This all-day training offers the nuts-and-bolts on how immigration status affects eligibility for state and federal public benefits.
In the morning, you get an overview of how immigrants obtain legal status, how to read immigration documents in order to understand their legal status, any recent changes during the Biden Administration regarding new immigration statuses, the Administration's change in the "public charge" rules in March 2021 and any subsequent federal guidance issued. You also learn from health law experts about MassHealth and other subsidized health care programs available to immigrants and their dependents.
In the afternoon, you hear from benefits experts about other public benefits potentially available to low-income legal immigrants including: state and federal subsidized housing programs, emergency shelter, cash assistance (TAFDC and EAEDC) and the federal SNAP and child nutrition programs.
A COLLABORATIVE SERIES
MCLE, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI), and other Massachusets legal services programs collaborate to provide annual basic public benefits advocacy training events for the many public and private sector lawyers and community advocates who assist Massachusetts residents to qualify for and receive public benefits. Detailed materials are distributed electronically for all trainings.