Civil Legal Aid Research Paper
Economic Benefits of Civil Legal Aid:
How Legal Aid Boosted the Commonwealth’s Economy in FY09 Summary Full report at www.mlac.org/research.html The work of legal aid programs funded by the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation brings in millions of federal dollars each year, wins millions more in financial support for low-income Massachusetts residents and saves the state the expense of costly social services. In FY09, the total boost to the Commonwealth’s economy amounted to an estimated $73.1 million.
Revenue and Savings
Potential Savings, $12.0 FY09, in millions of dollars
Other Benefits Won, $22.4
New Federal Revenue, $38.7
New Federal Revenue Brought into the Commonwealth: $38.7 million
SSI/SSDI: $9.1 million MLAC’s Disability Benefits Project, with state funding of only $1.37 million, yielded $8,449,788 in retroactive payments and …show more content…
Housing Stabilization: $482,627 Low-income households received $482,627 in rent relief and damages as a result of representation by Community Legal Services and Counseling Center and Neighborhood Legal Services. Low-Income Utility Discounts: $18.5 million Advocacy by the National Consumer Law Center resulted in an increase in the value of discount utility rates, saving low-income Massachusetts households approximately $12 million on their utility bills, and an expansion of income eligibility for the discount rate, valued at approximately $6.5 million per year. NCLC’s Massachusetts work is funded by MLAC. Child Support Orders: $666,952 South Coastal Counties Legal Services and the Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts reported a combined total of 106 child support orders won, with an average payment of $121 per week in FY09. This amounts to income of approximately $666,952 per year for low-income custodial parents and their
How Legal Aid Boosted the Commonwealth’s Economy in FY09 Summary Full report at www.mlac.org/research.html The work of legal aid programs funded by the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation brings in millions of federal dollars each year, wins millions more in financial support for low-income Massachusetts residents and saves the state the expense of costly social services. In FY09, the total boost to the Commonwealth’s economy amounted to an estimated $73.1 million.
Revenue and Savings
Potential Savings, $12.0 FY09, in millions of dollars
Other Benefits Won, $22.4
New Federal Revenue, $38.7
New Federal Revenue Brought into the Commonwealth: $38.7 million
SSI/SSDI: $9.1 million MLAC’s Disability Benefits Project, with state funding of only $1.37 million, yielded $8,449,788 in retroactive payments and …show more content…
Housing Stabilization: $482,627 Low-income households received $482,627 in rent relief and damages as a result of representation by Community Legal Services and Counseling Center and Neighborhood Legal Services. Low-Income Utility Discounts: $18.5 million Advocacy by the National Consumer Law Center resulted in an increase in the value of discount utility rates, saving low-income Massachusetts households approximately $12 million on their utility bills, and an expansion of income eligibility for the discount rate, valued at approximately $6.5 million per year. NCLC’s Massachusetts work is funded by MLAC. Child Support Orders: $666,952 South Coastal Counties Legal Services and the Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts reported a combined total of 106 child support orders won, with an average payment of $121 per week in FY09. This amounts to income of approximately $666,952 per year for low-income custodial parents and their