A 31-year-old cognitively-impaired homeless man showed up at the Legal Aid Society one day. He also suffered from a major spinal deformity. The Social Security Administration had recently sent him a letter cutting off his benefits and health insurance, declaring him no longer disabled, and ordering him to repay $21,000 in past benefits.

The case was assigned to Attorney Paula Lorant, an experienced public benefits lawyer. Attorney Lorant obtained the man’s medical records and had him evaluated by a psychologist and vocational expert. Her skillful marshaling of the evidence forced the Administrative Law Judge to reverse his previous decision, restore past and current benefits, and vacate the order to repay past amounts. Her client now has stable housing and, with appropriate support, is living semi-independently.