6 Best Legal Aid Projects For Seniors

1. The Senior Financial Exploitation Project (SFEP)

The Senior Financial Exploitation Project is a program that helps seniors who are victims of financial abuse or fraud. The project provides legal assistance and representation to seniors who have problems or questions related to their pensions, bank accounts, investments, property, or other financial matters. It also provides educational materials and workshops to help seniors identify and prevent financial exploitation, and seek legal help in a timely manner.

SFEP provides the following services:

Legal assistance and representation for seniors dealing with financial abuse or fraud.
Guidance and support in resolving issues related to pensions, bank accounts, investments, property, and other financial matters.
Educational materials and workshops to help seniors identify and prevent financial exploitation.
Assistance in taking appropriate legal actions against perpetrators of financial abuse.
Expertise in addressing specific forms of financial abuse, such as identity theft, scams, undue influence, power of attorney abuse, and guardianship abuse.

You can contact SFEP if:

You require legal assistance or representation regarding your pensions, bank accounts, investments, property, or other financial matters.
You are seeking guidance on preventing or addressing financial exploitation.
You need support in taking legal action against individuals involved in financial abuse.
You have specific concerns related to identity theft, scams, undue influence, power of attorney abuse, or guardianship abuse.

To apply for the project, you can call (513) 345-4160 or 1-800-488-6070 for help.

2. The Justice for Older Adults Project (JOAP)

The Justice for Older Adults Project is a program dedicated to providing legal assistance and support to older adults who are encountering legal issues concerning their pensions, finances, or property. The project aims to address the legal concerns of older adults by providing guidance, representation, and educational resources. It covers a range of issues related to pensions, bank accounts, investments, property, and other financial matters.

Key information about the project includes:

Services: Legal assistance and representation for older adults dealing with problems or inquiries regarding their pensions, bank accounts, investments, property, or other financial matters.
Educational Resources: Provision of materials and workshops to help older adults identify and prevent financial exploitation, as well as seek timely legal assistance.
Expertise: A team of lawyers and pension counselors specializing in addressing various types of financial abuse, including identity theft, scams, undue influence, power of attorney abuse, and guardianship abuse.
Coverage Area: The project operates in six states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

JOAP provides the following services:

Obtaining protection orders.
Handling divorce cases.
Establishing, contesting, restricting, or ending guardianships.
Setting up and revoking powers of attorney.
Recovering lost assets.
Restoring public benefits.
Creating trusts and removing abusive caregivers.
Modifying and canceling legal documents.
Removing social security representative payees for mismanagement of funds and breach of fiduciary duties.
Addressing issues related to identity theft and debt collection.
Challenging unlawful nursing home discharges.
Dealing with deceptive and unfair business practices.

To apply for the project, there are several off-site offices in different counties. Further details including numbers and locations can be found on their website.

3. The Mid-America Pension Rights Project (MAPRP)

The Mid-America Pension Rights Project is a program that helps people with pension issues or questions, regardless of their age, income, or value of the claim. Funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging, the project covers six states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

MAPRP provides the following services:

Offering fundamental guidance on pension laws and rights.
Providing information regarding pension benefits for spouses or surviving beneficiaries.
Assisting in locating pensions that may have been misplaced due to company mergers, relocations, or bankruptcies.
Investigating cases of benefit denials and assisting in filing appeals.
Educating individuals about the rights of divorced individuals, including Qualified Domestic Relations Orders.
Assisting in the process of filing benefit claims.

You can contact MAPRP if:

You currently reside or work in the area covered by the project.
You resided or worked in the area covered by the project while receiving the pension.
The company or pension plan is located in the region served by the project.

To apply for the project, the available time is from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. To speak with an advocate, call 866-735-7737.

4. The Monthly Veterans Legal Clinic Project (MVLCP)

The Monthly Veterans Legal Clinic Project is a collaborative program between the Veterans Justice Outreach project at Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Pro Seniors, and Greater Cincinnati Legal Aid. This project is specifically designed to provide free legal advice and referrals to veterans who have questions or issues related to the law. The primary objective of this initiative is to assist veterans in accessing justice and resolving their legal problems, which may include evictions, family law matters, estate planning, public benefits, or consumer disputes.

Key information about the project includes:

Services: Assistance with various legal matters, including evictions, family law, estate planning, public benefits, and consumer disputes.
Format: Walk-in legal clinic providing brief consultations with attorneys.
Schedule: Held on the second Monday of each month from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Location: Cincinnati VA Medical Center.
Eligibility: Open to any veteran, regardless of income or resources.

To apply for the project, you can contact the project team by calling 1-513-345-4160 or 1-800-488-6070 or visiting their website for more information.

5. Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles' Veterans Justice Center

The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles' Veterans Justice Center is a program that provides free legal services and advocacy to low-income veterans and their families in Los Angeles County. The program helps veterans with various legal issues, such as obtaining VA benefits, clearing criminal records, reinstating driver's licenses, upgrading military discharges, and more. The program also offers clinical case management services, such as counseling, referrals, and support groups, to help veterans cope with the challenges they face.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles' Veterans Justice Center provides the following services:

Get VA benefits.
Get social security & other income, health, and food benefits.
Deal with housing & landlord problems.
Deal with Section 8 and HUD-VASH problems.
Clear criminal records.
Take care of tickets.
Reinstate driver's licenses.
Upgrade military discharges.
Cancel or discharge student loans.
Reduce back child support.

To apply for the project, an instruction video for applying its services is available for reference on YouTube. Its official website also offers multiple languages for online applicants.

6. Health Education & Law Project of Nebraska

The Health Education & Law Project of Nebraska is a program that provides free legal services and education to people who have health-related problems or questions. The project is run by Legal Aid of Nebraska, a nonprofit organization that helps low-income people with various legal issues. The project partners with hospitals, health centers, and medical providers to identify and refer people who need legal help. It aims to improve the health and well-being of people by addressing the social and legal factors that affect their health. The project covers six states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

The Health Education & Law Project of Nebraska provides the following services:

Obtaining health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or other benefits.
Appealing denials or reductions of health care services or coverage.
Protecting their rights as patients or consumers of health care.
Addressing the legal causes or consequences of their health conditions, such as domestic violence, housing, employment, or debt.
Planning for their future health care needs, such as powers of attorney, living wills, or guardianships.

To apply for the project, you can contact the project by calling 866-735-7737 or visiting their website.

In summary, these projects offer valuable legal assistance and support to various groups in need. If you require assistance from any of these projects, please refer to the provided contact information for each project to get the help you need.