Working man falls on hard times, bad health before GLSP lawyer helps with pension, food, housing
 Joe Jones had worked at a large bakery for 22 years when his health problems – bi-polar disorder, diabetes, depression and thyroid problems caused by a reaction to medication – became so severe they made it difficult for him to work. The bakery put him on short term disability, which was much less than his pay and lasted only a few weeks. He got behind on his rent and had to leave his apartment.
His disability payments had ended, he was living in his car, had lost his wallet and was out of most of his medications when he came to the local courthouse to see a Georgia Legal Services lawyer at his regular intake day. (He lost his pay-as-you-go cellphone when he buried it outside the courthouse because it wasn’t allowed inside. When he went back to get it, someone had taken it).
GLSP attorney Cole Thaler took the case and over a period of months was able to help Mr. Jones complete all the paperwork to qualify for his employer’s disability pension, untangle the red tape tying up his food stamp application, and locate resources to help pay for his medications. Thaler also referred Mr. Jones to local housing resources which led to a decent place to live. None of these problems involved big money, but they all were high stakes for a proud working man who fell on very hard times because of illnesses. Only with a lawyer’s help was Mr. Jones able to work through all of it and find a home, some income, and better health.
The client’s name has been changed to protect his confidentiality. Image courtesy of imagerymajestic] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
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We are a non-profit law firm serving rural and small town Georgia.
We offer free legal services in civil cases to people who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. We have 11 offices around the state to serve people where they live.
Our clients have “high stakes” problems, such as domestic violence, eviction or foreclosure, denial of hard-earned benefits such as unemployment, inability to get critically needed health care or food aid, and many more.
Our work is to assure that low income people have access to justice and opportunities out of poverty.
When problems occur, we help our clients secure the support they need to get back on their feet — with dignity.
When rights are denied, we help our clients seek redress and have those rights assured.
Watch the GLSP video “Bringing Justice Home”
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