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BENEFITS ADVOCACY

• Helping you through the maze of federal and state programs

The benefits Advocate provides assistance in determining eligibility for both state and federal benefits as well as advocating for people with disabilities to obtain these benefits. These include state benefits through SRS such as General Assistance, Food Stamps, Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC), Women Infants and Children (WIC)Progra;n, Medicaid, MediKAN, and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR); and federal benefits such as Social Security Disability (SSDO, Supplemental Security Income (SSO, and Medicare.

Types of assistance provided by the benefits advocate:

• Information about benefit programs including eligibility requirements for consumer use in determining which benefits they wish to pursue.
• Assistance with completion of benefit applications. This includes assistance with filling out forms and providing explanations for consumers who may not understand related paperwork or forms that have been mailed or given to them.
• Information and referral services concerning available benefits and resources. This includes information and referrals to other agencies or organizations if a consumer's needs can be better met by those organizations.
• Representation of consumers at Social Security Hearings before an Administrative Law Judge. The advocate is trained to act as a lay advocate, or representative for consumers whose SSI or SSDI application has reached the reconsideration or hearing stages (first and second appeals). Together the advocate and consumer work to gather information in an effort to affect a favorable outcome at the Reconsideration level, or gather evidence to develop a case to bring before an Administrative Law Judge at the Hearing level.

If you would like more information regarding these services, contact:

Benefits Advocate

Independence, Inc.

2001 Haskell Avenue

Lawrence, KS 66046

(785) 841-0333 (Voice)

(785) 841-1046 (TDD)

We would be glad to answer your questions over the phone or set up an appointment to meet with you in person.