Disability Advocacy Project
The Disability Advocacy Project was created through New York State Social Services Law in 1983, and today is overseen by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), which makes grants to nonprofit organizations like LSHV. On a national level, the program has been recognized for its effectiveness in meeting the needs of low-income individuals with disabilities, as well as in generating significant cost savings – millions of dollars per year – for New York State and local governments.
LSHV’s Disability Advocacy Project (DAP) assists clients with disabilities, who receive state- or county-level public assistance (e.g., Safety Net Assistance, Family Assistance, or Medical Assistance), to file claims for or appeal wrongful denials/discontinuances of, federal disability benefits through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) programs.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
is federal program for adults and children who meet the definition of disabled and have limited income and resources. It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income; and it provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
is a Federal disability income program for adults who have worked and now find themselves unable to work due to a disability.
We represent clients at the appeal stages of the Social Security disability determination process. Clients are supported through the administrative steps in the appeals process, which includes reconsideration, a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), and Appeals Council review.
Clients whose appeals are successful become more financially stable and productive residents of their own counties, who help to boost local economies by spending their federal benefits there.
To ensure that as many eligible individuals as possible benefit from this program, we conduct extensive community outreach, education and intake through our extensive network of community partners, many of whom serve our target population of low-income, disabled individuals.
