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The Urban Justice Center serves New York City's most vulnerable residents through a combination of direct legal service, systemic advocacy, community education and political organizing. We often defend the rights of people who are overlooked or turned away by other organizations. We reach a wide-ranging client base through our Projects. |
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News and EventsMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT FILES NATIONWIDE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TO PROTECT THE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS OF THOUSANDSOn October 15, 2008, the Mental Health Project (MHP) teamed up with groups across the country to file Martinez v. Astrue, a national class action lawsuit against the Social Security Administration (SSA) for revoking the retirement and disability benefits of over 100,000 poor, elderly and disabled Americans under an arbitrary and unlawful benefit suspension policy. The effort is led by the National Senior Citizens Law Center and the pro bono counsel of Munger, Tolles & Olson, and includes Disability Rights California and the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County. Under a 1996 law, SSA must suspend the benefits of people who are "fleeing to avoid prosecution" for a felony. The law was enacted to prevent wanted fugitives from receiving benefits. Thousands of elderly and disabled Americans who are not "wanted," however, and indeed, who may have been completely misidentified, have been caught up in the crude computer dragnet SSA has used to implement the law.
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