Author: CT Legal

COVID-19 News You may be eligible for these benefits

Posted on by CT Legal

Benefits help during this medical emergency

As businesses and schools shut down in Connecticut in the wake of the Corona virus, workers may find themselves with no paychecks.  If the situation persists, the workers and their families may become eligible for help with food, cash assistance and even health care coverage.

Student Meals:  As of now, many of the closed school districts in the state are making meals available to financially eligible students who cannot attend school.  Up to two pre-made meals may be available.  Some districts are putting together food sites for pick up of these meals.  Contact your local towns or school district for more information about your town’s meal plans.

Food Assistance: If an individual’s or a family’s income goes down substantially, they may become eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly known as food stamps).  To determine whether you or your family is eligible, go to www.connect.ct.gov  or call 1-855-626-6632.

There are also food banks and food pantries around the state to help with emergency food.  Please call 2-1-1, United Way’s telephone help line to locate help in your area.

Cash Assistance:  Currently the Federal government is determining how to help families who lose income during this medical emergency.  There may be some income replacement coming.  However, if the health care emergency persists over time, it is possible that family incomes may go down and families may become eligible for unemployment benefits, cash assistance or even health care coverage if not already insured.  For information on cash assistance go to www.ct.gov/dss/apply  or call 1-855-626-6632. 

If you become unemployed, go to www.FileCTUI.com for help with filing an unemployment claim.  You can also go to a local “American Job Center” for help filing a claim on the internet.

Medical Coverage:  If you think that you might qualify for HUSKY medical coverage, CT’s version of Medicaid for low-income individuals and families, go to www.accesshealthct.com or call 1-855-805-4325.

Judicial CT Courts COVID-19 Status

Posted on by CT Legal

Notice from Judicial CT Courts COVID-19 Caronavirus Status

 

COVID-19 Updates (3-12-20)

The Judicial Branch has implemented various measures as a result of concern over the spread of the COVID-19/Coronavirus and in recognition of the public health emergency declaration Governor Lamont issued. It is also important to note, in the clearest terms possible, that the courts of the State of Connecticut are open and will remain open.

These measures are:

  • Under the terms and provisions of the Judicial Branch’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP), commencing Monday, March 16, 2020, and continuing through March 27, 2020, the courts will schedule and hear only those matters identified as “Priority 1 Business Functions.”

The following matters are Priority 1 Business Functions:

  • Criminal arraignments of defendants held in lieu of bond and all arraignments involving domestic violence cases;
  • Juvenile Detention hearings;
  • Family orders of relief from abuse;
  • Civil orders of relief from abuse
  • Civil protection orders
  • Ex parte motions
  • Orders of temporary custody (Juvenile Matters)
  • Orders to appear (Juvenile Matters)
  • Emergency ex parte order of temporary custody
  • Juvenile detention operations for detainees held for juvenile court
  • Termination of parental rights
  • Domestic violence victim notification
  • Civil and family capias mittimus execution and bond reviews
  • With the exception of jury trials already in progress and criminal jury trials necessitated by the filing and granting of a speedy trial motion, all jury trials, civil and criminal, are suspended for the next 30 days.

If jurors have any questions please contact Jury Administration by:

  • Going on the Judical Branch’s website
  • Speaking with jury administration through the Live Chat feature, or
  • By calling jury administration at 1-800-842-8175

Posters will be placed at all entrances of Judicial Branch’s facilities urging people who are at risk of spreading or contracting COVID-19 to avoid entering the facility.

Consistent with guidance offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Connecticut Department of Public Health, these measures are being taken to reduce the number of people entering our courthouses in an effort to mitigate the potential for spreading of the virus.

 

The 2020 Census is Hiring

Posted on by CT Legal

Every 10 years the U.S. government conducts a census.

Responses are confidential as a matter of law. Only statistical information can be made public. Census employees face fines of 250,000 if they share personal information.

Important services depend upon an accurate count of where people live. These include the provision of federal money for education, health and other benefits, as well as representation in Federal and State legislatures. In mid-March, households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census.

By April 1, 2020, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. You will have three options for responding:

  • Online
  • By phone
  • By mail

If a household does not respond in one of these ways by April 1, census takers will knock on their doors to obtain the information. We will publish more information in the future.

Right now the census is hiring for part time jobs paying good hourly wages.

Download the English flyer or the Spanish version

For further information come back in a few weeks, or go to 2020census.gov

Roadmap to Reentry: A Connecticut Legal Guide

Roadmap to Reentry Guide
Posted on by CT Legal

Our Roadmap to Reentry Legal Guide is an essential resource for navigating the legal impact of a criminal record on getting ID, housing, public benefits, and family issues.

Download the guide

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF REENTRY: Getting ID & Other Key Documents

  • What identification (ID) documents exist, and why they are important.
  • An overview of key types of ID: birth certificates, Social Security numbers (SSN) and cards, Connecticut Non-Driver ID cards & Connecticut Driver’s licenses, U.S. Passports, tribal ID cards, library cards, voter registration, and Selective Service registration.
  • Which forms of ID are most important.
  • When and how to get each ID document, and which documents to get first.
  • How to get certain documents while incarcerated vs. after release.
  • Some options for getting ID for undocumented people.

CHAPTER 2: HOUSING

  • Different types of housing options and tips for the housing search.
  • Short-term vs. long-term planning for where someone can live in reentry.
  • Housing application process, including bans or restrictions related to past convictions.
  • What criminal records and other records can lawfully be accessed by government-assisted housing providers (including Public Housing Authorities, or PHAs) vs. by private landlords.
  • Joining family and friends in housing — the differing rules of government-assisted housing providers (including PHAs) vs. private landlords.
  • Challenging illegal housing denials by both government-assisted housing providers (including PHAs) and private landlords.
  • Maintaining (keeping) housing.

CHAPTER 3: PUBLIC BENEFITS

  • Key types of public benefits programs, including: cash assistance; food benefits; health care; work services; Social Security benefits; veterans’ benefits; and cell phone benefits.
  • Eligibility and enrollment rules for each program, including restrictions based on criminal records.
  • What happens to your benefits during incarceration, and how to restart benefits after release.
  • Applying for and keeping benefits — how to apply for each type of benefit; and how to deal with denials, disqualifications, or terminations of benefits.
  • Resources and referrals.

CHAPTER 4: FAMILY

  • Re-connecting with a child after incarceration, including:
  • First steps to take in locating and reconnecting with a child.
  • How to find out if there are any past or current court cases or court orders involving a child, and how to start or join a court case regarding a child.
  • Restraining and protective orders that can impact a parent or caregiver’s rights.
  • Criminal record-related barriers to reconnecting with a child.
  • An overview of custody and visitation.
  • Three key courts that handle family-related issues in Connecticut: probate court; juvenile court; and family court. (The court that handles juvenile justice issues is the juvenile court, which we describe only very briefly since juvenile justice is not a focus of this guide.)
  • Paternity (or parentage) issues.
  • Child Support and Spousal Support orders—issues with paying debts during and after incarceration.
  • Issues that arise during incarceration, like mothering and pregnancy in prison, and ending a marriage or a domestic partnership.
  • Domestic violence.

Looking for more legal topics like this check out CTLawHelp.org for more great resources

Download the Guide

Connecticut Residents Should Grab Camera and a Watertight Bag to Avoid Disaster-Related Legal Issues

Posted on by CT Legal

For Immediate Release: May 28, 2019
CONTACT: Attorney Kristen Noelle Hatcher
Email: khatcher@connlegalservices.org
Phone: 860-225-8678

As the extreme weather season begins, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, and other natural disasters threaten to bring myriad civil legal problems for Connecticut residents, from accessing critical disaster assistance to securing temporary housing to handling insurance claims. Connecticut Legal Services will be there to provide advice and assistance but residents should act now to ensure that they have accessible documents and pictures of them and everything in their home before a natural disaster arrives. A few simple actions can help to avoid legal problems later.

First, residents should take photographs of everything, including their home, belongings, pets, and important documents. This will help with insurance and FEMA claims. Then, residents should upload the photographs to a secure location and email them to themselves and put the camera in a watertight container.

Preparation for disasters is key.

Residents should review the title to their property to make sure that ownership is clear and unencumbered before disasters happen, and to try to remedy any title issues that might exist before they become a stumbling block to recovery in the aftermath.

Residents should place their and their family members’ most important records and documents in a safe place. Keep them in a large sealable plastic bag or other watertight container and keep them nearby – possibly in their vehicle, along with a to-go bag with essentials that they would need if they had to quickly evacuate. Residents should be sure to make copies of these documents and store them in a safe secondary location, such as a safe deposit box. What documents should be gathered? Items include:

  • Account numbers for credit card, checking, and savings accounts
  • Adoption papers
  • Bank and utility records
  • Bills that will be needed to pay, like credit cards or utility bills
  • Birth certificates
  • Computer passwords
  • Deeds and rental agreements
  • Divorce and custody decrees
  • Driver’s license
  • Immunization records
  • Insurance, proof of (e.g. homeowners, renters, flood, earthquake, auto, life, health, disability, long-term care; have at least the policy number and insurance company contact information for each type of coverage)
  • Marriage license
  • Medical directives
  • Medical records, including copies or photographs of medical prescriptions
  • Military discharge records
  • Military ID
  • Passports, immigration paperwork such as green cards, work authorization, or naturalization papers
  • Pet records (medical and vaccination records for pets along with current photos and ID chip numbers in case of separation)
  • Powers of attorney including medical powers of attorney
  • School records
  • Social Security card
  • Tax returns (First two pages of previous year’s federal and state tax returns)
  • Vehicle title and registration and proof of insurance
  • Wills and estate planning documents

Residents should start with the most important and most difficult items and property to replace and visit http://bit.ly/HelpfulDisasterResources or contact Attorney Kristen Noelle Hatcher at khatcher@connlegalservices.org or (860) 225-8678 for more information.

CLS Announces New Litigation and Advocacy Director

Posted on by CT Legal

Attorney Nilda Rodriguez Havrilla has been selected as CLS’ new Litigation and Advocacy Director. Nilda, a graduate of Trinity College and Northeastern University School of Law, brings extensive experience to her new role. Nilda served as Managing Attorney of the CLS Housing Unit from 2011-2019 and as a CLS staff attorney from 2004-2011. Nilda is a James W. Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, has served on the board of the Friendship Service Center in New Britain, and currently serves on the board of the Connecticut Fair Housing Center.

CLS Joins with Allies to Launch Immigration Funding Initiative

Posted on by CT Legal

On August 16, leaders of the Connecticut bar launched an urgent new campaign to raise funds to provide expanded legal help for low-income immigrant children and families. CLS helped to design the Connecticut Lawyers for Immigration Justice campaign, and the proceeds will support our immigration advocacy and that of our partner organizations.

The campaign was announced by retired Chief Justice Chase Rogers and retired Superior Court Judge Robert Holzberg, a member of CLS’ board of directors, in an article in the Hartford Courant that also featured CLS Executive Director Deborah Witkin.

Connecticut Lawyers for Immigration Justice was inspired by CLS’ successful advocacy on behalf of two immigrant children who were detained and forcibly separated from their parents after they came to the United States seeking asylum. The children were detained in Connecticut, and CLS joined with Yale Law School’s Worker and Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic to win their release and reunification.

Click here to learn more about the suit and read the pleadings.

But tragically, the kind of representation that CLS and Yale Law School provided in those two cases is just not available to every immigrant family in Connecticut right now.

Statewide, all three of Connecticut’s full-service legal aid organizations – CLS, New Haven Legal Assistance Association (NHLAA) and Greater Hartford Legal Aid (GHLA) – have seen a significant increase in demand for immigration legal services. The fundraising campaign will send 100% of every dollar raised to CLS, NHLAA, and GHLA, to be dedicated to immigration legal services.

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