Program Attorney Services to Disability Benefit Specialists

Advocacy Goals

Disability Rights Wisconsin works to ensure that persons with disabilities that are eligible for or receive public or private benefits such as Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, and Medicare are able to obtain or maintain the benefits to which they are entitled.

Advocacy Strategies

Disability Rights Wisconsin assists persons with disabilities with public and private benefits through the Wisconsin Disability Benefit Specialist Program. The Disability Benefit Specialist Program is a service of the Aging and Disability Resource Centers. The Disability Benefit Specialist (DBS) assists persons with disabilities between 18 and 59 with public and private benefit programs. The DBS provides information, assistance, and in some cases, representation for persons with disabilities related to denials of eligibility, termination of benefits, or overpayment of public and private benefits. Currently, there are DBSs in 56 counties statewide.

Disability Rights Wisconsin provides program attorney services to the Disability Benefit Specialists. These include:

• Training
• Technical assistance/case supervision
• Direct client representation
• Program development services