Community Legal Services of Philadelphia has released the 2016 edition of Disability Under the Social Security Act. This popular outline of caselaw on the topic of disability under the Social Security Act was first published in 1981 and has be a frequently consulted resource by disability advocates since that time. 

The last edition of the outline was distributed to more than 500 advocates in legal services and private practice across Pennsylvania. Senior Attorney Richard P. Weishaupt of Community Legal Services is the Editor of this edition.

The latest edition has eliminated some older cases and authorities from other jurisdictions where the Third Circuit has now made a ruling. It also has added some cutting-edge decisions where the Third Circuit has yet to rule on a particular question.

Also included is a list of favorite websites that the authors find helpful, including, in particular, the Social Security Administration website, www.ssa.gov, which has the program regulations, rulings, Program Operations Manual System (POMS) and other authorities, as well as many of the forms needed for practice in this area.

As with any publication of this type, the outline is designed to be used as a starting point for research, rather than the only resource you consult. 

In the Foreword to the publication, Richard Weishaupt offered thanks to the law firm of Pepper Hamilton, LLP for their invaluable assistance in preparing this edition, as well as all those who have contributed to this and previous editions including Jen Burdick, Robert Lukens especially for his work on childhood disability, and John Whitelaw and Jonathan Stein for constantly sending new cases. He also acknowledged contributing editors from past editions: Catherine Carr, David Hill, Rebecca Vallas, Jonathan Stein and James Lafferty.

PLAN program staff members can access a copy of the outline in PDF format from the PLAN Brief and Information Bank by clicking here. Members must login to the PLAN website to access this and other resources in the Brief and Information Bank. Community Legal Services requests a $50 donation from individuals outside the legal aid community who request a copy of the publication to defray the costs of production, so legal aid staff are asked to not share copies of the publication outside your program.

Individuals from outside the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network who would like a copy of the publication should contact Richard Weishaupt at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia to request one.