Testimony on Philadelphia DHS and Improving Outcomes for Children (IOC)
The following testimony was delivered by CLS Managing Attorney Kathleen Creamer to Philadelphia City Council on June 14, 2016. Printer-friendly…
Read more
Parent to Parent: A Guide to Navigating Philadelphia’s Child Welfare System
Navigating the child welfare system can be confusing, emotional, and overwhelming to a parent. The CLS Family Advocacy Unit has…
Do I Need a Medical Form To Get Medicaid?
Pennsylvania expanded Medicaid in 2015. Before Medicaid expansion, most lower-income adults who wanted Medicaid had to get forms from their…
We All Benefit from a Clean Slate for Minor Criminal Records
Over the past two decades, even the most minor criminal convictions have become lifetime barriers to the necessities of life…
Predatory: How Payday Lenders are Using Trojan Horse Tactics to Weaken Consumer Protections in Pennsylvania
Payday loans are an abusive form of lending that traps cash-strapped borrowers into a long-term cycle of debt, which leads…
New Pennsylvania Law Allows Old and Minor Convictions to be Sealed
As of November 14, 2016, people with certain misdemeanor convictions can ask the court to seal their record. A sealed record will…
Youth Justice: SSI Benefits
Billie Washington was struggling to make ends meet. A former home care attendant, she was no longer able to work…
Youth Justice: Child Care Subsidies
Billie Washington was struggling to make ends meet. A former home care attendant, she was no longer able to work…
Transition Memo on Philadelphia Department of Human Services
For over three decades, the Family Advocacy Unit at Community Legal Services has represented thousands of low-income parents in child…
Report: Philadelphia Should Expand Its Kinship Care Program
We all know instinctively, and it is borne out in the research, that children do better with their families. Removal…
Report: Legal Remedies and Limitations on the Employment of People with Criminal Records in Pennsylvania
Download the full report Like most Americans, ex-offenders need to be employed to support themselves and their families. Moreover,…
Careless: How the Pennsylvania Department of Health Has Risked the Lives of Elderly and Disabled Nursing Home Residents
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has been failing in its job to protect nursing home residents. Over the past…
Has Social Security Told You You’ve Been Overpaid?
What is a Social Security/SSI overpayment? An “overpayment” is when the Social Security Administration (SSA) gave you benefits when they…
Getting Help from the Social Security Office When You Don’t Speak or Understand English Well
You have the right to be served in your language when you deal with the Social Security office. They are required…
If you are 16 or 17 and receive SSI, start preparing now for review of your SSI case!
When you turn 18, the Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews your case to see if you still meet the requirements…
SSI for Children
What is SSI for children? SSI for children is a cash assistance program for low-income families who are caring for…
