Law Overviews & Guides

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Comprehensive guides and overviews of legal topics intended for advocates; in general, do NOT code simple fact sheets or client education materials with this term.

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2012 VA Health, Income and Other Benefits Guide

Community Access National Network
VA benefits guide, written by Thomas McCormack (Community Access National Network).

RSI/ SSI Benefits for Those Age 65 and Older: An Overview

Linda Landry, Svetlana Uimenkova, Disability Law Center
A general overview of Social Security Retirement Insurance (RSI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits for low-income people age 65 and older. (Note -- if you are viewing this overview online, download the Word version instead of the PDF, because the links in the Word version are…

Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP) Q & A

SSP Project Team, UMass

SSI For Children Maximum Benefit Rates in Massachusetts (Effective January, 2012)

Division for Perinatal, Early Childhood and Special Needs, MA DPH

Islamic Marriage Contracts: A Resource Guide

Maha Alkhatee, Peaceful Families Project
Islamic Marriage Contracts: A Resource Guide For Legal Professionals, Advocates, Imams & Communities This guide was developed as a resource for legal professionals and advocates working with Muslims, and for Muslim leaders and community members. This resource is meant to provide and…

MassHealth's Electronic Data Management (EDM) Project

Vicky Pulos, MLRI
This memo by MLRI describes MassHealth's new system for storing and retrieving eligibility documents electronically & offers some practical tips for using the new system & how it may help troubleshooting problems related to processing delays.

Tenant Screening Reports: An Unfair Barrier to Housing in NYC

New Economy Project
Tenant Screening Reports: An Unfair Barrier to Housing in NYC - youtube video on tenant blacklisting produced by the New Economy Project.

Reasonable Accommodation in Housing for those with Disabilities -- a training powerpoint overview

CLA
A power point setting forth an overview of reasonable accommodation in housing for those with disabilitie.

NON-SEALABLE OFFENSES ARE NOT A BAR TO OTHER CORI SEALING BY MAIL UNDER CHAPTER 276 SECTION 100A AND NON-SEALABLE OFFENSES

Pauline Quirion
Ch. 276, Section 100A "all or nothing" sealing problem resolved--Spread the wordThe Commissioner of Probation was denying requests to seal "aged out" cases on a CORI under Chapter 276, Section 100A whenever the requester also had a non-sealable conviction (i.e. a conviction for…

Returning to the US After Deportation: A Guide to Assess Your Eligibility

Boston College Law School, Post-Deportation Human Rights Project
Returning to the United States After Deportation: A Guide to Assess Your Eligibility (by Post-Deportation Human Rights Project): Information for those who have already been deported and hope to return to the US, permanently or as a visitor.  Discusses how to get a copy of your criminal or…

When Your Social Security Benefits Are Taken to Pay Back Money to the Federal Government

NCLC
Fact Sheet on Administrative Offset by National Consumer Law Center

An Imperative for Change: Bridging Special and Language Learning Education to Ensure a Free and Appropriate Education in the Least Restrictive Environment for ELLs with Disabilities in Massachusetts

Maria de Lourdes B. Serpa
A report published by the Gaston Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy outlining analysis and recommendations for providing FAPE in the least restrictive environment for ELLs that have disabilities.

A Guide for Relative Caregivers in Suffolk and Middlesex Counties

Government and Family Seminar, Tufts University
A comprehensive overview of different types of kinship (or relative) caregiver relationships, including Informal Relative Caregivers, Foster Care Relative Caregivers, Legal Guardians and Adoptive Parents.  The guide is intended to help caregivers decide what type of relationship is best for…

Using the Amer. with Disabilities Act to Protect the Rights of Individuals in TANF Programs: Manual For NonLitigation Advocacy

National Center for Law and Economic Justice
From the introduction to the manual:  "This manual provides basic information for lawyers and advocates on how to use federal disability rights laws to improve access to welfare benefits for people with disabilities."  It does not address litigation issues, instead…

Guide to Translation of Legal Materials

National Center for State Courts (NCSC)
This document was put together by the Consortium for Language Access in the Court, Professional Issues Committee. It is designed as a tool of best practices and tips on translation of court forms and materials. Click "Go to Website" below to access the document.  

Small employer tax credits for 2010

Vicky Pulos
This flyer describes the new refundable tax credit available to small employers (including tax exempt small employers) who provide health insurance to their employees. 

Advocate Guide: Understanding the Martinez Settlement

Justice in Aging
From the Justice in Aging (formerly the National Senior Citizens Law Center): The settlement of a class action lawsuit (Martinez v. Astrue) has ended the Social Security Administration's policy of denying or suspending benefits for "fleeing to avoid prosecution," based solely on the…

Between the Lines: A Question and Answer Guide on Legal Issues in Supportive Housing

Goldfarb and Lipman, Corporation of Supportive Housing
Much has changed since the publication of the 2001 edition of the CSH Between the Lines Guide, as more communities have embraced permanent supportive housing as the model for reducing homelessness among populations vulnerable to housing instability. The law has changed as well, often attempting to…

Medicare Part D Exceptions and Appeals: A Practical Guide for Advocates

National Senior Citizens Law Center
An NSCLC guide on Medicare Part D exceptions and appeals. The Guide explains: 1) Procedures that beneficiaries, plans and other decision makers must follow when an exception is requested and during an appeal; and 2)  Substantive issues, with particular emphasis on what advocates…

Attorneys Fees in Civil Rights Litigation

Jim Breslauer, NLS, and Patti Prunhuber, LACCM
An overview of Attorney's Fees in Civil Rights Litigation, 42 U.S.C. §§1983, 1988.  Also, a listing of selected Massachusetts cases governing attorneys fees awards, as well as lists of both Massachusetts and Federal statutes allowing/mandating attorneys fees to prevailing parties.…

Immigration Relief for Crime Victims: The U Visa Manual

New York Anti-Trafficking Network Legal Subcommittee
The U visa provides legal status to victims of certain serious crimes who have suffered substantial physical or mental harm and can document cooperation with law enforcement. If favorably adjudicated, the U visa grants permission to remain and work in the U.S. for up to four years, and allows…

Assessment of Allegations of Intimate Partner Violence (Domestic Violence) - Chart

Leslie Drozd
Click on the "Go to Website" link below to access the chart

Medicare Advantage: A SHIP Resource Guide

Health Assistance Partnership
This manual provides an introduction to the Medicare Advantage program, including eligibility, enrollment, coverage and cost issues. It is one of three HAP Medicare training manuals in a series that also contains manuals on Medicare Basics and the Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) program. Updated…

Medicare Basics: A SHIP Resource Guide

Health Assistance Partnership
This manual provides an introduction to the Original Medicare program, eligibility, Medicare coverage issues, and related health insurance programs, such as supplemental coverage. It is one of three HAP Medicare training manuals in a series that also contains manuals on the Medicare Advantage and…

Medicare Part D: A SHIP Resource Guide

This manual provides an introduction to the Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) program, including eligibility, enrollment, coverage issues, costs, the Low-Income Subsidy program, and related programs, such as VA drug coverage. It is one of three HAP Medicare training manuals in a series that also…

History of Automatic Cost-Of-Living Adjustments, Fact Sheet

SSA

Booklet 2: How to Apply (Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized Housing)

MLRI
From the introduction to the booklet:  "Finding and applying for government-funded housing is very different from renting an apartment in the private market.  There are more rules to follow, more forms to fill out, and often more frustrations along the way.  But the benefit is that government-funded…

Booklet 4: Who Has Priority (Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized Housing)

MLRI
This booklet will hep you figure out whether you fit into any preference or priority categories for housing that will help you move up on a waiting list more quickly (e.g., living in a condemned apartment, living in a shelter, severe medical emergency, paying more than half your income for rent,…

Link to Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized Housing

MLRI
Link to the 2009 edition of Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized housing. This handbook provides information about the nuts and bolts of government-funded housing programs in Massachusetts.  It includes information about: How to apply and waiting lists Immigrants and special…

Booklet 7: Challenging a Denial of Housing (Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized Housing)

MLRI
From the introduction to the booklet: "If you have been denied public or subsidized housing, you have a right to challenge this decision.  And people do challenge denials and win.  but to challenge a denial, you need to learn the rules. This booklet will give you information about rules…

Directory (Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized Housing)

MLRI
The resource directory from Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized Housing.  Includes contact information for Housing Search Agencies, Public Housing Authorities, Government Agencies, Legal Assistance, Advocacy Groups, Battered Women Shelters, Immigration Issues resources, Independent Living…

Booklet 1: Types of Housing (Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized Housing)

MLRI
From the introduction to the booklet: "This booklet will give you an overview of the rental housing programs for low- and moderate - income people in massachusetts and help you identify different programs and find the laws and rules that apply to them." The booklet is posted on MassLegalHelp.org…

Booklet 5: How Waiting Lists Work (Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized Housing)

MLRI
Discusses how waiting lists for affordable housing programs work.  The booklet is posted on MassLegalHelp.org -- follow the Go to Website link below.

Booklet 10: Reasonable Accommodations (Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized Housing)

MLRI
From the introduction to the booklet: "By law, public housing authorities and owners of multifamily housing are required to make reasonable accommodations that give people with physical or mental disabilities access to housing or help them to remain in housing. If you or someone in your…

Glossary (Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized Housing)

MLRI
Glossary of terms and acronyms used in the booklets that are part of Legal Tactics:  Finding Public and Subsidized Housing.  The glossary is posted on MassLegalHelp.org -- follow the Go to Website link below.

Booklet 3: Eligibility (Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized Housing)

MLRI
From the introduction to the booklet: "If you apply for public or subsidized housing, determining whether you are eligible is the first step in the application process. Being eligible means that your yearly income is below a certain limit, you meet the definition of family, and at least one member…

Booklet 6: Tenant Screening (Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized Housing)

MLRI
From the introduction to the booklet: "Most landlords check out or screen people who apply to rent housing to help them decide if that person is likely to be a good tenant.  They do this by getting various records, the most common of which are past landlord references, credit reports, and criminal…

Booklet 9: Immigrants and Housing (Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized Housing)

MLRI
Discusses eligibility, immigration status, applications and other issues that immigrants seeking or residing in public or subsidized housing may have. The booklet is posted on MassLegalHelp.org -- follow the Go to Website link below.

Booklet 8: Using a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (Legal Tactics: Finding Public and Subsidized Housing)

MLRI
From the introduction to the booklet:  "If you have a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, sometimes using the voucher can be difficult.  Rents are too high.  Apartments may not be in decent condition.  Or you may be facing housing discrimination because you have a voucher. The purpose of this…

Improving the Medicare Appeals Process

AARP Public Policy Institute
This AARP fact sheet provides an overview of the Medicare appeal process (including a useful chart about the process), and it offers suggestions on how the Medicare appeals process can be improved.

EAEDC Training Powerpoint

Pat Baker, MLRI
A power point training presentation about EAEDC basic benefits, presented to ABCD in November 2009.

Rent in Public Housing

Annette Duke
If you are a tenant in public housing in Massachusetts the information in this handbook will anwer your questions about how rents are set in both state and federal public housing in Massachusetts. Click on the Go To Website link below, to go to the MassLegalHelp website where the information is…

MCLE Introduction to the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (2009)

Jennifer A. Maggiacomo, Esq, Middlesex Probate Court for MCLE
From the Introduction to Mass. Continuing Legal Education's Introduction to the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (2009):  This "Alert" is a special publication designed to provide a brief overview of the new Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code, the effective date of which is July…

School Suspension and Expulsion

Children's Law Center of Massachusetts
Suspension and Expulsion are disciplinary sanctions imposed for prohibited conduct committed by a student. Generally, an expulsion is when a student is permanently removed from a school system. For certain serious offenses, if a student is expelled, no other school system must enroll the student,…

The Legislative Process in Massachusetts

Deb Silva, MLRI
A Powerpoint presentation giving an overview of "how a bill becomes a law" in Massachusetts.  

Social Security Disability Insurance: A Primer

AARP Public Policy Institute

Observation of Education Programs by Parents and Their Designees

MA DESE
Technical Advisory regarding Section 3 of G.L. c. 71B, the state special education law, which was amended to require school committees to grant timely and sufficient access by parents and parent-designated independent evaluators to a child's current and proposed special education program so that the…

How to Use DOT-basic training powerpoint

DLC
Power point presentation prepared by the Disability Law Center in January of 2009 on How to use Directory of Occupational Titles.  An outline of the training is also attached.

Building the Legacy: IDEA 2004.

US Dept of Elementary and Secondary Education
Website that provides resources related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the related special education federal regulations, including the text of the statute and regulations and video clips and topic briefs on selected topics. IDEA - Building The Legacy of IDEA 2004 The…

Prior Written Notice Model Form

US Dept of Elementary and Secondary Education
Under 34 CFR §300.503(a), the school district must give parent a written notice, whenever the school district: (1) Proposes to begin or change the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of your child or the provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to your child; or (2)…