Legal Council Blog
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For inquiries about guest writer opportunities, contact Dani Hunter at dhunter@legalcouncil.org
Criminey, They’re Idiots Again
Remember Linda, our client who’s trying to get her Social Security started again? When last we checked in, the (seemingly) helpful supervisor at the local Social Security office informed us that she had spoken to the Payment Center, and Linda would be getting a check in 3 business days. Well, you probably know where this…
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They’re Still Not All Idiots
Here’s an update on Linda, our client trying to get back on Social Security. You will recall that a few weeks back, we went to a local Social Security office with Linda to try to straighten out the mess they made of her case at a different Social Security office. (Did you know that Social…
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Give Someone Their Props
Drop everything. It’s time to nominate someone for AIDS Legal Council’s prestigious (and totally groovy) Advocates of the Year Award. Every year we at ALCC honor folks in the community who have made a difference in the lives of people with HIV, whether through case management, volunteer activities, medical care, advocacy or philanthropy (sorry, there’s…
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Yet Another Way to Not Get Your HIV Meds
File this one under “Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down” (to quote the 60s soul duo Sam & Dave). You’ve probably heard of the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, or ADAP, run by the Illinois Department of Public Health. It provides free HIV medications to financially eligible people in Illinois through a pharmacy service called PharmaCare.…
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Wonk Wonk Wonky Wonk
OK, I know all you policy-wonk types are just dying to know what the Social Security dollar amounts will be for 2009. If you have no idea what I’m talking about then you’re not a wonk, you should be proud, and you needn’t read another word of this post. Here are a few important Social…
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They’re Not All Idiots After All
If you read our recent blog posting, “Idiots Still Run the Show,” you’re up-to-date on the travails of Linda, our client whose Social Security benefits were cut off — and who got the Royal Runaround when she went to her local office (twice!) to try to fix the problem. Well, never let it be said…
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Stigma and Hysteria are Alive and Well in the Heartland
Surely you’ve read in numerous mainstream media reports that AIDS is now a “chronic, manageable” illness like diabetes or high cholesterol, thanks to advances in antiretroviral medications. Right. Consider the panic that hit Normandy High School in St. Louis last month when news spread that maybe — maybe — as many as 50 kids in…
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Idiots Still Run the Show
Ever get the feeling that government bureaucrats make it up as they go along? Here’s a recent case that will confirm those feelings. Our client Linda (not her real name) has been receiving Social Security disability benefits for several years. In 2004 Linda started doing some part-time work. Then in 2007 her health got worse,…
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Just When You Thought It Was Safe to Give Blood
Here’s an infuriating case we got just this week. Our client — whom I’ll call Leonard — goes to a lab every 3 or 4 months so that his doctor can check his CD4 count and viral load. Last month he met with a new phlebotomist at the lab. The two of them got to…
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