Legal Question in Social Security Law in Illinois

My Mother has been diagnosed with emphasema and is at home with oxygen, which I pay for out of my pocket because my Mother has no health insurance. She just finished, what she believes, will be her last year working as a part time teacher with the Catholic school system, in which she was receiving no health/medical benefits. Years ago, she was receiving SSI benefits. Once she began working again, she requested many times to have all SSI benefits stopped but Social Security continued to send my Mother benefits. 3 years passed before Social Security stopped sending her benefit checks. Shortly thereafter, they demanded repayment of benefits totally $35,000, which she was unable to pay. She tried fighting the case in which she was denied. Making only $16,000 per year, she was unable to repay the debt so she has filed bankruptcy. Now that she is once again disabled and unable to work and being on oxygen at home, we need to know what we can do in order to open a new disability case because she has no means of supporting herself. Do we need a lawyer or is this something I can help her accomplishing.


Asked on 6/21/10, 7:37 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Stephen Messutta

You seem somewhat familiar with the terminology - the first thing to do is go with her to the nearest Social Security office and speak with one of their counselors. If she gets no place with them, then you may want to consider an attorney for her.

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Answered on 6/22/10, 7:00 am


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