News and Events

NY Times Supports MHPs Lawsuit to End Warehousing of New Yorkers with Mental Illness

"Obey the Law on the Mentally Ill," NY Times, July 7, 2010

MHP Submits Comments to SSA Regarding Its Drug Addiction and Alcoholism Policies

On March 30, 2010, MHP submitted comments to SSA regarding how it determines whether drug addiction or alcoholism is a factor material to a determination of disability. The comments urged SSA to retain instructions that ensure that individuals with a disabling mental illness and a co-occurring drug or alcohol addiction are not denied benefits.
Read the comments

SSA Begins Implementation of $500 Million Class Action Settlement

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has begun implementing the relief provided in a settlement agreement reached in Martinez v. Astrue, a class action lawsuit challenging the SSA’s policy of automatically suspending and denying benefits based on an outstanding warrant. The settlement provides for full retroactive reinstatement of benefits of approximately 80,000 individuals, and limited retroactive reinstatement for approximately 120,000 additional class members. SSA has already begun reinstating the benefits of some class members, and will continue to administer relief in stages, depending on the type of benefit, and the date of the suspension or appeal.

For more information, contact Emilia Sicilia at (646) 602-5668, or click here.

"Important Information for Social Security and SSI Recipients," February 2010 Long version

"Important Information for Social Security and SSI Recipients," February 2010 Short version

UJC's Mental Health Project Helps Win ADA Victory for 4300 Adult Home Residents with Mental Illness

On September 8th, 2009, United States District Judge Nicholas Garaufis issued a 210-page decision in Disability Advocates, Inc. v. Paterson finding that New York State violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act by warehousing 4,300 people with mental illness in institutional adult homes. The court quoted one former State official who testified that adult homes were "institutional living at ... its worst," like "little ghettos" that "impede community integration," with "people sitting out front [of] the adult home, smoking, going back in ..." Now, the State will have to offer supported housing and services to adult home residents with mental illness in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.

The decision followed six years of litigation and a five-week trial. MHP assisted Disability Advocates, Inc., the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, MFY, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, and pro bono counsel Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, and Wharton & Garrison.

"Despair's Profiteers," NY Times, September 14, 2009

"State's Homes for Mentally Ill Adults Violate ADA, Judge Rules," New York Law Journal, September 9, 2009

"State Discriminated Against Mentally Ill, Judge Rules," New York Times, September 9, 2009

"A Cycle of Promises Not Kept," New York Times, September 9, 2009

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