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Finally, HALSA worked aggressively for a 54 year
old client who, just 1 year ago, had a T-Cell
count of only TWO. This year, her T-Cell count
remains below 40. She has had multiple Opportunistic
Infections including Esophageal Candidiasis and
HIV Wasting Syndrome. Her doctor believes she
also is developing AIDS Dementia. On March 17,
2004, the Social Security Administration denied
her request for Social Security Disability Insurance
(SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
benefits. In that written decision, the Social
Security Administration noted that she had AIDS,
candida esophagitis, wasting, anemia and cognitive
problems. The decision, however, read "at
this time you have no significant complications
of HIV...There is no evidence of opportunistic
disease." She then lost all of her personal
possessions when she was unable to pay the storage
fees and they were sold at auction. Because the
medical records clearly showed multiple Opportunistic
Infections, HALSA requested a decision "On The
Record" (without a full hearing) from the Administrative
Law Judge who was assigned to hear the case. Surprisingly,
this was refused, and instead, the Administrative
Law Judge sent the case back to the lower Social
Security determination level, to assess her mental
health. Then her entire medical case file was
lost in transit by the Social Security Administration.
HALSA reconstructed the file from the medical
records which HALSA already had obtained directly
from the client's treating HIV / AIDS doctor.
In late October 2004, HALSA finally received notice that her claim was approved, retroactive to 2003.
11/11/2004 - Social Security and the New Fleeing Felon Rules
11/01/2004 - Success! SSDI + VA
11/01/2004 - Success! CD4 of Two = DISABLED
08/27/2004 - Success! HIV + Developmental Disability
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