April 2019 Newsletter

 

NEWSLETTER / April 2019

South Carolina Legal Services (SCLS) is a non-profit law firm. We provide free legal services in a wide variety of civil (non-criminal) legal matters to eligible low income residents of South Carolina. Our mission is to provide legal services to protect the rights and represent the interests of low income South Carolinians.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Financial Empowerment

This is Joel’s story. He participated in a Drug Court Recovery program. As part of this program, South Carolina Legal Services provided financial empowerment education using the Reentry Guide of the Your Money Your Goals toolkit from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The education he received changed Joel’s life and improved his economic stability.

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Missed the Tax Deadline. Now What?

Tax season is over, and now taxpayers get to relax and kick back. Well, that is only true at least until the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) “randomly” starts auditing tax returns.

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Coming in May: Elder Law Month

During the month of May, South Carolina Legal Services will join other attorneys across the country in educating seniors and individuals with disabilities about legal issues they may face.

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Social Work and the Law

Often times, the client that comes to South Carolina Legal Services has more than just a single, solitary legal issue. As their lawyers, we are not always able to help them with everything. That’s where a social worker comes in.

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Cultural Humility Unit

South Carolina Legal Services is thrilled to announce the creation of the Cultural Humility Unit. The new unit will be a team of SCLS staff dedicated to aiding and empowering communities impacted by systemic inequality.

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WAYS IN WHICH SOUTH CAROLINA LEGAL SERVICES IMPACTS THE LIVES OF LOW-INCOME SOUTH CAROLINIANS

FEDERAL INCOME TAX

  • Assisting with lien removals which improve clients’ credit
  • Representing parents and grandparents in cases where the other parent improperly claims children as dependents on tax returns
  • Negotiating for forbearance or reduction of clients’ debt owed to IRS
  • Correcting record for ID theft victims and helping obtain refund
  • Disputing false income claims by employers which eliminate tax debt

CONSUMER

  • Averting and reverting auto repossession to ensure that people can attend work, school, appointments and other necessary affairs
  • Helping individuals dealing with credit card and student loan debt
  • Enforcing contracts, warranties and public utilities rights of clients.
  • Providing a fresh start through bankruptcy so people are able to reorganize and stabilize their family’s financial situation