Benefits

The Bureau assists clients who have been denied or cut off from many different types of government benefits, including TAFDC (Welfare), SSI (Social Security), SSDI (Disability), EAEDC (Emergency Assistance), Medicaid, Unemployment Benefits, Veteran's Benefits, and Food Stamps.

The Bureau cannot provide assistance with initial applications for benefits, except in some exceptional circumstances and in conjunction to another case that we have already accepted. For example, we accept unemployment benefits cases at one of three points in the administrative process: after denial of benefits by the claims adjuster; after a denial by a review examiner; or after a denial of benefits by the Board of review.
 
Student-attorneys at the Bureau can perform a very important function at each level of the benefits review process. We can and do perform the function of fact gathering, contacting relevant professionals, preparation of memoranda of law and fact, and trial advocacy in all benefits cases. 

However, we do not accept cases involving claims for Workers’ Compensation because The Massachusetts Accident Board makes an identical award for attorneys’ fees in all cases regardless of the financial status of the claimant. If you would like assistance with workers’ compensation, please contact the Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyers’ Referral Service.