The Legal Aid Society of Hawai`i provides help in the area of Public Benefits Law to families and individuals who are struggling with a variety of different issues, including:
Problems with Department of Human Services (DHS) benefits (Financial Assistance,
Food Stamps, Medicaid/QUEST, etc.);
Problems with
Social Security Retirement /Disability and Supplemental Security Income;
Assistance with
application for public assistance;
and other public
benefits related issues
Legal Aid’s staff of attorneys and paralegals provide assistance
with these issues through a variety of different methods, including: legal
advice, help in filling out paperwork, making phone calls, document preparation,
and full representation in limited cases.
To download information about PUBLIC BENEFITS LAW
To access over 120 self-help resource materials
to assist you with your non-criminal legal needs,
primarily in the areas of Housing, Family, Consumer,
and Public Benefits Law.
DISCLAIMER:
This website is designed to provide general information and should
not
be utilized as a substitute for professional legal advice.
PUBLIC BENEFITS BROCHURES
Center for Equal Justice
Food Stamps - General Info & Application
Quest, Quest Net & Quest Spend Down
Medicaid, Medicare & Other
Medical Assistance Options
BROCHURES FOR SENIORS
5 Things Seniors Should Ask Before Hiring an Attorney
Social Security Facts
Social Security Advocacy Project (SSA)
How to Apply for SSA, SSI, SSDI
The purpose of the intake Hotline is to provide easy access to services at the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii. Primarily, our clients can apply for services through our toll-fee state-wide phone service, which operates during the following times:
MONDAY - FRIDAY
9:00am to 11:30am in the morning, and
1:00pm to 3:30pm in the afternoon
URGENT NOTICE (OAHU) - Starting July 1, 2009 Legal Aid will not have Walk-In Intake Service or CEJ (Computer Access) service open to the public after 11:30am.
HOTLINE NUMBERS:
536-4302 on OAHU, or
1-800-499-4302 on the NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
To see if you QUALIFY for Legal Aid services
PUBLIC BENEFITS OVERVIEW TRAINING 2010
POWER POINT PDFs
- Updates to Public Benefits 2010
- Food Stamps
- GA AABD SSI
- Hawaii Covering Kids (Children's Medical Insurance)
- Medical Benefits 101
- Special Needs Planning Update PBOT
- Housing PBOT
- TANF Training
- Vocational Rehabilitation PBOT
EXCEPTIONS TO INCOME & ASSET ELIGIBILITY
Legal Aid is allowed to waive the financial tests for certain clients contingent on funding from other sources.
• Big Island or Maui Seniors: Any Income
Change the funding code to: BIG ISLAND: Hawaii County Title III; MAUI:
Maui County Title III
Legal Aid has several federal grants to help the elderly (60+). Maui
and the Big Island have Title III grants which pay them to do legal
work for seniors. (UHELP has the Title III grant for Oahu.)
• Foreclosure/Reverse mortgage or Pre-purchase counseling: Any Income
Legal Aid has a federal grant from HUD to operate a housing counseling
program. Anyone facing foreclosure should be routed to the HUD Housing
counseling unit. You may call the general intake
hotline during hotline hours.
• HUD Homeless – Oahu Only: Any Income
Callers who are homeless (being evicted within a week with no where
to go; living on the beach, street, park or place not meant for human
habitation; fleeing a domestic violence housing situation; living in
an emergency shelter; living in transitional housing; or in a hospital
or institution for a short stay or being discharged with no where to
go) are eligible for legal services under this program.
• IRS Grant: Income up to 250% FPL
Callers are eligible for assistance with a tax dispute (this means pretty
much any problem they are having with the IRS) regardless of their income.
This is a statewide program, but all dockets should be forwarded to
Honolulu.
• Housing Discrimination Grant: Any Income
Callers who are experiencing discrimination in any housing situation
(renting a unit, financing a housing purchase, applying for subsidized
housing, etc) can call our Fair Housing Enforcement Program
808-527-8024 on Oahu or 1-866-527-FAIR (3247) on the Neighbor Islands.
• KID’s 200 Grant: Income up to 200% FPL
Caller’s are eligible if they have children in the house or are a child
themselves and meet one of the following six criteria: 1) There are
legal barriers preventing self sufficiency, 2) There are children in
the household confirmed by CPS for child abuse and neglect, 3) The children
are in a violent household, 4) There are runaway or homeless children,
5) the children are being denied educational access, or 6) There are
teenage parents involved. Eligibility forms need to be completed.
• Affordable Lawyers: Gap Group Income
(between 125% FPL and 250% FPL)
Legal Aid's Affordable Lawyers Project
offers legal services for a below market rate fee. Give applicants who
are eligible for this program the number of the Affordable
Lawyers Project on their island to call themselves. Do not open
a docket. NOTE: Honolulu handles affordable lawyers
cases for Oahu; Maui, Kauai, Kona and Hilo each handle their own cases.
