ECONOMIC STABILITY & BASIC NEEDS

When low-income individuals and households experience an economic crisis, in many instances their situation can only be resolved with the assistance of counsel. When these clients cannot afford an attorney, they can turn to Legal Aid to receive the life-changing help they need to return to economic stability and to avoid falling into poverty.

Legal Aid operates the Housing and Income Preservation Project. Legal Aid also operates the Low-Income Taxpayers Clinic.

The full range of services Legal Aid provides to promote economic stability and to help struggling residents meet their basic needs includes the following:

• Social security – including SSI, SSDI
• Medical benefits – social security including Medicare, Medicaid, VA
• Unemployment benefits
• Basic needs – food stamps (SNAP), income benefits (TANF)
• Bankruptcy – Chapter 7
• Resolving Tax liens and controversies with the IRS
• VITA program – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program
• Securing appropriate Tax deductions and credits
• Resolving insurance disputes – including medical coverage, property insurance claims, and other coverage issues
• Income maintenance and protection – defending against wage garnishment, obtaining unpaid wages
• Employment law – including discrimination, unpaid wages, removing barriers to employment (credit repair, expungement, driver’s license restoration)