Public benefits programs serve as a critical safety net to millions of Americans. Nearly 42 million people use SNAP benefits to pay for food, and over 83 million people are enrolled in Medicaid. For low-income communities who don’t have access to generational wealth, these programs provide a lifeline of economic support – if they can be accessed.
There are too many roadblocks that prevent eligible people from accessing assistance when they need it most. Technical rules, harsh work requirements, broken government websites, a lack of understanding about the needs of people with disabilities, and unrealistic and biased expectations about peoples’ access to economic resources make public benefits programs hard to access.
NCLEJ is committed to dismantling access to barriers and building a meaningful safety net for all. We litigate to make sure that states are not imposing unjust and illegal barriers to accessing life-saving programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
We do this critical work because our lawyers, advocates, and professional staff are united by the common belief that having food, water, healthcare, and essential family-supporting income are basic human rights and allow all to live with dignity in our communities.
Our work doesn’t stop. Just last month, we filed a lawsuit to demand that Alaska fulfills its obligations to deliver SNAP benefits to families experiencing food insecurity. We’re also fighting back against discriminatory practices by New York State that undercut welfare recipients with disabilities.
No matter the time nor the place, we will continue to fight for an accessible social safety net for all. A real social safety net means not worrying about losing your home because you get sick and can’t go to work for a week. It being means able to live in comfort and dignity regardless of how wealthy you are.
If you agree, then we’d like to know that you stand with us.
The National Center for Law and Economic Justice advances racial and economic justice through ground-breaking impact litigation, policy advocacy, and support for grassroots organizing. We have provided legal representation and support since 1965.
