Licensed for 11 years

Social Security & Disability Lawyer at Bladensburg, MD
Practice Areas: Social Security, Estate Planning, Military Law

About Kathryn

Biography

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.

Practice Areas

Social Security & Disability 40%

Representing claimants in their SSI/SSDI claims before the Social Security Administration, from initial applications through the Appeals Council.

40%

Estate Planning 35%

Provide complete estate planning services (Last Will & Testament, Advance Directive, Living Will, Health Care Power of Attorney, General Power of Attorney, trusts, and tax consequences).

35%

Military Law 25%

Representing veterans and service members in their claims for Veterans' Disability Compensation and related benefits.

25%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Contingency

15%-30%

Retainer

Always

Payment Methods

Cash
Check
Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Maryland for 11 years

State: Maryland

Acquired: 2014

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in District of Columbia for 8 years

State: District of Columbia

Acquired: 2017

Resigned

No misconduct found

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Location

Blevins Law, LLC

4921 Tilden Rd., #292, Bladensburg, MD, 20710

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Kathryn Louise Blevins's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

8 Client Reviews

Showing 6 - 7 of 7 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by Amy | July 24, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Wills & Living Wills

Estate Planning

Sorting out our wills was a top priority but something we had pushed off for 6 years or more. We finally decided we needed to do this and hired Ms. Blevins to walk us through the process. She was not only very thorough, she was patient and knowledgeable for all of my many questions throughout the pro...cess. I appreciated her breaking down scenarios for me in real life situations as well as providing hypothetical scenarios to give me more insight into my own decision making process. I highly recommend her for her professionalism, thorough knowledge of the subject, and her ability to relate effortlessly with our family and our situation.

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Posted by Carrie | July 24, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning

Carrie Weletz

We hired Kayte to do our wills, Powers of Attorney and guardianship for our child. Since my mom just passed I realized how important not was to have all this paperwork in order if anything were to happen. She was thorough and met with us for a lengthy consultation and was very quick to respond to o...ur concerns and emails. I would highly recommend her services!

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Kathryn Louise Blevins's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Kathryn

Larry Burch

Military law lawyer | Jan 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have been practicing military and civilian law for over 25 years. I have known Katheryn Blevins and an attorney in my office for over a year and find her to be extremely knowledgeable in Veteran's and Social Security Disability rights law, hard working and intelligent. I would certainly send my family member to her for help with a disability claim. I give her my strongest peer endorsement."

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Ivy Finkenstadt

Consumer protection lawyer

Carrie Weletz

Criminal defense lawyer

Larry Burch

Divorce and separation lawyer

Susan Trimble

Personal injury lawyer

Sharon Christie

Social Security & Disability lawyer

Gwendolyn Waters

Criminal defense lawyer

Nicholas Madiou

Criminal defense lawyer

Michael Lawlor

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating: 6.3 (Good)

Honors

2014

Excellence in Clinical Work, University of the District of Columbia - David A. Clarke School of Law

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Work Experience

2018 - Present

Owner, Blevins Law, LLC

2014 - 2016

Associate, The Law Offices of Erica J. Suter, LLC

2013 - 2014

Student Attorney, Housing & Consumer Law Clinic at the University of the District of Columbia - David A. Clarke School of Law

2012 - 2013

Student Attorney, HIV/AIDS Clinic at the University of the District of Columbia - David A. Clarke School of Law

2012 - 2012

Law Clerk, Felony Trials Division, Maryland Office Of The Public Defender

2012 - 2012

Law Clerk, Offit Kurman

2011 - 2011

Law Clerk, Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless

2010 - 2012

Program Coordinator, SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery, Prince George's Co. Dept. Of Social Services

2009 - 2010

Claims Examiner, Department of Rehabilitative Services

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Associations

2017 - Present

District of Columbia Bar

Member

2014 - Present

Maryland State Bar Association

Member

2014 - 2017

Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys' Association

Member

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Education

2014

University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

2008

Virginia Commonwealth University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

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Speaking Engagements

2018

SOAR Works Maryland SOAR Symposium

Maintaining Employment During the SSI/SSDI Application Process

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Languages

English

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Activity

Legal Answers

Legal Guides

Legal Answers

Q&A

Can I lose my Social Security check of I go into a drug reb?

10 Jan 2019

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