Kathryn L. Blevins, Esq.

About

At Blevins Law, LLC, I combine my passion for mental health and disability rights with my experience advocating on behalf of disability applicants to provide you with comprehensive representation for your disability and estate planning needs.    A Family Affair  As a child I often joined my father at work, where he led a non-profit organization specializing in the vocational training of adults with disabilities. This exposure to a “person first” approach to disability rights cultivated in me a passion to serve people living with disabilities. Later in life, after helping a close family member navigate continued health crises, my interest in disability rights turned into a personal desire to help people get the care and benefits they need, protect their families, and prepare for the difficult times in life that most of us avoid thinking about.    A Social Security “Insider” I began my disability career as a claims examiner for a Disability Determination Services (DDS) office in Virginia. DDS is the office that reviews Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applicants’ initial claims and first appeals, called reconsideration claims. While at DDS, I reviewed medical and non-medical evidence to determine whether applicants met the Social Security Administration’s stringent definition of “disability.” Consequently, I know how the system works, and I understand how to present a case that is easy to approve and hard to deny.   After spending time at DDS, I quickly began to see how challenging the process was for applicants, and how devastated applicants were to be denied benefits. Frustrated with the status quo, I left to spearhead a social services program developed to help applicants successfully navigate the Social Security process. All of my clients were homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, and diagnosed with serious mental illness. Most clients had little to no consistent medical treatment, and those that did were unable to provide many details. Many were also struggling with some form of substance abuse, which often complicates an applicant’s chances of approval. Despite these many challenges, while leading this program I increased the approval rating for my clients to nearly three times the national average, and trained other local service providers to do the same.    After graduating cum laude from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, I entered private practice handling post-conviction criminal defense matters. One of my greatest pleasures was helping clients who struggled with mental health impairments and substance abuse. Always one to root for the “underdog,” I found criminal defense work immensely rewarding. However, disability work continued to call for me. As a result, Blevins Law, LLC, was born.    A Military Spouse with a Passion to Help  While speaking about my experiences with Social Security disability benefits, I often met veterans who told me the same story: long processing times and seemingly arbitrary disability ratings left them wondering whether this country was committed to taking care of its veterans. As the spouse of a twice-deployed veteran, this was and continues to be unacceptable to me. Many of my husband’s former unit members were injured in combat, and though many years have passed since they were deployed, they continue to struggle with getting the highest disability rating they deserve.    Having worked disability benefits cases from all angles, I understand the fastest and most dignified way to get you the Social Security and VA Disability Compensation benefits to which you are entitled, and my passion to ensure that no one faces a medical crisis unprepared means that I will work with you to create a plan tailored to your specific needs. As your Social Security lawyer or Veterans' lawyer, I will fight for you so you can focus on what matters: your health, your loved ones, and your future.    If you have questions about how to handle your Social Security disability claim (SSI/SSDI), VA Disability Compensation claim, or estate planning, contact us today.