HARRISBURG – More older Pennsylvanians who need legal services will be able to get them with the help of a $100,000 federal grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging. Similar funding will also be available for the second and third years of the project.
“Our goal is to more effectively connect older Pennsylvanians with free and low-cost legal services to help them avoid legal pitfalls that may threaten their independence, such as predatory lending practices or consumer scams,” said Secretary of Aging Nora Dowd Eisenhower. “We also want to ensure that eligible older adults have access to programs that promote their safety and health, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income and disability benefits.”
The secretary highlighted the challenges in securing legal representation faced by many older Pennsylvanians – especially the low-income, those living in rural areas, and seniors with limited English language proficiency or physical limitations. One of the department’s goals is to promote a system that better coordinates available legal services, including the Pennsylvania SeniorLAW Helpline, law firms’ pro bono activities, legal aid clinics operated by law schools and bar association activities.
The department will work closely with the Philadelphia-based SeniorLAW Center to develop a program of delivery systems and strategies that will result in improved access to legal advice and representation.
For more information about the broad range of services available to older adults through the Department of Aging, visit the Web site.
