Benefits Law Center

Corey Guilmette

Mission

The Benefits Law Center (BLC) mission is to provide 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.

Meeting the Needs of our Clients During A Time of Crisis: Support BLC During GiveBIG

At the start of 2025, our clients were adversely impacted by worsening delays, backlogs, and extreme wait times at the Social Security Administration (SSA).  Harmful policy changes were enacted with little or no warning. Communication with SSA became nearly impossible — both for clients and for advocates like us at Benefits Law Center (BLC). 

In addition to these barriers, deep cuts to SSA staffing and the closure of field offices have made it virtually inaccessible to the very people who need it most. Clients facing interruptions in benefits are now enduring unreasonable wait times to resolve issues — if they’re able to get through to SSA at all.

For BLC’s advocates, these changes mean it now takes two to three times longer to resolve cases. Legal issues that once could have been fixed quickly are now being pushed toward administrative hearings, dramatically increasing the strain on our caseload. Each additional hour spent navigating bureaucratic barriers is an hour we can’t spend helping another client in need.

With more people than ever turning to us for help — and fewer resources to meet that demand — we need your support.

Our GiveBIG goal is $30,000. Your donation will help us:

• Increase advocate capacity to take on more cases
• Provide emergency Know-Your-Rights trainings for clients, legal aid attorneys, and social service providers to help our community navigate sudden and ongoing changes in SSA policy
• Develop self-help resources and publications to respond rapidly to harmful policy changes and to reach a larger number of impacted community members
• Support our ability to supervise and mentor pro bono attorneys and volunteers to meet the increased need for legal services

Your gift ensures that people in crisis aren’t left to face these challenges alone. Together, we can continue to fight for equity, dignity, and hope on behalf of our impacted community members. 

Legal Advocacy Services

Since 1997, Benefits Law Center has provided affordable and equitable legal advice and representation of up to 1,000 individuals per year who are low-income and/or living with disabilities, in matters related to their entitlement to Social Security disability, and SSI benefits. BLC assesses the needs and barriers of people living with disabilities in King County and the greater Puget Sound area, maintaining targeted projects to address the barriers faced by vulnerable populations in Western Washington. BLC makes direct legal representation accessible at the convenience of the client, and we assist in the benefits application and appeals process in a way that accommodates their disability. BLC specializes in workable advocacy plans for clients that face poverty, language barriers, homelessness, transportation, and mental illness.

BLC believes that advocacy for every client should include a strategy to make lasting improvements in the stability of health, housing, and stability. BLC maintains partnerships with all civil legal aid organizations in Washington, King County advocacy groups, legal service providers, and the U.S. government on behalf of disabled persons near the poverty line. 

Recognition

BLC Board Members: Shari Marion, Will Livesley-O'Neill, Corey Guilmette, Amy Tsai, Thaddaeus Gregory, and Susan Lee.

Corporate Sponsors and Community Partners: Legal Foundation of Washington, King County, Windermere Real Estate, First Security Bank, Town & Country Markets, Fenwick & West LLP, and Douglas Drachler McKee & Gilbrough.