SSA Required to Provide Access to Blind Applicants

If you are blind or visually impaired and receiving disability benefits or in the midst of the application process, you are covered by a recent court decision. The court case, American Council of the Blind v. Astrue, affirmed that the federal law requires the Social Security Administration to provide notices and other information about your benefits in a format in addition to print.

To request past and future notices in your preferred format, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/notices. You can also listen to a recording by calling 877-708-1776. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, the administration also provides TTY access at 800-325-0778.

By law, the SSA must always consider your request for your preferred format. They automatically grant requests for the formats listed below:

- Standard print notice by first class or certified mail; or
- Standard print notice by first class mail and a follow-up telephone call to read the notices to you within five business days of the date you get the print notice; or
- Standard print notice and Braille by first class mail (delivery begins April 15, 2010); or
- Standard print notice and a Microsoft Word compact disc by first class mail (delivery begins April 15, 2010).