Widow Awarded30 Years Of Past-Due Social Security Disability Benefits
Richard Frusher was a Cranston resident and veteran of the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army. In the summer of 1974, at age 33, Richard began to experience symptoms of mental illness, and was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
In 1975, he applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) denied his claim. His family could not understand why he was denied, and he re-applied in March of 1978. SSA again denied his claim. Richard’s family reluctantly accepted SSA’s decision and did not appeal.
Richard’s mental health never improved. In 2003, when he became eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, his wife Cecelia applied on his behalf. While at SSA, she asked why he was never eligible for social security disability benefits, and she applied again on his behalf, alleging disability back to 1975. A hearing was scheduled in 2005. At the hearing, an independent medical expert testified that Richard had experienced “marked” limitations in multiple fields of functioning since at least 1975. The Administrative Law Judge therefore approved the case, issuing a decision awarding benefits, but only since the most recent application in 2003. The judge denied benefits back to 1975. Therefore, although medical evidence established disability back to 1975, Richard was only awarded SSI benefits dating back to December 2003, the month after his final SSI application. Richard died in a veteran’s home in 2005.
Richard’s grieving widow consulted with Marasco & Nesselbush partner Donna Nesselbush to inquire whether she had any appeal rights regarding his prior disability applications.
Citing a little known Social Security law, Attorney Nesselbush appealed the ruling, arguing that Richard was, in fact and in law, entitled to disability benefits dating back to 1975. The Appeals Council denied the claim, as did the United States District Court. Loyal to her client and believing in the case, Attorney Nesselbush appealed to the First Circuit Court of Appeals. In September 2010, the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Richard’s favor, remanding the case back to Social Security for another hearing.
At that hearing, Marasco & Nesselbush Associate Attorney, Jospeh P. Wilson, represented Richard’s widow. After reviewing all of the evidence, an independent medical expert agreed with Marasco & Nesselbush that Richard’s schizophrenia was totally disabling all the way back to 1975, and the judge awarded Richard’s widow his retroactive veteran’s disability benefits dating from 1975. Finally, 36 years after his initial application and after six long years of litigation, we are very pleased to report that Richard’s family has seen justice done.
For Cecelia Frusher, this marks the end of a long and difficult journey. “This decision finally honors my late husband, and he deserves it. Marasco & Nesselbush walked with me through the unjust times until we turned it into justice, and never once did this firm lose their confidence or give up on my husband’s claim. For this, I thank them.”