PUBLIC BENEFITS
If you apply for cash assistance and are turned down, CLS can help you appeal to the county assistance office. Our advocates can also help you regain benefits if they change or are cut off.
Child care subsidies help you pay for child care while you are in school, at work, or in other approved programs. CLS represents families seeking help with getting or keeping child care subsidies.
Most people with criminal records can get benefits. If your application is denied due to a criminal record CLS can assist and determine eligibility for criminal record clearing.
CLS provides advice and representation to people whose eligibility to receive Long Term Services and Supports at home is denied or terminated, and those who are denied the services or hours of care that they need to live safely at home.
If you need a photo ID, Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, or other form of ID, CLS can help you collect necessary documents, figure out your options, and advocate for you with any relevant offices.
CLS advocates are experts in determining your rights to LIHEAP. We may be able to represent you if you have been wrongfully denied.
CLS represents people who have legal problems getting or keeping Medical Assistance, also known as MA or Medicaid.
CLS can provide advice and representation for many legal issues related to Medicare, including enrollment problems, appeals of service coverage denials, eligibility for the Medicare Savings Program and the Extra Help program, and balance billing issues.
CLS provides legal advice and representation to people facing involuntary nursing home discharges, and those who have concerns about their Medicaid eligibility or quality of care.
CLS will directly represent Personal Care Home (PCH) residents with involuntary discharges, resident rights issues and quality of care concerns.
Most low-income people are eligible for SNAP, or food stamps. CLS can help you if your SNAP application is denied or your benefits are cut off or reduced.
CLS helps people with serious disabilities qualify for and keep Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits from the Social Security Administration.
WIC is a health & nutrition program that offers women, infants, and children food vouchers for nutritious food. CLS may be able to help you if you have been denied WIC or if you have a problem with your WIC benefits.
EMPLOYMENT
CLS represents individuals with “indicated” child abuse reports that directly affect their employment by helping them appeal the reports and advocating with the agencies that maintain the child abuse registry.
CLS represents people to help them clear up their records through the expungement, sealing, and pardon processes. CLS also advises people about whether they have or will benefit from automated record sealing.
CLS advises individuals who have lost their jobs regarding the principle of “employment at will,” under which most employers can fire employees at any time for any reason, as long as it is not an illegal reason.
CLS advises and represents individuals who have faced discrimination in employment based on a protected status, including race, national origin, religion, gender, disability, age, and sexual orientation.
CLS advocates for workers with records to have fair access to employment by utilizing legal protections under local, state, and federal law, and challenges laws that broadly exclude people with records from work.
Immigrant workers do have workplace rights and can enforce them! But they are often exploited on the job and sometimes even threatened. Learn more about we do.
CLS can help you understand your short term or long term disability policies and evaluate your medical records, as well as advocate on your behalf and help appeal decisions against you.
CLS can help you understand if you are eligible for leave, provide information about your rights related to leave, and determine if your employer violated those rights.
Employers steal your labor by failing to pay for all hours worked, not paying overtime, making illegal deductions, misclassifying as independent contractors. We can help!
CLS does not handle Workers Compensation claims. This page contains resources to help you find an attorney that does.
HOUSING
If you or someone you know struggles with too much stuff, The Philadelphia Hoarding Task Force can help. We can refer you to Philadelphia area resources related to organizing, health, legal help, cleaning, and more.
CLS provides legal advice to homeowners who have disputes with their home repair contractors or are considering borrowing money to pay for repairs.
CLS provides legal help to homeowners dealing with predatory “We Buy Houses” residential property wholesalers, flippers, and investors.
CLS provides limited legal advice to homeowners who have code enforcement violations from the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I).
Information and resources from CLS and partners about your rights as a renter in Philadelphia.
CLS provides legal advice to homeowners who have disputes with their mortgage company or are facing a mortgage foreclosure.
CLS does not generally help with disputes between neighbors, because they rarely involve legal issues. However, this page contains recommendations and resources that may be helpful for those with disputes with their neighbor.
CLS provides free legal assistance to renters facing a number of housing issues, including evictions, illegal lockouts, utility shutoffs, building repair issues, and complaints taken to the Fair Housing Commission.
CLS helps Philadelphia residents who are struggling with their property taxes. We can often help homeowners qualify for affordable payment agreements or other programs that will save their home from being lost at sheriff sale for unpaid property taxes.
CLS helps resolve issues with rent-to-own agreements. Many people have problems with these agreements, sometimes called lease purchase or installment sales agreements, and CLS can discuss your legal options and remedies with you.
CLS assists low-income tenants living in public and subsidized housing, including PHA public housing, Section 8, HUD, and others.
CLS provides estate planning services to clients who own their homes. Obtaining a will helps to protect your family home for future generations.
DEBT & CONSUMER RIGHTS
Bankruptcies can give people with significant debt a fresh start. CLS provides representation, legal advice, and referrals to clients for whom bankruptcy might be appropriate.
CLS provides legal advice and representation to Philadelphians who have been victimized by a consumer scam. We can also provide assistance on how to protect yourself from identity theft.
CLS can help you get a copy of your credit report and dispute inaccurate information. We can help with issues and questions about credit repair and debt relief programs. We may also provide legal advice.
If you are being harassed or sued by a debt collector, CLS can help. We can also help if your bank account, benefits or wages are being garnished or frozen.
If you are having trouble with an illegal payday loan, CLS may be able to help. We can help you get out of the payday loan debt trap.
CLS helps student loan borrowers who are having trouble paying back their loans, who are facing garnishment of wages or government benefits, or who have a dispute with their lender or loan servicer.
UTILITIES
Unaffordable utility bills are stressful and pose risks to safe and healthy families. CLS advocates fight for affordable utility bills to help you keep the heat, electricity and water on.
CLS advocates are experts in determining your rights to LIHEAP. We may be able to represent you if you have been wrongfully denied.
Loss of utility service in your home is an emergency. CLS advocates can help you determine the fastest and most affordable way to restore heat, electricity or water to your home.
If your home has high water debt, the City may seek permission to sell your home at a public auction. CLS can help low-income customers access programs to save their homes.
The appliances and structure of your home may be driving up the cost of your utilities. CLS advocates can help find services and repairs that can help make your home more efficient.
FAMILY LAW
CLS helps parents involved with Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) to maintain their children safely in their home or reunite the family if DHS takes them to court.
Where to get help with family issues that CLS does not handle, such as divorce, child custody, child support, and Protection from Abuse orders.
CLS can help you understand if you are eligible for leave, provide information about your rights related to leave, and determine if your employer violated those rights.
CRIMINAL RECORDS
CLS represents individuals with “indicated” child abuse reports that directly affect their employment by helping them appeal the reports and advocating with the agencies that maintain the child abuse registry.
CLS can assist individuals who cannot access public benefits due to a criminal record and determine eligibility for criminal record clearing.
CLS advocates for workers with records to have fair access to employment by utilizing legal protections under local, state, and federal law, and challenges laws that broadly exclude people with records from work.
CLS represents people to help them clear up their records through the expungement, sealing, and pardon processes. CLS also advises people about whether they have or will benefit from automated record sealing.
Individuals with criminal records may owe court fines, fees, or costs on their cases, which can prevent record clearing. CLS can help waive or reduce debts when possible, and negotiate affordable payment plans.
Individuals with felony or certain misdemeanor convictions can only clear their records by applying for pardons from the Governor. CLS advises and represents a limited number of individuals seeking pardons.
SENIORS
CLS does not usually handle these cases, but can offer resources and advice if you or someone you know is experiencing elder abuse. In case of emergency, call 911.
CLS can provide advice and representation concerning Estate Recovery, which is the program through which the DHS tries to reimburse itself for the costs of providing Medicaid-funded long term services and supports after the care recipient passes away.
CLS provides advice, as well as representation in certain cases, to people who are trying to avoid having a guardian appointed for them or end a guardianship.
If you or someone you know struggles with too much stuff, The Philadelphia Hoarding Task Force can help. We can refer you to Philadelphia area resources related to organizing, health, legal help, cleaning, and more.
CLS provides advice and representation to people whose eligibility to receive Long Term Services and Supports at home is denied or terminated, and those who are denied the services or hours of care that they need to live safely at home.
CLS represents people who have legal problems getting or keeping Medical Assistance, also known as MA or Medicaid.
CLS can provide advice and representation for many legal issues related to Medicare, including enrollment problems, appeals of service coverage denials, eligibility for the Medicare Savings Program and the Extra Help program, and balance billing issues.
CLS provides legal advice and representation to people facing involuntary nursing home discharges, denials of Medicaid or Medicare coverage, and residents’ rights or quality of care problems.
CLS provides legal advice and representation to Personal Care Home (PCH) residents with involuntary discharges, residents’ rights issues and quality of care concerns.
CLS helps Philadelphia seniors who are struggling with their property taxes. We can often help homeowners qualify for affordable payment agreements or other programs that will save their home from being lost at sheriff sale for unpaid property taxes.
CLS does not draft wills, living wills or powers of attorneys, and CLS also does not probate estates, but other resources are available:
