Poverty Law News

Attorneys/Legal Services

Eligibility Guidelines for Legal Services
The Legal Services Corporation has published a final rule setting forth maximum income levels for individuals eligible for legal assistance. This rule updates the specified income levels to reflect the annual amendments to the federal poverty guidelines as issued by the Department of Health and Human Services.

List of LSC-Eligible Immigrants
Jodie Berger of Legal Services of Northern California has prepared a helpful list of immigrants eligible for assistance from Legal Services Corporation-funded programs.

Civil Rights

Minimum Standards for Identification Cards
The Department of Homeland Security has published proposed rules that would establish minimum standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards that federal agencies would accept for official purposes after May 11, 2008, in accordance with the REAL ID Act of 2005. These rules address information and security features that must be incorporated into each card, application information to establish the identity and immigration status of an applicant before a card can be issued, and physical security standards for locations where driver's licenses and applicable identification cards are issued. The ACLU opposes the draft regulations, arguing, among other things, that the regulations' verification requirements are more onerous than the Act requires.

Family Law

Child Support Distribution Calculator
Jointly prepared by Policy Studies Inc. and the Center for Law and Social Policy this child support distribution calculator provides states and advocates with a tool to estimate the net cost or benefit to a state considering adoption of the child support pass-through and distribution options included in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA). The calculator compares the distribution of support under the DRA options to the distribution of support under the PRWORA status quo.

Health

Class Action Challenges Unlawful Termination of Children's Health Coverage
The National Center for Law and Economic Justice and the National Health Law Program have filed a class action lawsuit in federal court seeking to prevent the State of Missouri from cutting off the health insurance of needy low-income children who receive health coverage through Missouri's MC+ for Children Health Insurance Program. The lawsuit seeks to order the state to notify recipients of their right to appeal from erroneous terminations of health coverage, to receive benefits while their appeal is pending, and, if terminated, to have a review performed concerning whether they are eligible for much needed health coverage under another program.

Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention
Prepared by an informal coalition of groups, including the American Public Human Services Association, Center for Law and Social Policy, Child Welfare League of America, Children’s Defense Fund, Legal Action Center, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, and the Rebecca Project for Human Rights, this document presents questions and answers about funding opportunities under the Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006. Organizations and agencies should begin planning and forming regional partnerships so they will be ready to apply for grants under the Act once they are formally announced by the Department of Health and Human Services in the Spring of 2007.

Chartbook About the Rules of Medicaid and SCHIP
This chartbook, published by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, summarizes current knowledge about the health insurance coverage and health needs of low-income children in the United States and the roles that Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) play in improving children’s health care access and health status. The report is divided into four sections: health insurance coverage and low-income children, health needs of children in Medicaid and SCHIP, effects on medical care access and utilization, and effects in improving child health.

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans Often Fail Limited English Proficient Individuals
This report by the National Senior Citizens Law Center and partner organizations indicates that companies that contract with the federal government to provide prescription drug coverage to Medicare beneficiaries in California are falling far short of their obligation to provide service in languages other than English.

Housing

Annual Homeless Assessment Report
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has released the Annual Homeless Assessment Report. This report marks the first time since 1984 that HUD has reported the number of homeless people in the United States. The Department used electronic person-based Homeless Management Information System data and locally implemented homeless counts to arrive at the number of sheltered and unsheltered homeless people and the characteristics of homeless people living in shelters. The report offers a baseline for future reports that will explore patterns of homelessness over time.

Hate Crimes and Violence Against People Experiencing Homelessness
Reported incidents of attacks against homeless men and women have reached their highest level in years, according to a study by the National Coalition for the Homeless. Attacks have increased 65% from last year, and over 170% since five years ago.

Poverty Law News
March 2, 2007