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Elder Law Project and Medicare Advocacy Project

Vermont Legal Aid’s Elder Law Project (ELP) focuses on the legal issues of Vermonters aged 60 and up. Through the ELP and the Medicare Advocacy Project (MAP), we provide advice, advocacy and full representation.

The ELP helps seniors with:

  • housing problems
  • state and federal benefits like unemployment benefits
  • Social Security
  • 3SquaresVT food help
  • long-term Medicaid planning
  • elder abuse, and
  • financial exploitation and neglect.

We testify before the Vermont legislature about policy decisions that impact elders’ dignity, safety and individual rights.

The MAP represents Vermonters who get both Medicare and Medicaid. We appeal if Medicare won’t pay for:

  • home health services
  • durable medical equipment
  • nursing care, and
  • prescription drug coverage.

MAP helps improve the lives of thousands of seniors by bringing lawsuits to ensure Medicare pays for their care.

Vermont Legal Aid has developed information on many legal topics that affect seniors. Access information for seniors on our VTLawHelp.org website.

More information
VLA Elder Law Project Brochure
Seniors section of VTLawHelp.org website
Sign up for the monthly legal clinic for seniors by phone
Graphic of green mountains

VLA Staff Stories

Our VLA elder law attorneys

Our elder law attorneys help seniors like Jeffery protect their rights and benefits.

A senior named Jeffery lost his job during the pandemic. He applied for unemployment, but his application was not processed for two months. The state then told him he was not eligible.

After spending almost a year trying to appeal the decision with no income, he called VLA. We found that Jeffrey didn’t get proper notice from the state. We petitioned for a new hearing and got one. Jeffrey was found eligible and got more than $10,000 in back benefits.

To protect anonymity and confidentiality, some names and details in these stories have been changed.

More VLA Staff Stories