| Legal Services Programs for Elders
There are five Legal Services offices that provide
free counseling and representation on many Elder Law issues (Medicaid and other government
programs, patients’ rights, nursing home issues):
Eastern Connecticut
Connecticut Legal
Services, Inc. (CLS)
872 Main Street
Willimantic, Connecticut 06226
Telephone: 800-413-7796 or
860-456-1761
Western Connecticut
Connecticut Legal
Services, Inc. (CLS)
85 Central Avenue
Waterbury, Connecticut 06702
Telephone: 800-413-7797 or
203-756-8074
South Western Connecticut
Connecticut Legal
Services, Inc. (CLS)
211 State Street
Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604
Telephone: 800-809-4434 or
203-336-3851
North Central Connecticut
Greater Hartford Legal Aid (GHLA)
80 Jefferson Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06106
Telephone: 860-541-5000
South Central Connecticut
New Haven Legal Assistance Association
(LAA)
426 State Street
New Haven, Connecticut 06112
Telephone: 203-946-4811
Statewide Legal Hotlines
Statewide
Legal Services, Inc. (SLS)
Statewide Legal Services operates a hotline that provides free legal advice on a
variety of civil law issues such as housing, including landlord-tenant and foreclosure
matters; family problems; public benefits problems, such as Food Stamps, energy
assistance, State Supplement and Supplemental Security Income (SSI); and consumer issues,
including bankruptcy. If a caller needs legal representation, SLS will refer the person to
the appropriate Legal Services office. SLS also provides a wide variety of
educational pamphlets on most common legal problems relating to housing, family, public
benefits, and consumer issues. Please note that seniors in Connecticut are
encouraged to call their Legal Services local office rather than SLS.
Telephone: 1-800-453-3320
Consumer Law Project
for Elders Hotline.
Connecticut Legal Services, Inc. offers seniors with consumer problems free legal
assistance through its Consumer Law Project for Elders (CLPE) hotline. The Hotline will
provide free advice, representation and referrals to seniors 60 and older with such
consumer problems as credit card debt, medical debt, abusive and harassing collection
practices and identity theft. Seniors with other consumer problems can also call
the hotline for advice. The Hotline is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to
5:00 PM. Bi-lingual staff are available to speak with Spanish speaking callers.
Telephone hotline: 1-800-296-1467.
Other Sources of Legal
Assistance
Elder Law - Hartford County
The Connecticut Lawyers Legal Aid to the Elderly is operated by Aetna using volunteer
attorneys from Aetna and private law firms. The program serves Hartford County residents
with limited income and assets who are 60 or older. They advise and represent clients in
consumer matters, small claims, landlord tenant disputes, Social Security and Supplemental
Security Income problems, Medicaid, and Medicare. Their attorneys are also available to
prepare wills, living wills, and powers of attorney.
Telephone: 860-273-8164
Private Elder Law Attorneys
Private attorneys who specialize in Elder Law in Connecticut can also be located
through the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) web site. There
is also an Elder Law Section of the Connecticut
Bar Association, but a list of its members is not available on the web site.
Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA)
CMA is a private, non-profit organization which provides education, advocacy, and legal
assistance to help elders and people with disabilities obtain necessary healthcare. CMA
focuses on the needs of Medicare beneficiaries, people with chronic conditions, and those
in need of long-term care. Advice, written materials, and legal services are free
to Connecticut residents and for a fee to others. CMA’s staff act as
consultants and trainers for groups which are interested in learning about healthcare
rights, Medicare coverage and appeals, and/or in developing Medicare advocacy projects.
Telephone: in Connecticut at 1-800-262-4414 or 860-456-7790, or in Washington, D.C. at
202-216-0028.
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