Sometimes low income individuals or families can be one step from disaster. A serious illness or a work accident can leave a family without the means to support themselves.

Our Benefits Unit works with families and individuals trying to get themselves back on their feet, or who need permanent assistance because of a debilitating condition. The NLA Benefits Unit works with clients in need of emergency and ongoing assistance. 

Our benefits advocates are able to provide advice and offer full representation for the following types of benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income, Transitional Aid to Families With Dependent Children (TAFDC), Emergency Aid to Elders, Disabled and Children (EAEDC), SNAP (food stamps), MassHealth, unemployment benefits, and Emergency Assistance Shelter.

Much of our benefits work assists families in getting benefits that help them to start a stable, safe life.  Some of our advocates are bilingual and are able to communicate directly with our Spanish or Khmer speaking clients.