represented "Mary" who has brain damage from an incident where she was brutally attacked and also suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder because of a very troubled past. Social  Security had done some IQ testing on her  that showed IQ scores in the borderline to  mentally retarded range, but Social Security  wouldn't accept those numbers as accurate  because it claimed that she may have been  under the influence of alcohol at the time  she was tested.  "Mary" called ULS for help.

ULS assisted "Mary" in getting a private psychological exam with  IQ testing. Her IQ scores were in the same  range as before. The psychological exam was successful in convincing Social Security that even if "Mary" quit drinking alcohol  completely, she would still have permanent brain damage, either from the attack or from  alcohol-related brain damage. Her PTSD would also persist if she were to quit  drinking. The Judge issued a fully favorable  decision, and now "Mary" can afford to live on her own in subsidized housing.  

If this sounds familiar to you or someone you know, contact Utah Legal Services to  see if we can help.