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LEGAL SERVICES Latest News: Federal Trade Commission - Consumer Complaints The Federal Trade Commission has released a brief animated video clip describing why and how to file a consumer complaint. The video is available in English and Spanish on the FTC You Tube site at: The NLRC e-lert is a publication of the National Legal Resource Center, a collaborative effort developed by the Administration on Aging, US Department of Health and Human Services. The NLRC e-lert is produced by the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging in tandem with it’s NLRC partners, The Center for Elder Rights Advocacy, the Center for Social Gerontology, National Consumer Law Center, and National Senior Citizens Law Center. For more information, contact NLRC e-lert editor David Godfrey at godfreyd@staff.abanet.org. LEGAL SERVICES DEVELOPER: The state’s Legal Services Developer, a position required under the Older Americans Act, is located in the Aging Services Division of CT’s Department of Social Services. The Legal Services Developer does not represent the Aging Services Division or the Department of Social Services, nor does the Legal Services Developer represent individual clients. The Developer does, however, (1) monitor and advocate to improve the quality and quantity of legal and advocacy services available to Connecticut’s vulnerable elderly; (2) provide technical assistance to legal assistance providers and organizations and agencies within the aging network relative to elder rights issues; and (3) provide direction on how to obtain free legal information on a wide range of issues affecting older residents and explain how to obtain the free legal representation offered to seniors 60 and older under the Older Americans Act. The Legal Services Developer is, as time permits, also available to speak to groups or organizations on elder rights topics such as End-of-Life Decision-making and Health Care Planning and Health Care Fraud and Abuse and related scams. 860-424-5244 / email: (Aging Services General Address) ADVANCE DIRECTIVES/HEALTH CARE PLANNING PACKET: The Advance Directives: Planning For Future Health Care Decisions: Your Health Care Planning Packet is available from the Aging Services Division. This packet conforms to the provisions of the CT General Statutes to consumers and organizations and agencies within the state. The Packet includes a Summary of CT Law, Frequently Asked Questions, and directions on how to complete the included Health Care Instructions. Follow this link to obtain the Advance Directives packet:(English) Follow this link to obtain the Advance Directives packet:(Spanish) LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR OLDER PERSONS Through Older Americans Act, Title IIIB funding, Area Agencies on Aging contract with three Legal Services organizations in Connecticut to provide free counseling and representation on many Elder Law issues (Medicaid and other government programs, patients’ rights, nursing home issues) to those persons age 60 and older who may not be able to afford to hire a private attorney for a civil matter. Since resources are insufficient to provide services in every situation, problems falling within the following categories have priority for representation: · Access to health care; · Federal and state benefit and support programs; · Rights of nursing home residents; and · Legal issues which are the direct result of a client’s poverty. Click here (http://www.ctelderlaw.org/ ) for comprehensive, current information on elder law, government programs and legal assistance for residents of Connecticut age 60 and older. Connecticut Legal Services, Inc. (http://connlegalservices.org/) serves the following regions: Eastern Connecticut: 872 Main Street Willimantic, CT 06226 800-413-7796 or 860-456-1761 211 State Street Bridgeport, CT 06604 800-809-4434 or 203-336-3851 Western Connecticut: 85 Central Avenue Waterbury, CT 06702 800-413-7797 or 203-756-8074 80 Jefferson Street Hartford, CT 06106 860-541-5000 426 State Street 203-946-4811 CONSUMER LAW PROJECT FOR ELDERS : (http://www.ctelderlaw.org/) Connecticut Legal Services, Inc. also offers seniors with consumer problems free legal assistance through its Consumer Law Project for Elders (CLPE) hotline. The Hotline will provide free advice, representation and referrals to seniors 60 and older with such consumer problems as credit card debt, medical debt, abusive and harassing collection practices and identity theft. Seniors with other consumer problems can also call the hotline for advice. M – F 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM 800—296-1467 Bi-lingual staff are available to speak with Spanish speaking callers. AARP Consumer Web Site Better Business Bureau Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Federal Trade Commission (FTC) FTC - Identity Theft Site http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft// Contains Q&A and resources for victims. Identity Theft Resource Center National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) National Internet Fraud Watch Information Center State of Connecticut Department of Banking State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection State of Connecticut Attorney General’s Office http://www.ct.gov/ag/site/default.asp STATEWIDE LEGAL SERVICES (http://slsct.org/) operates a general legal hotline that provides free legal advice on a variety of civil law issues such as housing, including landlord-tenant and foreclosure matters; family problems; public benefits problems, such as Food Stamps, energy assistance, State Supplement and Supplemental Security Income (SSI); and consumer issues, including bankruptcy. If a caller needs legal representation, SLS will refer the person to the appropriate Legal Services office. SLS also provides a wide variety of educational pamphlets on most common legal problems relating to housing, family, public benefits, and consumer issues. Please note that seniors in Connecticut are encouraged to call their Legal Services local office rather than SLS. 424 Main Street, 4th floor Middletown, CT 06457 M – F 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM 800-453-3320 or 860-344-0380 A personal referral is often the best way to find a lawyer who meets your particular needs. If that is not possible, persons who are looking for an attorney to handle a problem for a fee can use the Lawyer Referral Services of area bar associations. They sponsor not-for-profit services that refer members of the public to private attorneys. A referral consultant will ask you a few questions to determine the nature of your situation. If it is determined that you would benefit from discussing your problem with a lawyer, the consultant will refer you to a private attorney for a consultation. You will be given the name and telephone number of an attorney, whom you must then contact and arrange for your half-hour consultation that is included in a referral fee. This fee, which is used to offset the program’s administrative costs, is due at the time of referral. For more information, contact: Fairfield County Bar Association - http://www.regionalbar.com/ (Greater Bridgeport/Fairfield Area) 203-335-4116 Hartford County Bar Association - http://www.hartfordbar.org/ 860-525-6052 New London County Bar Association - http://www.nlcba.org/ 860-889-9384 (M-W-F only) New Haven County Bar Association – http://www.newhavenbar.org/ (Greater New Haven/Valley/Waterbury) 203-562-5750 Modesty Means Reduced Fee Referral Program 203-562-0162 Medicare Legal And Educational Assistance The Department of Social Services funds a comprehensive program to provide legal assistance and representation to Medicare beneficiaries to ensure that they receive the health care benefits to which they are entitled. As a CHOICES (link) partner, The Center for Medicare Advocacy (http://www.medicareadvocacy.org ) provides free legal advice, self-help materials and representation to Connecticut’s elderly and disabled who are unfairly denied Medicare coverage. The Center also operates a toll-free telephone line to assure that they receive all the medical care and Medicare coverage to which they are entitled. 1-800-262-4414 860-456-7790 Content Last Modified on 12/2/2011 4:14:03 PM |
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