Brittany Smith (age 19) was born with a severe birth defect. She had no eye or ear on her left side and suffered from a learning disorder. She has had numerous surgeries during her life and more are scheduled. Brittany completed high school through a special education program and is currently attending Western Kentucky University in their disability program. Although her improvement has been vast, she is unlikely to ever be able to fully care for herself.
Despite her significant disabilities and the fact that she has received disability benefits since being an infant, the Social Security Administration discontinued Brittany's benefits at age 18. She applied for adult disability benefits but was denied because of differing eligibility criteria between adults and children. A benefits counselor with Kentucky Legal Aid assisted her to request reconsideration of the denial, but she was again unsuccessful. Kentucky Legal Aid appealed the denial of benefits. Daniel Curry, a benefits counselor, represented Brittany at an administrative hearing where she prevailed and was allowed to keep her monthly income, and more importantly, her medical card to obtain the much needed medical care she requires.
[Client's name has been changed to insure confidentiality.]