An older person who was the victim of domestic violence by her husband obtained a 90-day injunction from the family court and was ordered by the family court to file a divorce or separation action for additional protection. Using the Title III-B legal program, the legal provider filed a complaint with the family court for the older person before the protection order expired within 90 days. With this assistance, the client was protected from further violence and was given full use and ownership of the marital home and a transportation vehicle. There are approximately 1,000 OAA-funded legal service providers nationwide, providing nearly one million hours of legal assistance each year. Legal assistance may include: Under Title III-B of the Warrants of the Older Persons Act, the South Carolina Department of Aging funds the provision of legal aid through the various regional agencies on aging throughout the state. Legal assistance means legal advice and representation. In South Carolina, this assistance must be provided by an attorney. To search online for community legal resources in your area: A long-term care policy denied coverage to a person, alleging that the person had exhausted their benefits. Legal Assistance concluded that the wording of the policy was inconsistent and included a provision that total benefits were 2190 days (six years), while other articles indicated three years. After receiving a letter of claim and various legal actions, the company negotiated a settlement and the client agreed to another year of coverage. Service units representing one hour of legal service A legal adviser helped an elderly woman obtain her Social Security funds after they were seized from an account held jointly with her son. The son had a judgment against him and the creditor filed a lawsuit against the account.
The woman resided in a care facility and non-payment of her bill may have resulted in her dismissal. A client was facing the loss of his home due to a mortgage foreclosure caused by a tax error at the county assessor`s office. Thanks to legal assistance, the error has been corrected, the mortgage has been updated and the monthly payments are now at the right amount so that the client can maintain his own home. The SC Bar is instrumental in providing volunteer advocates in various parts of the state for education, voluntary clinics, and “Ask A Lawyer” programs that target the elderly population or are suitable for caregivers. Please contact them at (803) 799-6653 to find out how you can get involved in ensuring seniors get the legal services they need free of charge. The Department is actively engaged in establishing partnerships with entities that can provide legal assistance in accordance with the principles of law and regulation set forth in the Older Americans Act, the Legal Services Corporation Act and regulations made pursuant to those Acts. If you are a service provider seeking training or legal services, please contact us at 1-800-868-9095. Free legal answers from the American Bar Association. For individuals under the age of 60 who meet certain income and resource requirements, Georgia Legal Services Program, Inc. and Atlanta Legal Aid Society may offer free, discounted legal assistance in certain types of cases. This helpful resource, created by the South Carolina Bar`s Division of Public Services and the Elders Law Committee, is a guide to laws and programs that affect older adults.
See the full printable manual (updated 2019). A widow was the victim of financial abuse. A legal provider has succeeded in annulling acts falsified by the perpetrator (e.g. financial power of attorney, house deed). If you don`t have timely access to help from organizations that provide free legal services, or if your senior is not eligible, you may want to find low-cost or discounted legal help. The South Carolina Department of Aging has long-standing partnerships with the SC Bar and SC Bar Pro Bono Program, the Access to Justice Commission, SC Legal Services, and other agencies (governmental or otherwise) that can provide legal representation to the target audience. The project can serve seniors of all income levels, but we prioritize clients who need it most. Their regional agency on aging provides community resources for seniors and caregivers. They will be able to connect you with local organizations that offer free, low-cost legal aid to seniors. Legal services are available to assist seniors and adults with disabilities with a variety of legal issues related to housing, consumer fraud, elder abuse, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medi-Cal, ageism, pensions, nursing homes, protection services, conservatories and other matters.
The legal aid provided to thousands of seniors each year has a clear and direct positive impact on their ability to remain independent in their homes and communities for as long as possible, with optimized choices and individual autonomy. The following examples illustrate the benefits: A 73-year-old woman was contacted by a telemarketer and invited to join a discount buyers` club. She told the company she wasn`t interested. However, when her checks started bouncing, she contacted her bank and found that an electronic transfer had been made to the buyers` club. The intervention of senior legal services resulted in a full refund plus additional costs. A customer`s social security was wrongly seized by Wells Fargo. Social security is their only source of income. A South Carolina legal services attorney intervened in the Title III-B legal program and recovered the money, along with an additional settlement. Without this program, the senior would not have had money to pay rent or bills and could have become homeless. Last year, regional organizations on aging spent approximately $330,000 to fund legal services for HC`s most vulnerable population. Our service provider handled 1,160 legal files in eleven (11) priority areas.
The success of the program is not measured in dollars, but by the impact we have on people`s lives every day.
