Government Benefits & Fair Hearings
New York has the largest social services agency in the country and helps more than 3 million New Yorkers with over 15 major public assistance programs. With so many programs and services, it is easy to get confused about what benefits are being offered or denied. Because these benefits are oftentimes so fundamental to daily life, government benefits denial decisions can affect your entire life, especially if you are or are supporting a loved one with a low income or disability. If you or your loved one rely on government benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Temporary Assistance (TA) or the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and you received a notice that your benefits have been cancelled, reduced or denied, you have the right to a Fair Hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).
When benefits are denied, you will receive a notification by mail or via your ACCESS NYC account. In general, you will have 60 days from the date of receiving the notice to file a request for a Fair Hearing. Carefully note the date on any notices received. Give us a call. We can help you to secure your rights in a timely manner.
At C. Cadogan & Associates, we help clients make sense of these government processes so they are not navigating complex systems alone. We review denial notices, help organize medical records and work history, identify gaps in the evidence, prepare clients for disability hearings, and assist with appeals when benefits are denied or delayed. Our focus is on helping you tell the full story of how your condition affects your daily life, your work, and your future.
Social Security Insurance (SSI)
Living with a disability or supporting a person living with a disability can be rewarding. But it can also result in financial, emotional, and practical challenges. Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, provides monthly payments to eligible people with disabilities and older adults who have limited income and resources. Eligibility may depend on a person’s disability, immigration status, income, resources, and living arrangement. The amount a person receives can also change if their income, support, or household situation changes. Applying for disability benefits or appealing a denial can feel confusing and overwhelming, especially when you are already managing your health and daily responsibilities.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Applications and Benefits Advocacy
When a serious medical condition keeps you from working, Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, may provide monthly benefits based on your past work and Social Security contributions. But getting approved is not always simple. Many people are denied because their medical records do not clearly explain their limitations, their work history is misunderstood, or Social Security does not have enough information to see how their condition affects their ability to work. At C. Cadogan and Associates, we help clients prepare complete, well-documented applications and represent them through appeals when benefits have been denied. Our goal is to make a complex process easier to understand and give you the confidence of having an experienced legal advocate by your side.
Other NYS Government Programs
We also help you to apply to or appeal denial or reduction decisions for other public benefit programs including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Temporary Assistance (TA) or the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) through the Fair Hearing process.
Fair Hearings: Helping You Challenge Local Social Service Denial Decisions
A Fair Hearing is a chance for you to explain to the ALJ why you think the local social services agency’s decision to deny your benefits is wrong. You have a time limit to respond to the local social services agency’s letter, the Notice of Intent. So, be sure you contact us as soon as you get these notices to protect your rights. Whether it's a reduction or cancellation of your SNAP, HEAP or ERAP benefits, we can help you to get your side of the story heard.