Questions and Answers about NSCLC

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Can NSCLC represent me in a legal matter?

Can NSCLC recommend an attorney?

Where can I get information about Medicare/Social Security/SSI benefits?

How do I find a reputable nursing home?

Where can I find local elder care providers or other local services?

I'm writing a research paper. Can NSCLC help?

Q. Can NSCLC represent me in a legal matter?

A. NSCLC's national focus greatly limits our legal assistance in most individual matters. If you need an attorney, please try one of the following sites for representation:

-- The Consumers' Guide to Legal Help on the Internet, sponsored by the American Bar Association, recommends sources for legal assistance, as well as reliable sources for legal information, tips on legal self-help, links to state bar-funded lawyer referral services and advice in hiring a private attorney. http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/home.cfm

--LawHelp.org contains information to help people with low and moderate incomes find legal resources. You can find an attorney by zip code or by state. http://lawhelp.org/ In California: lawhelpca.org

--The Administration on Aging has Senior Legal Hotlines in many states. The service allows persons 60 and over, or people calling on their behalf, to speak with an attorney about their legal questions or problems. http://www.aoa.gov/eldfam/Elder_Rights/Legal_Assistance/Legal_Hotline.asp

-- The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys has an informative website that includes questions you should ask when choosing an attorney. In addition, NAELA maintains on its website a consumer directory, which may help you locate an attorney near you. http://naela.com/

Q. Can NSCLC recommend an attorney?

A. Several organizations maintain online resources for legal assistance:

--The American Bar Association has information on who is eligible to receive free legal assistance, as well as suggestions of other places to find legal assistance and information: http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/faq.cfm

--Those who are ineligible for legal services assistance can access The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys consumer directory online at http://naela.com/

--If you have a Social Security case and need representation, contact the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR) at (800) 431-2804. NOSSCR also maintains a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Social Security Disability. http://nosscr.org/

--For a referral to a California elder lawyer, you may call California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform at (800) 474-1116.

Q. Where can I get information about Medicare/Social Security/SSI benefits?

A. For questions about Medicare benefits, Social Security and SSI benefits, and information about applying for these programs, call (800) 772-1213; TTY for speech/hearing impaired: (800) 325-0778.

Q. How do I find a reputable nursing home?

A. Quality of care in nursing homes is an important issue to NSCLC. We continue to monitor the government's enforcement of Nursing Home reform laws and advocate on behalf of residents of homes all over the U.S. We publish a variety of excellent guides for consumers on Nursing Homes, which are available on our Publications page.

The federal government has an online database to help consumers locate nursing homes: Nursing Home Compare

If you are looking for a nursing home in California, you can call the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform at (800) 474-1116, or check their California Nursing Home Guide.

Q. Where can I find local elder care providers or other local services?

Eldercare Locator is a free national service of the Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program links those who need assistance with state, tribal and local area agencies on aging and community-based organizations that serve older adults and their caregivers. Call 1-800-677-1116 (toll-free) 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET Monday - Friday; or see the Eldercare Locator website: http://www.eldercare.gov/eldercare/Public/Home.asp

Q. I'm writing a research paper. Can NSCLC help?

Most of NSCLC's materials and publications are written for a specific legal audience and would not be useful to those seeking general information about certain issues.