Explaining the Law and Providing Self-Help Information for Low-Income Iowans
There are 50 resources
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FIP Education/Training
Common Legal Terms
(Separate Website)
An online glossary of legal terms from A to W
By: Iowa Judicial Branch
DHS Programs for People Who No Longer Get FIP
The Department of Human Services offers Medicaid and Child Care Assistance programs to help those who no longer get FIP benefits due to increased earnings or child support. The main programs are Transitional Child Care (TCC) and Transitional Medicaid.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
FIP Benefits Update: Ban on Receiving Benefits After 60 Months Starts January 1, 2002
In 1996, Congress made major changes in welfare programs. These changes were a part of welfare reform and Congress changed the nature of welfare. States had to limit the number of months adults may get TANF benefits. In Iowa, TANF benefits are called FIP (Family Investment Program) or welfare benefits. Medicaid (Title XIX), food stamps, general assistance, SSI, and energy assistance are not among welfare benefits subject to the 60-month limit.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Opportunities at Iowa Legal Aid
Employment, Intern and Volunteer Opportunities
Current openings at Iowa Legal Aid
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Other Employment Issues
Questions and Answers About Removing Old Criminal Convictions
An overview of what is included in a criminal history and how information in those records may be changed.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Rights of People With Disabilities
Accommodations for Veterans With Disabilities
Help is available to enable many disabled veterans to live very independently. Legal protections help make this happen. Any veteran with disabilities or person who knows a veteran with disabilities should know about how the law protects these brave people. The law supports their search for decent, affordable housing.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Changes to Iowa Guardianship Law
A 1995 case decided by the Iowa Supreme Court had a major impact on Iowa’s guardianship law.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Common Legal Terms
(Separate Website)
An online glossary of legal terms from A to W
By: Iowa Judicial Branch
Fair Housing–Making New Apartments Accessible to Persons with Disabilities
The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 made a lot of changes in fair housing law. One of the changes dealt with making apartments accessible. When does an apartment have to meet the fair housing accessibility requirements?
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Funding for Individuals With Mental Health Issues or Developmental Disabilities
In Iowa, both the state and the county provide funding for services for people who have developmental disabilities or mental health difficulties. Federal funds are also used to support the services.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Other Formats:
TXT File
Legal Rights of Persons With Disabilities
People with disabilities, including those who use assistive technology, have many rights. Here is just a summary of some areas with special protections of which you should be aware.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
New Rule Helps Iowans With Disabilities Who Owe Back Child Support
A recent rule change will help Iowans with disabilities who owe back child support
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Property Tax Suspension for People Who Get SSI
Many people with a disability own or are buying their homes. They may have a hard time paying their property taxes which become due each year. Under Iowa law, people who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or State Supplemental Assistance (SSA), or live in a health care facility, can get their property taxes suspended.
By: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
Shopping for an Assistive Technology Device
When you need an assistive device, it's a good idea to be sure to get one that works well and does what you need it to do. Learning as much as you can about a device and testing it before you buy can prevent problems. It is worth the time to make sure the device you choose helps gain more independence, better health or a fuller use of your abilities.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Student Loan Disability Discharge
College education is expensive. The average college graduate has $19,000 in student loan debt. This can be hard to repay. It is especially hard to repay for students who become disabled and can’t work. Fortunately, you might have options if you are in this situation.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
The Fair Housing Act and Iowa Civil Rights Act Protect the Housing Rights of Persons with a Mental D
Discrimination against a person with a mental disability is illegal. The federal Fair Housing Act and the Iowa Civil Rights Act require landlords to make exceptions, called “reasonable accommodations,” in rules, policies, practices or services.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
What Duty Does a Landlord Have to Accommodate a Tenant’s Disability?
Anyone may have a hard time finding a rental unit he or she can afford. There is not enough low- and moderate-income housing to meet the need. Persons with disabilities may have even fewer housing choices. Some rental units could become suitable with a few changes. The landlord’s rules or policies might need to change before the tenant could live there. What are a tenant’s rights in such cases?
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Taxes
Beware of New Internet Tax Scam
(Separate Website)
Details on a new scam that lures taxpayers into filing tax information on a site masquerading as a member of the Free File Alliance
By: Internal Revenue Service
Common Mistakes on Tax Returns
(Separate Website)
An alert from the IRS about common mistakes made by individuals while preparing their federal tax returns.
Claim All the Tax Credits You Earned: What the Earned Income Credit Can Do for You at Tax Time!
The Earned Income Credit (EIC) is a federal tax credit for low and moderate income working people. The EIC is available to workers who do not have children living in their homes, as well as working parents. You can get a refund even if you do not owe federal income tax. If you do owe federal income tax, the EIC decreases your federal tax.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Big Refunds! A Bad Thing?
Almost everyone looks forward to a big refund each year. Should they? Probably not! A big refund means that the IRS gets to keep your money without paying you interest.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
I Owe the IRS Money. Now What?
Suppose the IRS sent you a letter a couple of years back indicating that you owed money to the IRS. At the time, you didn’t know what to do and missed the deadline. This year you are entitled to a refund, but the IRS is going to take it. You were going to fix your car or maybe catch up on your utility bills with the refund. Is there anything you can do?
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Tax Relief for Hurricane Katrina Victims
The President has declared many areas to be federal disaster areas because of Hurricane Katrina. There is a special rule for deducting a loss that occurs in a presidentially declared disaster area.
By: Iowa Legal Aid
A Guide for Nonresident Aliens Preparing Federal Income Tax
(Separate Website)
This web site will help you determine if you are required to file a tax return, understand the filing instructions and prepare and file your federal tax return.
Avoiding the Slings and Arrows of Tax Time
During tax season you will hear many businesses offering to help you file your return. The question is, “Do I really want a car dealership, pay day loan store or rental store to complete my tax return?”
By: Iowa Legal Aid
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
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READ THIS BEFORE USING ANY PART OF THE IOWA LEGAL AID WEBSITE (ILAW) If you cannot afford a lawyer and have a legal problem in Iowa, you may be able to get free legal help. Call Iowa Legal Aid. To find out which office serves your county, call 1-800-532-1275 or 515-243-2151 in the Des Moines calling area. If you are age 60 or over, you may be able to get free legal advice from The Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at 1-800-992-8161 or 282-8161 in Des Moines. All numbers are Voice and TTY.
This Website Does NOT Give Legal Advice. When you use ILAW, you are just making a request for information. No part of this site or any link found through this site is meant to give you legal advice. Using any part of this site does not make you a client. If you send an e-mail to anyone you reach through this site, it does not make you a client of any lawyer. See a lawyer to get complete, correct, and up-to-date legal advice.
ILAW Only Has a General Summary of the Law. It is not meant to fully explain topics. Do not assume what you read on ILAW applies to your specific case. Also, the law may vary from state to state. What you find on this website may not apply where you live or to court actions filed in other states.
The Law Often Changes. Content on this site was correct when it was written. Check the date on each page. Do not assume what you see here is still correct when you read it.
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The Iowa Legal Aid Website is a project of Iowa Legal Aid, the Volunteer Lawyer Projects of the Iowa State Bar and Polk County Bar Associations, and HELP Legal Assistance
(Separate Website)
