20/09 N&O) and the Wilson Daily Times reported Group Home Residents Sue to avoid hospital

• Funding dispute: Residents fight to stay out of state hospital (12/19/09 The Wilson Daily Times)

• DHHS named in federal suit(12/11/09 WRAL.com)

• DHHS sued over mental health budget cuts (WRAL.com)

• Central Regional another signal of troubled system(12/3/09 WRAL.com)

October 2009

• Old Vineyard receives warning on Medicare(Winston-Salem Journal)

• Judge OK's patient transfer to Butner(N&O)

• Judge allows patients to transfer from Dorothea Dix. (News14.com)

• Order is Lifted for Butner Hospital (Winston-Salem Journal)

• Judge lifts Dix temporary restraining order (WRAL.com)

• NC judge dissolves order preventing patient move(WBTV.com, TheSunNews.com & Reflector.com, News-Record.com)

as well as other articles.

Needed now more than ever: The Americans with Disabilities Act by Vicki Smith (August 13, 2009 - The Carrboro Citizen) Opinion.

Man's death turns glare on Cherry Hospital
A discharged patient dies, leaving questions about his care and the drug found on him. (N&O August 2, 2009) Click here to see the full story.

'Chilling effect'?
Vicki Smith, executive director of a patient rights group, is worried that the new Cherry Hospital code of conduct might have a "chilling effect" on people who want to report problems. N&O Politics 7-12-09. Check it out.

Disability Rights North Carolina has been mentioned in the article Charities survey damage after United Way,with $7.5 million less to give, sets painful priorities which has been posted online at MooresvilleTribune.com, Statesville.com, Morganton.com, CharlotteObserver.com, as well as others. Link to the online article.

6-23-09 SBI investigates nude picture of mental health patient (News14.com) - Click here to see the article. Also, the CharlotteObsever.com covered this story.

Disability Rights North Carolina was used as a resource in the IndyWeek.com article by Lisa Sorg on April 8, 2009: State budget cuts threaten the futures of mentally ill children: Trouble in mind. To view the IndyWeek.com article, Click Here