Civil Rights

Poverty is a bitter enough brew. Discrimination makes it even worse. The Center insists that our nation's civil rights laws must protect low-income people seeking or receiving public benefits. The federal government imposes strong anti-discrimination and language access requirements on the administration of federally-supported programs such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, and food stamps. State and local anti-discrimination laws can also be useful tools in protecting civil rights.

Our strategies to protect the civil rights of, and challenge discrimination against, low-income persons include class action litigation, negotiation of improved agency policies, and the investigation of systemic failures of public benefits programs and recommendations for improvements. The Center also provides support to advocates working on these issues around the country. The Center always welcomes inquiries from advocates and the opportunity to collaborate on these issues. Feel free to contact us.

See also Disability Rights

Highlights of NCLEJ Advocacy:

• New Mexico Court Says Denying Workers' Compensation Benefits to Farm and Ranch Laborers is Unconstitutional (December 2011)
• NCLEJ Comments on Health Insurance Exchanges (September 2011) (pdf)
• Health Reform Implementation: NCLEJ Comments to HHS on State Health Exchanges (October 2010) (pdf)
• NCLEJ and Maximus:  Modernizing Public Benefits Programs:  What the Law Says State Agencies Must do to Serve People with Disabilities (August 2010) (pdf)
• Lawsuit Causes FEMA to Disgorge Documents on Accessible Temporary Housing (January 2010)
• NCLEJ Achieves Settlement Requiring Translation of California Food Stamp Forms (December, 2006)
• NCLEJ and Colleagues Protect Women from Sexual Harassment in the Workplace in New York (2004)
• NCLEJ and Colleagues Promoted Access to Benefits for Families with Limited English Proficiency (2004)
• NCLEJ and Colleagues Saved Medicaid for Legal Immigrants in Colorado (2003)

Additional NCLEJ Resources:

• Improving Remote Communication Between Public Benefits Agencies and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals by Cary LaCheen, 43 Clearinghouse Review 431 (Jan. - Feb. 2010) (pdf)
• Enforcing Language Access Rights: Trends and Strategies,
  By Jane Perkins, Mary R. Mannix, Jack Daniel, and Wanda Boonsurmsuwongse Hasadri, 38 Clearinghouse Review, 265 (September-October 2004)
• The Welfare Advocate's Challenge: Fighting Historic Racism in the New Welfare System,
  By Henry A. Freedman (May-June 2002)
• Tennessee Immigrant Groups Help Create Comprehensive Policies to Ensure Equal Access to Medicaid, Food Stamps and TANF
  (from Welfare News, April 2002)
• Complaint submitted to HHS Office for Civil Rights by ACLU-Wisconsin Foundation and NAACP Milwaukee Branch regarding Wisconsin Works Program and compliance with ADA and civil rights requirements
  (February 18, 2002)
• HHS OCR Guidance on Assuring Access to Welfare Programs for Those With Limited-English Proficiency
  (Welfare News, December 2002)
• Recent Advocacy Efforts on Language Access Issues
  (Welfare News, December 2002)
• Strategies to Address Discrimination
  (August 2000)