Explaining the Law and Providing Self-Help Information for Low-Income Iowans
There are 49 resources
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FIP Education/Training
Common Legal Terms
(Separate Website)
An online glossary of legal terms from A to W
By: Iowa Judicial Branch
DHS Programs for People Who No Longer Get FIP
The Department of Human Services offers Medicaid and Child Care Assistance programs to help those who no longer get FIP benefits due to increased earnings or child support. The main programs are Transitional Child Care (TCC) and Transitional Medicaid.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
FIP Benefits Update: Ban on Receiving Benefits After 60 Months Starts January 1, 2002
In 1996, Congress made major changes in welfare programs. These changes were a part of welfare reform and Congress changed the nature of welfare. States had to limit the number of months adults may get TANF benefits. In Iowa, TANF benefits are called FIP (Family Investment Program) or welfare benefits. Medicaid (Title XIX), food stamps, general assistance, SSI, and energy assistance are not among welfare benefits subject to the 60-month limit.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Questions and Answers About Removing Old Criminal Convictions
An overview of what is included in a criminal history and how information in those records may be changed.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Accommodations for Veterans With Disabilities
Help is available to enable many disabled veterans to live very independently. Legal protections help make this happen. Any veteran with disabilities or person who knows a veteran with disabilities should know about how the law protects these brave people. The law supports their search for decent, affordable housing.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Changes to Iowa Guardianship Law
A 1995 case decided by the Iowa Supreme Court had a major impact on Iowa’s guardianship law.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Common Legal Terms
(Separate Website)
An online glossary of legal terms from A to W
By: Iowa Judicial Branch
Fair Housing - Making New Apartments Accessible to Persons with Disabilities
The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 made a lot of changes in fair housing law. One of the changes dealt with making apartments accessible. When does an apartment have to meet the fair housing accessibility requirements?
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Funding for Individuals With Mental Health Issues or Developmental Disabilities
In Iowa, both the state and the county provide funding for services for people who have developmental disabilities or mental health difficulties. Federal funds are also used to support the services.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Other Formats:
TXT File
Legal Rights of Persons With Disabilities
People with disabilities, including those who use assistive technology, have many rights. Here is just a summary of some areas with special protections of which you should be aware.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
New Rule Helps Iowans With Disabilities Who Owe Back Child Support
A recent rule change will help Iowans with disabilities who owe back child support
By: Iowa Legal Aid
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Spanish / Español
Property Tax Suspension for People Who Get SSI
Many people with a disability own or are buying their homes. They may have a hard time paying their property taxes which become due each year. Under Iowa law, people who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or State Supplemental Assistance (SSA), or live in a health care facility, can get their property taxes suspended.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Shopping for an Assistive Technology Device
When you need an assistive device, it's a good idea to be sure to get one that works well and does what you need it to do. Learning as much as you can about a device and testing it before you buy can prevent problems. It is worth the time to make sure the device you choose helps gain more independence, better health or a fuller use of your abilities.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Student Loan Disability Discharge
College education is expensive. The average college graduate has $19,000 in student loan debt. This can be hard to repay. It is especially hard to repay for students who become disabled and can’t work. Fortunately, you might have options if you are in this situation.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
The Fair Housing Act & Iowa Civil Rights Act Protect Housing Rights of Persons with a Mental Disability
Discrimination against a person with a mental disability is illegal. The federal Fair Housing Act and the Iowa Civil Rights Act require landlords to make exceptions, called "reasonable accommodations," in rules, policies, practices or services.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
What Duty Does a Landlord Have to Accommodate a Tenant's Disability?
There is not enough low- and moderate-income housing to meet the need. Persons with disabilities may have even fewer housing choices. Some rental units could become suitable with a few changes. The landlord's rules or policies might need to change before the tenant could live there. What are a tenant's rights in such cases?
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Tax Relief for Hurricane Katrina Victims
The President has declared many areas to be federal disaster areas because of Hurricane Katrina. There is a special rule for deducting a loss that occurs in a presidentially declared disaster area.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or ITIN
Every tax return or other tax document must have an identification number on it. Taxpayers who are legal residents of the United States use their social security number. Taxpayers whose foreign status does not allow them to get a social security number need to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
By: Iowa Legal Aid
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Spanish / Español
Top 10 Tax Tips for Immigrants
Some of the more common situations where an immigrant might be required to pay taxes and information about how to file.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
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Spanish / Español
A Guide for Nonresident Aliens Preparing Federal Income Tax
(Separate Website)
This site is geared towards, students, researchers and scholars. There is some information for non-resident aliens who are not students, researchers or scholars in the Frequently Asked Questions link.
The information in this article was not intended or written to be used and cannot be used to avoid penalties under the Internal Revenue Code.
By: University of Texas at Austin
Beware of New Internet Tax Scam
(Separate Website)
Details on a new scam that lures taxpayers into filing tax information on a site masquerading as a member of the Free File Alliance
By: Internal Revenue Service
Beware of Tax E-Mail Scams
(Separate Website)
The latest versions of an e-mail scam try to fool people into believing they are under investigation by the agency’s Criminal Investigation division.
By: Internal Revenue Service
Iowa Taxes on Pensions and Social Security
Iowa has made several recent changes to how it taxes Social Security income and the income of senior citizens generally. These changes should reduce taxes.
By: Upper Midwest Pension Rights Project
Big Refunds! A Bad Thing?
Almost everyone looks forward to a big refund each year. Should they? Probably not! A big refund means that the IRS gets to keep your money without paying you interest.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
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Spanish / Español
The Iowa Legal Aid Website is a project of Iowa Legal Aid, the Volunteer Lawyer Projects of the Iowa State Bar and Polk County Bar Associations, and HELP Legal Assistance
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