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.
