Benefits (BLC) | SSI & SSDI Advocates

Seattle Common Law Center

Our Mission

Social Security advocacy for people with disabilities who are homeless or low-income.

Benefits Law Center provides accessible legal advocacy to people living with physical and mental disabilities so that they may obtain the resources necessary to overcome barriers to financial and medical stability. We further our mission through targeted advocacy projects that help people with Social Security disability problems.

Get Help

BLC helps with Social Security disability problems.

Join us in our mission to prevent and end homelessness.

Who We Are

BLC staff members are compassionate, dedicated people from diverse backgrounds.

How We Help

BLC has provided legal help with public benefit problems to people with disabilities for more than 20 years.

benefitslawcenter

BLC is excited to announce our first Equal Justice

BLC is excited to announce our first Equal Justice Works Fellow, who will join us this fall: Charla Boley! Charla is a Seattle University School of Law graduate and will work with BLC for two years on a worthwhile project concerning disability rights and economic justice. She will focus on providing culturally and linguistically competent legal services and education to immigrants, people of color, and people with disabilities in South King County, Washington.

Please copy and paste the following link into your browser to read our blog post about Charla and her fellowship project: http://benefitslawcenter.org/2023-ejw-fellow/

GiveBIG begins today — a 48-hour event to raise s

GiveBIG begins today -- a 48-hour event to raise support for our essential and affordable legal services. When you GiveBIG to BLC, you make a life-changing impact on the lives of 1,000 children and adults living with disabilities so they can obtain stable housing and access medical care.

We need to raise $9,450 to reach our goal by the end of tomorrow, May 3. Please visit the link in our bio to donate TODAY!

Get to know Maria, one of BLC’s dedicated parale

Get to know Maria, one of BLC’s dedicated paralegals. Maria joined Benefits Law Center in May 2022. She has a History degree from the University of Washington and has a background in working with low-income and marginalized communities. Coming from a low-income community herself, Maria is dedicated to providing services to help folks overcome generational and systemic poverty.

Swipe to learn more about Maria! #GettoknowBLC

As we do every year, BLC is participating in the #

As we do every year, BLC is participating in the #GiveBIG fundraising campaign! We hope to raise $10,000 this year and need your help. GiveBIG 2023 started April 18th for early giving and will culminate in a 48-hour giving event on May 2nd–3rd. Please visit the link to our donation page in our bio, and help us reach our goal!

We want to thank the 104 donors who made our Sprin

We want to thank the 104 donors who made our Spring Into Action event a great success! Not only did we surpass our fundraising goal, but we also had a fun night of activities, speeches, and laughter. We missed those that could not make it; we hope to catch you at our next event!

Due to your generosity, BLC raised $40,310 during

Due to your generosity, BLC raised $40,310 during our Spring Into Action event! These funds help us continue our vital legal aid work. THANK YOU!

We're halfway through our online appeal for Spring

We're halfway through our online appeal for Spring into Action! We have raised $17,458 so far and need your help to reach our fundraising goal of $35,000. Our appeal ends this Friday, March 31st, at midnight! Donate at the link in our bio.

This week is our online appeal for Spring into Act

This week is our online appeal for Spring into Action! We have raised $17,458 so far and need your help to get us to our fundraising goal of $35,000. Our appeal ends this Friday, March 31st, at midnight! Donate at the link in our bio.

We are one week away from BLC’s much anticipated

We are one week away from BLC’s much anticipated Spring Into Action fundraising event on March 31st! Our week-long online appeal kicks off on Monday; help us reach our $35,000 fundraising goal by purchasing tickets or donating at the link in our bio.

Only two weeks until our much-anticipated event: S

Only two weeks until our much-anticipated event: Spring into Action 2023! Register and get your tickets at the link in our bio. Just a reminder: your ticket includes two drink tickets for beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and appetizers! Join us for a fun night of speeches, silent auction items, and supporting our community.

Remember: if you cannot attend the event in person, we are hosting an online appeal from March 27th - March 31st to help us raise $35,000 for our client-centered legal services. Our event site is accepting donations here: http://ow.ly/NYKH50Njy7M

As part of our Spring Into Action event, we invite

As part of our Spring Into Action event, we invite you to attend our FREE webinars on March 21st and March 28th! These webinars, entitled How to Help Someone Apply for Social Security Disability and the Ethics of Working with Clients in Crisis, will provide essential and valuable information to be incorporated into our client-centered daily practices. They are presented by Staff Attorney Kate Means and Executive Director Huy Nguyen. Copy and paste the following link into your browser to register! https://springintoaction.benefitslawcenter.org/

We’re less than a month away from BLC’s fundra

We’re less than a month away from BLC’s fundraising event: Spring Into Action on March 31st! BLC is excited to share the importance of our work with our community and celebrate your support. Please register using the link in our bio to join us for a fun night of drinks, appetizers, and activities!

We want to take a moment to thank our event sponso

We want to take a moment to thank our event sponsors and partners thus far in 2023. Your support dramatically impacts our work, and our ability to serve our clients. Thank you!

If you or someone you know might be interested in sponsoring our event, Spring Into Action, check out our website at https://benefitslawcenter.org/support-blc/sponsorship/ to inquire. We have sponsorship packages at varying levels of commitment!

BLC is proudly introduces State Representative Jam

BLC is proudly introduces State Representative Jamila Taylor as our keynote speaker for Spring into Action!

Jamila is a public interest attorney, youth advocate, and small business owner with a passion for community service and a commitment to serving the public good. After moving to King County in 2007, Jamila worked as the Central Area Network Coordinator for the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, where she oversaw community interventions and supported young people facing family, peer or gang conflict; court involvement; school suspension or expulsion; homelessness; and other risk factors for youth violence. She lives in Federal Way and was elected to the Legislature in 2020.

Join us at Spring into Action to hear Jamila speak! Register at the link in our bio.

BLC thanks Jay Stansell for serving on our board f

BLC thanks Jay Stansell for serving on our board for the last six years. He will be missed for his unwavering commitment to economic justice, dignity, and willingness to step up for BLC when needed. Jay is on to his next adventure, and we couldn’t be more excited for him.

Copy and paste the following link into your browser to read Jay's entire message: https://benefitslawcenter.org/blc-board-update-jays-farewell/

Feel free to message us if you or someone you know may be interested in serving on the board for BLC. We would love to tell you more!

It’s never been easier to donate to BLC! Just te

It’s never been easier to donate to BLC! Just text Give2BLC to 44-321 and help us meet our fundraising goal of $25,000 this spring. To learn more about the online appeal for our event, Spring into Action, check out the link in our bio!

Please join us for 2023's Spring Into Action appea

Please join us for 2023's Spring Into Action appeal and event!

Week-long online Appeal: during the week of March 27th - 31st, please consider making a donation to our online appeal to help us raise $25,000 for our nonprofit legal services. If you cannot join us at our in-person event, our site is accepting donations now -- you don't have to wait until March!! Donate here: http://ow.ly/pgh150MCnwK

For our in-person event, the price of admission is $40 and includes two drink tickets and appetizers. Our in-person event takes place on Friday, March 31st, at Optimism Brewery in Capitol Hill from 5.30 - 7.30 pm. Address: 1158 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122. The link to register is in our bio!

Thanks to the Seattle/King County Coalition on Hom

Thanks to the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness (SKCCH), and in partnership with Solid Ground’s Benefits Legal Assistance Program, BLC will present an in-depth training about Supplementary Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) on January 25th, 2023 from 9-11am PT. This presentation is part of SKCCH’s ‘Public Benefits are Key!’ training series. Valuable information and insight will be shared; please join us! The link to register is in our bio.

On January 16th, 2023, we honor Martin Luther King

On January 16th, 2023, we honor Martin Luther King Jr. He advocated for Black Americans to have access to freedoms such as desegregation, labor rights, and the right to vote. He spoke for those who did not have a voice and still represents the fight for equality to many.

This holiday is meant to be a day of service in his memory, so we implore you to participate in any way you can. Participation could include many things, such as volunteering, educating yourself on causes Dr. King advocated for, fostering conversation with those around you, etc.

Thank you to the BLC community for raising over $5

Thank you to the BLC community for raising over $5,300 during our #EndofYearCampaign. We are so excited to welcome the New Year, especially after having surpassed our goal of $5,000. Our supporters help fuel client-focused advocacy that centers on those who are disabled and homeless. Your donations make a genuine and tangible impact, and we cannot thank you enough.

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Seattle Common Law Center