Press Release: Relief for Many Conn Clients in Sight

Prestonsburg, KY - On Monday, July 29 at 2:00 P.M. at the Floyd County Courthouse AppalReD Legal Aid and Pillersdorf Law Offices will host a press conference and client meeting.

AppalReD Legal Aid's Advocacy Director Evan Smith and Attorney Ned Pillersdorf will announce positive policy changes from the Social Security Administration that will impact and provide relief to many, though not all, Conn survivors.

These changes include:

• The agency will no longer demand or collect overpayments stemming from redeterminations of former clients of Conn.
• Cases that have not had a hearing will be reviewed by the SSA and some will be determined that they do not require a hearing.

"We are optimistic about the policy changes from the Social Security Administration. Potentially, about 1000 clients will no longer have a hearing, and the stakes are lowered for those who must have hearings. The Conn crisis has terrified low-income people for nearly a decade, including now the young children and relatives of primary beneficiaries who have passed away who had been told they are still responsible. This is welcome relief," says Advocacy Director Evan Smith. "Though, unfortunately, the SSA is not changing its policies for cases that already had a hearing."

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AppalReD Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to low-income and vulnerable individuals across eastern and south-central Kentucky. AppalReD focus on legal problems that affect clients' basic needs for food, shelter, income, personal safety from all forms of abuse, and stability and safety for children and the elderly. AppalReD Legal Aid's pro bono program has coordinated hundreds of pro bono attorneys from across the country to represent Conn clients in redetermination hearings.

Ned Pillersdorf has represented hundreds of Conn Clients pro bono. He is a partner at Pillersdorf Law Offices in Prestonsburg, KY.