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MassHealth Income Guidelines March 2016

MLRI
Here are the March 1, 2016 MassHealth Income Guidelines.  Two files attached: MLRI MassHealth Income Guidelines MassHealth FPL-Desk Guide

Immigrants and Public Benefits Information from the National Immigration Law Center

National Immigration Law Center
 Information from NILC about eligibility and other rules governing immigrants’ access to federal and state public benefits programs, including SSI.

Massachusetts State House Floorplan

MLRI
Floorplan of the Massachusetts State House, including room numbers.

Unequal Justice: Housing Court in Massachusetts

MLAC
Lack of funding forces civil legal aid programs in Massachusetts to turn away 64% of eligible residents who seek their services for civil legal issues related to housing, employment, health care, education, family law and domestic violence, among others. Tens of thousands of low-income people must…

A Guide to Gathering and Using Legislative History in Massachusetts

Sean J. Kealy, Boston University School of Law
The article provides an overview of the legislative process in Massachusetts.  It includes sections on: the Massachusetts legislative process and timelines sources of legislative history reconstructing a bill's legislative history where to find Committee and legislative…

MassHealth: Children's Issues Series

MLRI
For which MassHealth Program(s) is my child eligible? See https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines for the 2015 Federal Poverty Level guidelines.  See http://www.masslegalservices.org/content/new-income-chart-masshealth-open-enrollment-beginning-january-2016 for current Poverty Level…

The Psychology of Race

AmerenCorp
Dr. Kira Hudson Banks discusses The Psychology of Race.  This video focuses on how an individual may think about race, racial identity or ethnicity based upon conditioning and experiences. Download the Facilitator Guide (http://spr.ly/6184Bn59n) and Participant Booklet…

Advocates for Home Education in Massachusetts (AHEM)

AHEM
Website with information and support on homeschooling in MA.  Advocates for Home Education in Massachusetts (AHEM) is a nonprofit, independent, grassroots, volunteer-run, educational organization that gathers and disseminates information about homeschooling in Massachusetts through education,…

SSI Payment Charts and Income Thresholds 2016

Disability Law Center
nike tnair jordan pas cherair jordan pas cher nike tnair jordan pas cherair jordan pas cher The 2016 Massachusetts SSI/SSP Payment level and threshold charts for 2016 contain maximum benefit levels by categorically eligibility type, living arrangement, and marital status.  Actual…

PowerPoints from the December 15th BBA brown bag presentation: What to Know About the Syrian Refugee Crisis: A Practical Overview of Law and Process

Catholic Charities, Ascentria, ORI
Catholic Charities PowerPoint Office of Refugees and Immigrants PowerPoint Ascentria Care Alliance PowerPoint

UPV recovery updates

GBLS
For Unintentional Program Violations, DTA is now only seeking recovery of overpayments that occurred up to 12 months before DTA discovered the problem.  This is a big change from the past, when they always insisted that they could pursue overpayments without any time limit even though…

Racial Equity Impact Assessment Toolkit

Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation
A Racial Equity Impact Assessment (REIA) is a systematic examination of how different racial and ethnic groups will likely be affected by a proposed action or decision. REIAs are used to minimize unanticipated adverse consequences in a variety of contexts, including the analysis of proposed…

Overview of Immigrant Eligibility for Federal Programs

National Immigration Law Center

Sample Letter Requesting DUA Waiver

MLRI
A sample letter requesting a waiver of overpayment of unemployment insurance. Advocate: Brian Flynn,, GBLS 

The Art and Science of Interviewing Pro Bono Clients 2015

PLI
Asking the right questions in the right way can start your attorney-client relationship off on the right note and prevent unnecessary frustration. This skill is especially important when working with pro bono clients who have had limited experience with the legal system or face other barriers.…

New FPL Guidelines for Open Enrollment 2015-16

MLRI
Attached are the updated Federal Poverty Standards for the Connector Programs (Connector Care and Qualified Health Plans) for the Open Enrollment period beginning November 1st .  The actual effective date for eligibility purposes is January 1st, but enrollment for January starts in…

Standards and Indicators for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice

National Association of Social Workers
From the introduction: This revision builds on the previous work to introduce new concepts and expand on others. These standards reinforce the concept of “culture” as being inclusive beyond race and ethnicity; inclusive of, but not limited to, sexual orientation, gender identity or…

Emergency Assistance Application Guide for Families

MLRI and Rosie's Place
An easy-to-read guide from MLRI and Rosie's Place to applying for EA shelter - for families! (In both English and Spanish.)

FAQ: MassHealth - NEW Coverage of Applied Behavior Analysis Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Mass Advocates for Children and MLRI
The Autism Omnibus Act requires MassHealth to cover medically necessary ABA services for children with autism under age 21.  ABA services are now available to MassHealth members. The attached “Frequently Asked Questions” explain how to get coverage now through the…

Advantages of Hiring People with Criminal Records

Greater Boston Legal Services

Supported Decisions

Center for Public Representation and Nonotuck Resource Associates
The Center for Public Representation and Nonotuck Resource Associates have an ongoing pilot project using Supported Decision-Making (SDM) as an alternative to guardianship. In the pilot, one of the first in the United States, participants -- people under or at risk of guardianship -- design a…

MassHealth coverage of electronic tablets dedicated to use as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

MAC
Attached is the fact sheet regarding MassHealth new coverage of electronic tablets (such as iPads) dedicated to use as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).along with related software, when medically necessary for communication.    Please help distribute to families,…

The battle over the words used to describe migrants

Camila Ruz, BBC News Magazine
The word migrant is defined in Oxford English Dictionary as "one who moves, either temporarily or permanently, from one place, area, or country of residence to another". It is used as a neutral term by many media organisations - including the BBC - but there has…

Medicare Part B Income-Related Premiums and Part D Income-Related Premium Adjustments

Medicare Advocacy Project
These charts explain the income-related premiums for Medicare Parts B and D for 2013-2016.

Applied Behavior Analysis for MassHealth members under age 21

MLRI
Applied Behavior Analysis for MassHealth members under age 21.  ABA providers can apply to MassHealth to enroll as a provider and get prior authorization to provide services NOW. Also, for children and young adults (under 21) enrolled in private insurance with the Partnership for their…

Race Equity Impact Assessment

The Center for the Study of Social Policy
From the article: An assessment tool that is tailored to child welfare policy decision-making. This tool can be used by child welfare decision makers when developing new policy proposals or considering modifications to existing policy. It can be useful in efforts aimed at reducing or preventing…

Adobe Legal Department Legal Style Guide

Adobe
Adobe's Legal Department developed a Style Guide to help its lawyers write in Plain English and avoid legalese.  Click the "Go to Website" link below to download it from Adobe's website.  In particular, the section on Word Choices (p.15) has some useful substitutions for…

2015 Language Access Conference Materials

MA Language Access Coalition
Second Annual Langauge Access Conference Beyond Service, Toward Empowerment Friday, June 26, 2015 UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA VIRTUAL CONFERENCE PACKET   The following is a virtual conference packet containing the…

Racism is Not a Mental Illness

Jeremy Adam Smith
Many people argue that the white man who killed nine black people in Charleston must be mentally ill. What does the science suggest?

Race Reporting Guide

Race Forward
Race Forward’s Race Reporting Guide aims to provide critical support for the use of responsible language and story framing that reflects ethical and rigorous journalistic standards and affirms the dignity and human rights of people of all races. This is not meant to be comprehensive,…

2015 Language Access Conference Invitation

Kendra Sena
The MA Language Access Coalition invites you to the Second Annual Language Access Conference Beyond Service, Toward Empowerment Friday, June 26, 2015, 9:30am-4pm at UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA To register online,…

How to Obtain Your Criminal Record in Massachusetts

CPCS
If you have ever had any contact with the police, you may have a criminal record. If so, you need to get your criminal record before you apply for any immigration relief, like President Obama’s new deferred action, and you need to ask a lawyer to review your record with you to make sure you…

Web link to Browse for Coverage from the Connector

Connector
Do you have more than one option for insurance coverage and want to check out what is available through the Connector before you actually apply? You can both get a rough idea whether you may qualify for help reducing the costs of insurance purchased through the Connector and compare the costs of…

Links to Consumer Information About Vehicles

MLRI
Links to consumer brochures about issues involving automobiles, cars, and other vehicles. Lemon Aid Law MA Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation New and Leased Car Lemon Law MA Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Used…

Immigration Links -- Government and Court Websites

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
The following are links to immigration related government and court websites and materials:  Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR): Contains links to all immigration courts nationwide, forms, statistics, etc. EOIR Virtual Law Library:  Various indexes of BIA and…

ConnectorCare-Basic Info Needed to Select a Plan

Health Connector
ConnectorCare is the name for those private plans purchased through the Health Connector with the lowest premium & cost sharing for individuals with income that does not exceed 300% of the poverty level. It is comparable to the former Commonwealth Care program.  Once found eligible for…

Update on People Losing Health Coverage

Vicky Pulos MLRI
This updated April 10, 2015 Table shows the two different groups of people who had health coverage end recently or will be getting MassHealth termination notices soon.  Both groups need to reapply for coverage but they have different deadlines and different remedies if they miss their…

Alert for Legal Immigrants Getting Connector Denials, April 2015

Vicky Pulos
Please help us identify lawfully present immigrants who were incorrectly denied benefits by the Connector & received only MassHealth Limited or Health Safety Net from MassHealth.    Attached is an alert for affected immigrants including information about how to get legal…

National Senior Citizens Law Center/ Justice in Aging

Justice in Aging
The National Senior Citizens Law Center is now called Justice in Aging.

Alert to legal aid offices and social service providers about MassHealth terminations and the availability of MassHealth Renewal Extensions

Vicky Pulos, MLRI
It is not too late for renewing MassHealth members who receive termination notices to reapply and reinstate their coverage back to the date it ended, and you can help What happened? Almost 300,000 MassHealth renewal notices were mailed in January and February giving 500,000 MassHealth members…

Basic TAFDC, EA and Food Stamp (SNAP) Rights

MassLegalHelp
The following are links to the website www.MassLegalHelp.org, which contains information about how the programs work, program rules, and how to apply for the benefits: TAFDC SNAP/Food Stamps Emergency Shelter (EA)    

Utility Discount Rates for Low Income Consumers in Massachusetts

MLRI
Low income consumers in Massachusetts whose income is within 60% of the state median income may be eligible for discounted rates on electric and gas service.  M.G.L. c. 164, section 1F(4)(i) states that discounts should be available to low-income consumers who can verify that they receive…

Tool Kit: Trauma and Immigrant Families in the Child Welfare System

Migration and Child Welfare National Network
Healing the Damage: Trauma and Immigrant Families in the Child Welfare System, by the Migration and Child Welfare National Network, provides public child welfare and community-based agencies working with immigrant families with guidelines for integrating child welfare practice with trauma-informed…

DESE Advisory 2014-3 Identifying the Need for Paraprofessional Support

Mass Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Special Education Technical Assistance Advisory on the use of and training for paraprofessionals.  The purposes of this advisory are to: Advise school districts and parents about concerns regarding inappropriate utilization of paraprofessionals. Clarify when it may be…

Paying an Unfair Price: The Financial Penalty for Being LGBT

Movement Advancement Project
The new report "Paying an Unfair Price: The Financial Penalty for Being LGBT" in America documents how LGBT people in the United States face clear financial penalties because of three primary failures in the law:  lack fo protection from discrimination, refusal to…

MassHealt-Connector Cover Sheet -revised Feb 2015

Office of Medicaid
The following link is for a revised cover sheet to be used when faxing or mailing information to MassHealth or the Connector. A separate cover sheet should be printed out for each use (not photocopied) to assure that the bar code works properly.  Using these cover sheets should improve the…

National Unaccompanied Children Resource Center

Immigration Advocates Network, American Bar Association, Pro Bono Net
The Unaccompanied Children Resource Center offers free legal resources and information for advocates and immigrants.   Children and their families or guardians can find out more by clicking on "Do you need legal help?" There is a map to help find a lawyer, and information about…

LGBT Elder Abuse: An Invisible Problem within an Invisible Community

Emily Crim
Article on LGBT elder abuse by Emily Crim from GBLS.

Nationwide: maps with summaries of law in all states

Human Rights Campaign Fund
summaries of the law, including but not limited to applicable laws on marriage, hospital visitation, second parent adoption, anti-discrimination, employment, public accommodations

Excerpt from a report on criminal justice system involvement of LGBT Clients

Rebecca Vallas & Sharon Dietrich
The attached document quotes a recent 2014 report by Rebecca Vallas & Sharon Dietrich which says that LGBT clients have a high incidence of criminal justice system involvement.  A link to the full report is included below too.