Baby Andy was nine months old when he and his mother, Paula, were referred to DHS’s Countywide Benefits Entitlement Services Team (CBEST) by their social worker. Diagnosed with Down syndrome, Andy has required intensive specialty medical care since birth. But Paula was not familiar with how to navigate the complex system of the Social Security Administration (SSA) and its benefits eligibility rules. He became CBEST’s first pediatric benefits advocacy case. Andy’s SSI claim for disability benefits was approved just one month after CBEST submitted it. Paula expressed much gratitude and relief because her partner, Andy’s father, is the sole provider for their household, which also includes Andy’s three siblings. “Thank you so much – I was really nervous about this process before knowing about CBEST,” Paula said. “Thank you for always keeping me posted and providing me with information. Thank you for telling me when my SSA appointment was and exactly what documents I needed to take for my interview.”
