Access to Public Benefits & Civil Legal Services

Public benefits consist of a wide range of programs that support individuals financially, helping cover food, housing, healthcare, and other living costs. Government assistance is not always accessible. The application process may require access to technology and information only provided online or only in English. Other barriers include negative stigma surrounding receiving "welfare", long applications, interviews, lack of transport to agencies, etc. Access to civil legal services can be limited for the same reasons. Low and middle-income individuals have limited access to legal services because of cost. Without access to legal assistance, it is much more difficult to navigate the court system and manage family and business legal matters.

Click the links below to learn more about how this is a harm

South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center's "Public Benefits"

Informs of SC Appleseed's programs to provide families with income support

University of Pennsylvania's "Improving Access to Public Benefits"

Describes the steps the federal government has taken to increase access to public benefits

Legal Services Corporation's "2017 Justice Gap Report"

Gives statistics and evidence on how hard it is for some people to get good legal representation

Legal Services Corporation's "What is Legal Aid?"

Talks about the need for families to have financial aid for legal services

The Center for Law and Social Policy's "Securing Equal Justice for All"

Gives the history of the accessibility of legal aid in the U.S.