News and stories about our work to protect and advance the civil legal rights of low-income Texans.
Who is eligible? U.S. residents will receive the Economic Impact Payment of $1,200 for individual or head of household filers, and $2,400 for married filing jointly if they are not a dependent of another taxpayer and have a work-eligible Social Security number with adjusted gross income (AGI) up to: $75,000 for individuals $112,500 for the head of household filers and […]
Texas residents anticipate receiving their Federal Stimulus payments after the federal government passed the CARES Act. With Texans expecting to receive upwards of $1,200.00 there was concern about debt collectors and their ability to freeze consumers’ bank accounts. The Texas Supreme Court issued its 10th Emergency Order to stop most actions to collect consumer debt until May 7, 2020. I […]
One week in April every year is reserved for recognizing crime victims and their rights. A national focus on crime victims dates back to 1965 and since then has strengthened federal legislation, court decisions, government action, and programs when working with crime victims. The week-long campaign promotes victim’s rights and those who advocate on their behalf. Raising awareness on crime […]
Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), WIC is a federally funded program to provide nutrition benefits, education, supplemental food, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and social services to at-risk pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children up to the age of five. With the recent passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to COVID-19, WIC received […]
Common questions related to eviction in Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic. I heard that Landlords weren’t allowed to evict people in Texas right now. Is this true? Yes and No. A landlord may file in court to evict you right now but courts cannot hold a hearing to decide the matter until after April 30, 2020. In other words, you […]
Unemployment Benefits and Paid Leave Part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency Family Medical Leave Act are currently being established through the U.S. Department of Labor to help U.S. workers who have lost their jobs or cannot work for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new laws support U.S. […]
All thirty days in April are devoted to Sexual Assault Awareness and are advocated around the world to raise awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it. Talking about sexual assault helps end the stigma and with continuing support, we can all decrease the amount of sexual assaults that occur every year. Now is the time […]
As many of you are aware, many counties in Texas have issued stay-at-home or shelter in place orders. As a result, parents might be wondering how that affects co-parenting their children. These are the top questions we are receiving right now. What about the court-ordered visitation in place for my family? How will pick up and drop off of my […]
Lunch Is Served! As of March 19, 2020, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Governor Abbott declared all schools in Texas temporarily closed. To assist Texas families while schools are closed, meals are available for take-home at no cost to all children through participating school districts. Visit https://txschools.gov/ to find a food distribution site near you. HISD food distribution sites re-opened […]
PRICE GOUGING What if I have been a victim of price gouging? According to a news release published by the Texas Attorney General, “any person or business selling goods must be aware that they are prohibited by law from engaging in price gouging if they unreasonably raise the cost of necessary supplies at any point during a declared disaster,” said […]
A reverse mortgage is a special type of home loan that lets you convert a portion (or all) of the equity in your home into cash. Only people over age 62 or older can get a reverse mortgage. The difference between a reverse mortgage and a traditional home loan – is that borrowers don’t have to pay it back. How […]
Austin, TX – 90 year old retired nurse, Louise Moore, is relieved that her Medicaid and SNAP benefits will continue after office closures prevented her from getting her recertification documents in on time. Ms. Moore worked as a nurse for over 30 years starting Panora General Hospital, then going to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital before ending her career as a charge […]
If there is a universal language everyone speaks, it’s money, and the lack of it is a familiar and ever-present obstacle for most people. In the United States, borrowing money is all but inevitable if you want a car, a house, tuition money, or even something as simple as a mattress. Credit is not only helpful but necessary in the […]
The outbreak and alarming spread of the Coronavirus is causing added stress and financial instability for many families around the world. This can cause an increase in domestic and sexual violence seen in abusive partners. The idea of social distancing is to flatten the curve of the rising number of COVID-19 positive cases and eliminate the spread of the virus. […]
Overview The Coronavirus outbreak is a global pandemic spreading fast causing panic among Americans as the outbreak kills more and more people each day. People are becoming wary of the severity and fear for their lives and the lives of others. Unfortunately, the chaos and disparity circulating the Coronavirus has caused people to fall victim to many scams which result […]
If you’ve received a surprise bill after a trip to an emergency room you thought would be covered by insurance, it’s a result of something called balanced billing. Balance billing occurs when an insured patient receives care from a physician, hospital or other health care provider, who is not part of a patient’s health plan provider network. The out-of-network provider […]
Overview When a disaster strikes, consumers should be on the lookout for dishonest repair fraud service providers. These individuals and businesses prey on disaster victims knowing they are in their most vulnerable state. If you come across this situation, do not make any rash decisions. Research your options carefully to avoid losing your property or money. Other post-disaster repair scams […]
National Consumer Protection Week is the Federal Trade Commission’s week-long campaign aimed at educating consumers about their rights to help them make well-informed decisions about money. Lone Star Legal Aid joins the FTC with a consumer-focused blog series to be pushed out throughout the month. Stay tuned to learn about more about: Payday & Title Loans; Reverse Mortgages; Repair Fraud After […]
February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month which is an issue that not only impact teens, but their families, teachers, friends, and communities. Together we can raise awareness about teen dating violence (TDV) and promote safe, healthy relationships. Understanding what TDV is and what it means for those who are involved is an important first step in prevention. What […]
Lone Star Legal Aid’s Military Veterans Unit will be hosting a Criminal Record Clearing Clinic on Friday, January 31, 2020, at their office located at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77030 in room 4B-249 on the 4th floor. Lone Star Legal Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy on behalf […]