PWDF News

Advocacy Update

PWDF continues to hold a monthly Legal Clinic for Social Security beneficiaries (SSDI & SSI) with post-entitlement / eligibility issues. The clinic is usually held on the fourth Thursday of each month.  The next clinic will be held on November 19 from 10:00-12:00. Please check our website for future dates. Attorneys will be available to answer a wide range of client questions, from work reviews and SSI continuing eligibility reviews including earned and unearned income and resource limits to the effect of marriage on claimant benefits. Please call us at (415) 931-3070 to make an appointment.

PWDF Advocacy Outreach: PWDF staff continue to attend various outreach events to forge community connections and advertise PWDF’s services.  The most recent outreach events we attended are listed below:

On September 18^, 2015, Caroline Alegre, PWDF’s Advocacy Program Manager, attended the Mayor’s Disability Council meeting and highlighted PWDF’s mission and services.  The Mission of the Mayor’s Disability Council is to advise the Mayor of San Francisco on disability issues, work with the Mayor’s Office on Disability to ensure ADA Compliance, and provide a public forum to discuss disability issues.

On September 23, 2015, PWDF attended the 60^th Project Homeless Connect (PHC) at the San Francisco Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. PHC enables nonprofit medical, social service, and other providers to serve homeless San Franciscans with comprehensive services.

PWDF continues to pursue its lawsuit against the SSA, filed in June 2015. PWDF’s filing of this lawsuit is in response to SSA’s withholding of attorney fees owed to PWDF.  SSA repeatedly refuses to pay PWDF fees approved by the Commissioner, insisting such fees must be paid to individual staff attorneys employed at PWDF. The SSA’s position violates its obligations under the Social Security Act, as amended by the Omnibus Reconciliation Act (OBRA) 1990, and is inconsistent with IRS rules related to 501(c)(3) corporations.  Specifically, IRS Revenue Procedures state:  “Attorney fees must be paid to the organization not to individual staff attorneys.  Staff attorneys and employees must be compensated by a straight salary that does not exceed reasonable amounts and is not established in connection with case fees received for cases handled.”  (Rev. Proc. 92-59, 1992-2 C.B. 411.)

PWDF Profile

Who We Are

People With Disabilities Foundation is an operating 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California, which focuses on the rights of the mentally and developmentally disabled.

Services

Advocacy: PWDF advocates for Social Security claimant’s disability benefits in eight Bay Area counties. We also provide services in disability rights, on issues regarding returning to work, and in ADA consultations, including areas of employment, health care, and education, among others. There is representation before all levels of federal court and Administrative Law Judges. No one is declined due to their inability to pay, and we offer a sliding scale for attorney’s fees.

Education/Public Awareness: To help eliminate the stigma against people with mental disabilities in society, PWDF’s educational program organizes workshops and public seminars, provides guest speakers with backgrounds in mental health, and produces educational materials such as videos.

Continuing Education Provider: State Bar of California MCLE, California Board of Behavioral Sciences Continuing Education, and Commission of Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.