Description:

Legal assistance provided under Title III-B is part of the essential core of the Administration on Aging’s (AoA) legal assistance and elder rights programs. The Title III-B legal services network can provide important assistance for older persons in accessing long-term care options and other community-based services. Legal services under Title III-B also protect older persons against direct challenges to their independence, choice, and financial security. These legal services are specifically targeted to “older individuals with economic or social needs.”

There are approximately 1,000 OAA-funded legal services providers nationwide, which provide nearly one million hours of legal assistance per year. Areas of legal assistance provided by the Title III-B legal services network may include:

• Legal assistance for older persons to access public benefits (including SS/SSI/SSDI, Medicaid and Medicare, veterans benefits and unemployment compensation)
• Legal assistance for older persons to draft advance directives and designate surrogate decision makers who will effectuate their wishes if they become incapacitated
• Legal assistance on issues related to guardianship with a focus on representation for older persons who are the subject of guardianship actions
• Legal assistance for older persons to access available housing options, including low income housing programs that allow them to stay independent in their homes and communities
• Legal assistance for older persons facing foreclosure or eviction proceedings that jeopardize their ability to stay independent in their homes and communities
• Legal assistance for older persons to gain access to the full benefit of appropriate long-term care private financing options
• Legal assistance for older persons to maintain their long term financial solvency and economic security
• Legal assistance to ensure elder rights protections for older persons transferring from long-term care (LTC) facilities to home and community-based care
• Legal assistance for older persons who have experienced elder abuse, including consumer fraud and the financial exploitation of older persons

Funding Title: Legal Assistance – Title III-B Providers

Agency Name: Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging

Express Language for Legal Aid: Yes. Funds under this program are provided to state or area agencies, which in turn provide the funding for various services. The amount granted to a legal aid organization is largely at the discretion of the agency.

Target Population: Elder people

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: There is no inherent matching requirement, but the granting local agency may have additional requirements.

How to Apply:  http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/site_utilities/email.aspx?url=/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/Elder_Rights/Legal/title_providers.aspx

Eligible Applicants: State and local agencies. Funds under this program are provided to state or area agencies as described by the Title IIIB legislation.

Policy and Regulations on Use of Funds:   http://www.aoa.gov/AOA_programs/OAA/index.aspx

Link to Full Information: http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/site_utilities/email.aspx?url=/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/Elder_Rights/Legal/title_providers.aspx

Contact Information: http://acl.gov/About_ACL/Contact_Us/Index.aspx

Categories: Consumer, Department of Health and Human Services, Domestic Violence, Elderly, Express Language for Legal Aid, Government Organizations, Housing, Pass-Through Funds/ Block Grants, Public Benefits, Subgrant Possibilities, Victims of Crime