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Grants
The
Nebraska Lawyers Trust Account Foundation has given over $6,426,500
since 1984 of IOLTA funds to help provide access to legal representation
to
Nebraskans who meet the federal poverty guidelines. Legal Aid of
Nebraska, the
sole grantee of NLTAF has provided several case stories.
Low Income Tax Clinic: Becca, a Hispanic women and
her husband recently had their application for citizenship approved,
complete with Social
Security numbers. While attending a Low Income Tax Clinic, provided
by Legal Aid of Nebraska, they learned that since they had been paying
taxes using a TIN (Tax Identification Number) they were now eligible
to file amended tax returns and could receive an Earned Income Tax
Credit. By filing, Becca and her spouse received thousands of dollars
that helped them provide for their family and obtain housing that
gave them a home in which they could celebrate their new citizenship.
Domestic Violence: Danielle was moved away from
her family in Omaha and isolated in North Carolina by her abusive
husband. She tells
of only having a cell phone that she was not allowed to touch without
his permission. He kept the keys to their only car and controlled
the money. She says, “ He had control of everything; my life,
my social security number, I didn’t know he knew as much
about me as he did.” In addition to control, there were the
beatings. Beatings occurred even while she was pregnant and in
front of the
other children. With the help of her family in Omaha, Danielle
and her children secretly flew back to Omaha where she contacted
Legal
Aid. Danielle says, “Legal Aid services were really sincere
about what happened, and they knew what I went through.” With
the help of Legal Aid, Danielle got a divorce. Today she has a
safe home, her children in school and a career that gives her a
brighter
future.
Self-sufficiency: John contacted
Legal Aid when a judgment creditor started taking money from his
checking account
even though
he is
disabled and his only income is from SSI (Social Security Supplemental
Income). He wanted help to get his money back. We did not have
an attorney available to provide the extended service he requested;
however, the AccessLine attorneys gave him extensive advice on
arguments
he needed to make in court, witnesses to take, and documents
to present as evidence. John called two weeks later, right after
his
court appearance,
to tell us he had won his case. He got his money back and wanted
to thank the AccessLine for their assistance in providing him
with the tools he needed to help himself.
(Names were changed to protect
the identities of the aforementioned individuals.)
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