To view the full body of the order please, click here.

After the cold, long and dark days of this past year, the spring season brings new life and fresh hope. It is a welcome period of rebirth and inspiration for many of us. We want to thank you for your generous donations and contributions to our program. Your generosity helps us bring beautiful change to the lives of vulnerable residents in Seminole County by helping them solve their legal problems which have created obstacles and barriers to their self-sufficiency , safety and quality of life.

On December 2, 2020 Attorney Mendoza had agreed to provide a consultation to an indigent Seminole County resident that was in need of legal advice regarding a Dissolution of Marriage. The client needed assistance with child support, custody of a minor child of the marriage and getting her maiden name back. On March 23, 2021, a Final Judgement was entered in which the client was given sole parental responsibility, 100% timeshare, reinforced the existing child support order and restored her maiden name.

Thank you Attorney Mendoza for your continued support. It is because of volunteer attorney such as yourself that we can continue to provide free quality legal services to vulnerable residents of Seminole County to improve their quality of life and enhance their self-sufficiency.

We want to recognize and acknowledge Attorney Robert Latham, Associate Director of the Children & Youth Law Clinic at the University of Miami Law school, for all his expert legal assistance and donation of time with an administrative appeal regarding a foster youth. Nationwide studies have shown that a disproportionate number of foster youth end up homeless, on welfare, institutionalized or in prison after they leave foster care. If successful in our appeal, we can help the foster youth avoid those dire circumstances by helping him get the support he needs from state government to make the difficult transition to a self-sufficient adulthood.

The Children & Youth Law Clinic (CYLC) is an in-house, live-client clinic that represents children in foster care and former foster youth in dependency, health care, mental health, disability, independent living, education, immigration and other general civil legal matters, ensuring that they have a voice in court proceedings. With legal supervision, approximately 24 second and third year law students each year assume primary responsibility for all aspects of a client's case. Students learn fundamental lawyering skills, substantive law and professional ethics.

We are very grateful for Attorney Latham’s assistance and his commitment to enhance the lives for foster youths in state of Florida.

What does an ABLE United account provide?

An ABLE United account gives Florida families a better way to save and care for their loved ones with disabilities, without losing any benefits.

The eligibility requirements to qualify for an ABLE account are as follows; 1. must be a Florida resident at the time of application, 2. have a qualifying disability with an onset prior to age 26. In regards to a "qualifying disability" they refer to a person with a disability that meets at least one (1) of these criteria:

Government Benefits related to ABLE accounts include saving beyond the $2,000 resource limit for SSI thus allowing saving for the future while simultaneously keeping SSI. ABLE United accounts allow for up to $100,000 and it not counting as a countable resource. It's important to notice that contributions are not considered income -- anyone can contribute up to $15,000 a year (or more under ABLE to Work). Also, there is no federal income tax deductions. Furthermore, housing expenses are not a countable resource for SSI if they are:

Withdrawals retained for Qualified Disability Expenses, other than housing, are not a countable resource for SSI.

Funds in an ABLE United account are disregarded for the purposes of determining Medicaid eligibility. The individual will not lose Medicaid benefits if SSI is suspended due to the ABLE United account balance exceeding $100,000. Unless prohibited by federal law, the Florida Medicaid program may not file a claim for Medicaid recovery of funds in an ABLE account.

So, what qualifies as a disability expense?

If the money in an ABLE United account is spent on one of the following Qualified Disability Expenses, as defined by federal law, the earnings on the money withdrawn are tax-free. In general, Qualified Disability Expenses include, but are not limited to, the following types of expenses: education, housing, transportation, employment training and support, assistive technology and related services, health, prevention and wellness, financial management and administrative services, legal fees, funeral and burial, and basic living expenses.

How Does it Work?

To learn more please visit the ABLE United website.

Earlier this month, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved changes to Florida’s clemency process that restored civil rights to Floridians with felony convictions. No longer do convicted felons have to wait a minimum of five years to apply to have their civil rights restored, reversing a measure imposed by Rick Scott a decade ago. Under the new changes, felons who have completed their sentences need only pay off their court debts to receive automatic restoration of their civil rights. Felons who have not completed all the terms of their sentences may apply for restoration of civil rights with a hearing.

These “returning citizens” will once again be able to vote, serve in a jury, and run for public office. The changes, however, do not apply to those convicted of murder or sex offenses. The decision has been lauded as a first step to addressing Florida’s backlog of clemency requests and mirrors the majority view among voters.

To view the Rules of Executive Clemency please click here.

For more information about the Office of Executive Clemency, including Clemency Board Meeting Dates please click here.

To sign up for a home visit, email HomeboundVaccine@em.myflorida.com.

To find out more, like what documents are required, and to register for the ERA Program please click here.

States have experienced a surge in fraudulent unemployment claims filed by organized crime rings using stolen identities that were accessed or purchased from past data breaches.

Criminals are using these stolen identities to fraudulently collect benefits across multiple states.

How to report it:

To find out more and to view the State Directory for Reporting Unemployment Identity Theft please click here.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Agency for Veterans is doing a workshop that is designed to create your most effective resume. You will complete a draft resume with guidance from trained facilitators, learn how to evaluate your resume and understand job application techniques.

Sign up for this workshop before April 5, 2021 by following this link.

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) continues to issue emergency SNAP (food assistance or food stamp) supplements to many SNAP households to help buy food during the pandemic crisis.

In addition, now the federal government has boosted those allotments by 15% through June 2021.

To view everything you need to know about the new SNAP Benefits please click here.

Seminole County Legal Aid is observing Child Abusive Prevention Month by filing our garden with blue pinwheels which symbolize a happy, healthy childhood.