Public Benefits: State and Federal Public Benefits
The State and Federal Benefits Practice Team represents clients who have been denied access to state, federal and local public benefit programs, including Medicaid, Food Stamps, Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Social Security benefits (SSI & RSDI), and Veteran's benefits.
Has it been more than 30 days since you applied for food stamps and you still haven't received a decision? Texas RioGrande Legal Aid can help.
Call: 1.866.757.1570
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Laws
- Medicaid Law: An Overview provides access to the relevant federal and state statutes, regulations, and court decisions. Courtesy of the Cornell Legal Information
- Institute
- Medicare Law: An Overview courtesy of the LII
- Social Security Law: An Overview courtesy of the LII
- Social Security Library set of reference materials covering issues of entitlement and benefit calculation. Courtesy of the LII
- Unemployment Compensation Law: An Overview courtesy of the LII
- Food Stamp Legislation courtesy of the USDA
- Food Stamp Regulations courtesy of the USDA
Federal Agencies
- Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Food and Nutrition Service
- Food Stamp Program , 1-800-221-5689 includes information about program eligibility and how to apply
- Child Nutrition Programs includes information about school breakfast and lunch programs
- Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program program providing nutritious foods to pregnant and nursing women and children under 5
- Farm Market Nutrition Program program that provides some families receiving WIC benefits with coupons to buy fresh fruits and vegetables
- Summer Food Program, 1-800-847-8975 program that provides free meals to children 18 and under from May 1 to August 31
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Administration for Children and Families
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program federally-funded program to assist low-income households in meeting their home heating and cooling need. Site includes a directory of LIHEAP grantees in each state
- State Welfare Reform Information links to welfare reform information and offices for each state
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services oversees the Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP) programs
- Insure Kids Now! provides access to information concerning free and low-cost health insurance for children (Medicaid and CHIP)
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Department of Labor
- Department of the Treasury oversees Electronic Funds Transfer programs
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)
- Individual and Family Grant Program provides assistance grants to people whose property has been lost or damaged due to major disaster
- Social Security Administration, 1-800-772-1213
- Seguro Social Informacion en Espanol
- Social Security Office Locator
- Social Security BEST (Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool) online tool that identifies which Social Security programs an individual may qualify for
- Social Security Disability Programs includes information about Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income) federal income supplement program for people who are aged, blind, or disabled and have little or no income
State Agencies
- Texas Department on Aging
- Overview of Health Care and Other Benefits provides i nformation about the public benefits programs available to older Texans
- Texas Works Program Handbook overview of the Texas welfare-to-work program
- Texas Department of State Health Services
- Indigent Health Care Program provides information about eligibility and services under the County Indigent Health Care Program
- Family Health Services Information and Referral Line 1-800-422-2956 toll-free information and referral service for women and children in Texas
- Medical Transportation Program provides eligible Medicaid recipients with transportation to their health care appointments
- Texas Health Steps, 1-877-847-8377 gateway for information about medical and dental benefits for Medicaid-enrolled children from birth to age 21
- Health and Human Services Reference Guide guide to all state-sponsored health and human services program in Texas
- Texas Health and Human Services
- Your Texas Benefits.com online tool allowing users to identify the state public benefits programs for which they may qualify. In English and Spanish. Courtesy of the Texas Dept. of Human Services
- Food Stamp Program includes information about program eligibility and benefits and how to apply
- Medicaid Program, 1-800-252-8263 includes information about program eligibility and benefits and how to apply
- Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) Program includes information about program eligibility and benefits and how to apply
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) includes CHIP information and links to CHIP applications in English and Spanish
- 211 Directory of Area Information Centers these centers provide service information and referrals to individuals and agencies
- Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
- Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
- History of Texas Welfare Reform overview of the changes in public benefits laws that took place in 1996
- Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)
- Community Services Section administers federal and state grants to local agencies that provide services to poor or homeless Texans. Site includes descriptions of CSS programs
- Energy Assistance Programs includes information about utility assistance and home weatherization programs
- Texas Veterans Commission
Legal Resources
- Children’s Defense Fund advocates for the health, safety, and well-being of children, particularly minority children and those with disabilities
- National Council of State Legislatures Immigration Policy Forum provides the latest information on how federal welfare reform will affect immigrants
- Legal Hotline for Older Texans provides legal information and public benefits counseling to Texans over 60
- SSI, Food Stamps, and Medicaid publication providing information about eligibility, benefits, and how to apply. In Adobe Acrobat
- National Center for Youth Law its areas of focus include improving children’s and teen’s access to health care, securing public benefits for vulnerable children and teens, and increasing families’ access to housing
- Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
- National Veterans Legal Services Program provides legal services to veterans, with a special focus on disabled veterans or those with health problems
- National Center for Law and Economic Justice works to ensure that adequate income support is available to meet basic needs and foster healthy human and family development
Research and Statistics
- Welfare Information Network clearinghouse for information, analysis, and technical assistance concerning all aspects of welfare reform
Texas Advocacy Organizations
- Texas CHIP Coalition alliance of organizations working for a strong CHIP program in Texas. Site includes news and updates on CHIP enrollment
- Center for Public Policy Priorities
- Immigration and Public Benefits Policy Pages provide news and information about policies affecting immigrants’ eligibility for public benefits
National Advocacy Organizations
- American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) provides information and resources for people 50 and older and advocates on legislative, consumer, and legal issues. Site includes helpful information about Medicare and Social Security
- Public Benefits Outreach provides helpful information and links concerning Food Stamps, Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, and SSI
- Center for Law and Social Policy
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
- Children’s Defense Fund
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Information guide to the CHIP program in each state
- Coalition on Human Needs alliance of national organizations promoting public policies that address the needs of low-income people
- Electronic Policy Network provides policy news from 80 member organizations
- Families USA
- HandsNet provides news and information geared toward non-profit organizations
- Low Income Networking and Communications Project (LINC) connects groups and individuals organizing around welfare rights issues. A project of the Welfare Law Center
- Urban Institute
- National Health Law Program a national public interest law firm that seeks to improve health care for America's poor, particularly in the areas of Medicaid and state and local health care programs for the poor
The Public Benefits: State and Federal Public Benefits Team
The Objectives:
- Increase the number of people staying afloat in the TRLA service area by providing legal advice and counsel to clients who have been unlawfully denied public benefits.
- Help families of deployed soldiers from Ft. Bliss in El Paso gain access to necessary public benefits.
Our Activities
- Conduct outreach to find people who have denied access to public benefits.
- Provide Litigation and Representation in public benefits cases, Social Security appeals and administrative cases.
- Provide advice and counsel to clients.
- Provide brief services to clients.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) is providing free legal services to low-income Texans who have waited longer than thirty days to receive a decision on their food stamp applications.
Individuals who have applied for food stamps during this tough economic time and have been waiting more than 30 days to receive a decision can call our special food stamp hotline at 1-866-757-1570 for assistance.
When it comes to feeding Texas families, there’s no reason why anyone should wait longer than one month to find out if they’ll receive the assistance they need. Texas is required by law to process food stamp applications within thirty days, but TRLA is meeting families who have been waiting months to find out if they’ll get the help they need to make ends meet. This is an emergency situation affecting thousands of Texas families.
TRLA is here to help. Food stamp applicants who call our hotline at 1-866-757-1570 are getting the help they need. The state of Texas keeps making excuses as to why it’s taking so long to process applications. But excuses don’t put food on the table. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid can help.
- You are here:
TRLA Home- Edinburg Office
- About The State and Federal Public Benefits Law Team