Washington LawHelp

General Info (7)+

• Exception to Rule (ETR): DSHS Programs

  The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) can give you some benefits even if you do not meet all their requirements. This is an “exception to a rule” or “ETR.” #7101EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Russian / Pусский

• How to Appeal a Denial Of Unemployment to Superior Court

  This explains Superior court review of an administrative decision relating to unemployment benefits. If you lose your claim at the administrative hearing, you have another level of administrative review. It is called a “Petition for Review.” #7602EN Read More

  By:

  Unemployment Law Project

• How to Petition for Superior Court Review: Administrative Decision Relating to Public Benefits

  If you disagree with the final administrative decision, you may appeal your case to Superior Court. The appeal is called a "Petition for Review of an Administrative Order." You may file your appeal either in the Superior Court of the county where you live or in Thurston County Superior Court in Olympia. Packet #7917EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• How to Represent Yourself at an Unemployment Benefits Hearing

  If you have been denied unemployment compensation benefits, you have a right to appeal. If you have been allowed benefits, your former employer has the same right to appeal. If either you or your employer appeals, you will have a hearing with an administrative law judge. This explains how to represent yourself at the hearing. Read More

  By:

  Unemployment Law Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Unemployment Law Project Web Site

  Are you having trouble collecting your unemployment benefits? Has your claim been improperly denied? Or has your employer appealed your entitlement to benefits? If so, we may be able to help. Read More

  By:

  Unemployment Law Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Video - Applying and Appealing for Disability at Social Security

  Watch this video to learn about how to apply and appeal for disability at Social Security. This video covers federal laws so the information in it is true no matter what state you live in. Read More

  By:

  Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Video - Unemployment Insurance Hearing Demonstration

  The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) is an independent state agency which conducts impartial administrative hearings for other government agencies. This site has a video to help you prepare for your Unemployment Insurance hearing. Read More

  By:

  State of Washington Office of Administrative Hearings

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

Denials and Terminations (9)+

• ABD Denial/Termination: Medical Reasons

  The ABD program provides income and medical coverage if you are a citizen or eligible immigrant, you have income and resources within Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) rules, and you are "disabled." "Disabled" means you are unable to work due to physical or mental conditions (or both) that either have lasted or are expected to last at least nine months. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Fighting a Denial of DSHS Public Assistance

  Read this for what to do if you apply for cash, food stamps, medical, or child care assistance from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and their office denies you benefits. #7100EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

  Russian / Pусский

• Fighting a Termination or Reduction of SSI or SSDI Based on Non-disability Reasons

  Social Security must notify you in writing before lowering (reducing) or stopping (terminating) your benefits. You may fight the termination by asking for reconsideration. You may continue to get the same benefits after the termination date in the notice if you request reconsideration in time. You must request reconsideration within ten days of the date on the notice to keep getting benefits. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• How to Appeal a Denial Of Unemployment to Superior Court

  This explains Superior court review of an administrative decision relating to unemployment benefits. If you lose your claim at the administrative hearing, you have another level of administrative review. It is called a “Petition for Review.” #7602EN Read More

  By:

  Unemployment Law Project

• How to Fight a Denial or Termination of Eligibility for the Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) Referral Program for Medical Reasons

  The HEN Referral Program can provide non-cash help for people who are unable to work. You must meet the income and incapacity requirements to establish eligibility for the HEN Referral Program. This publication explains what you can do if DSHS denies or terminates your eligibility for the HEN Referral Program. Publication #7813EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• How To Fight a Termination or Reduction of DSHS Public Assistance

  This explains your rights if DSHS tells you it will stop (terminate) or cut back (reduce) the cash, food stamps, medical, or child care assistance they have been giving you. The most important thing to know is that you must ask for an administrative hearing soon, usually within ten days of DSHS mailing written notice, to keep getting your benefits while you appeal. Publication #7102EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

  Russian / Pусский

• How to Fight Your SSI or SSD Denial

  Read this to find out what you can do if the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies your application because they say you are not disabled. If you have been receiving benefits and are notified that they will stop, see How to Fight a Termination of SSI or SSD. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Farsi / فارسی

• How to Petition for Superior Court Review: Administrative Decision Relating to Public Benefits

  If you disagree with the final administrative decision, you may appeal your case to Superior Court. The appeal is called a "Petition for Review of an Administrative Order." You may file your appeal either in the Superior Court of the county where you live or in Thurston County Superior Court in Olympia. Packet #7917EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• Representing Yourself at an Administrative Hearing

  If you do not agree with any decision, either verbal or written, made by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), you have the right to appeal that decision by asking for an administrative hearing. This tells you about 1) the deadline to request a hearing, 2) how to make the request, 3) how to prepare for your hearing, and 4) what to expect at your hearing and afterward. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

  Russian / Pусский

  Ukrainian / Українська

  Chinese / 中文

Overpayments (2)+

• DSHS and HCA Overpayments: What is “Equitable Estoppel”?

  Read this if DSHS sends you a notice saying you owe them money (an overpayment) because they gave you benefits they should not have and the overpayment was not your fault, and you cannot afford to repay it. You should ask for an administrative hearing. You have a legal defense against the overpayment. #7912EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Fighting an SSI or SSDI Overpayment Notice

  Is the Social Security Administration charging you with an overpayment? If so, Social Security believes that you got benefits when you were not eligible to get them. This explains some possible ways to respond to the overpayment notice. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

Social Security and SSI (2)+

• Fighting a Termination or Reduction of SSI or SSDI Based on Non-disability Reasons

  Social Security must notify you in writing before lowering (reducing) or stopping (terminating) your benefits. You may fight the termination by asking for reconsideration. You may continue to get the same benefits after the termination date in the notice if you request reconsideration in time. You must request reconsideration within ten days of the date on the notice to keep getting benefits. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• How to Fight Your SSI or SSD Denial

  Read this to find out what you can do if the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies your application because they say you are not disabled. If you have been receiving benefits and are notified that they will stop, see How to Fight a Termination of SSI or SSD. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Farsi / فارسی

Solving Problems with SSA (3)+

• Fighting a Termination or Reduction of SSI or SSDI Based on Non-disability Reasons

  Social Security must notify you in writing before lowering (reducing) or stopping (terminating) your benefits. You may fight the termination by asking for reconsideration. You may continue to get the same benefits after the termination date in the notice if you request reconsideration in time. You must request reconsideration within ten days of the date on the notice to keep getting benefits. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

• How to Fight Your SSI or SSD Denial

  Read this to find out what you can do if the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies your application because they say you are not disabled. If you have been receiving benefits and are notified that they will stop, see How to Fight a Termination of SSI or SSD. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Farsi / فارسی

• Video - Applying and Appealing for Disability at Social Security

  Watch this video to learn about how to apply and appeal for disability at Social Security. This video covers federal laws so the information in it is true no matter what state you live in. Read More

  By:

  Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

Unemployment Benefits (3)+

• How to Appeal a Denial Of Unemployment to Superior Court

  This explains Superior court review of an administrative decision relating to unemployment benefits. If you lose your claim at the administrative hearing, you have another level of administrative review. It is called a “Petition for Review.” #7602EN Read More

  By:

  Unemployment Law Project

• How to Represent Yourself at an Unemployment Benefits Hearing

  If you have been denied unemployment compensation benefits, you have a right to appeal. If you have been allowed benefits, your former employer has the same right to appeal. If either you or your employer appeals, you will have a hearing with an administrative law judge. This explains how to represent yourself at the hearing. Read More

  By:

  Unemployment Law Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Unemployment Law Project Web Site

  Are you having trouble collecting your unemployment benefits? Has your claim been improperly denied? Or has your employer appealed your entitlement to benefits? If so, we may be able to help. Read More

  By:

  Unemployment Law Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

Videos (2)+

• Video - Applying and Appealing for Disability at Social Security

  Watch this video to learn about how to apply and appeal for disability at Social Security. This video covers federal laws so the information in it is true no matter what state you live in. Read More

  By:

  Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Video - Unemployment Insurance Hearing Demonstration

  The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) is an independent state agency which conducts impartial administrative hearings for other government agencies. This site has a video to help you prepare for your Unemployment Insurance hearing. Read More

  By:

  State of Washington Office of Administrative Hearings

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español