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ROD´S STORY Health Legal Services (HLS) helped an HIV-positive client with a complicated government benefits issue relating to his attempts to return to work. Due to the cyclical nature of HIV disease, the client was unable to sustain work for longer than a few months at a time and had to depend on his Social Security disability benefits to meet his basic needs. The client was wrongfully charged a large overpayment and his benefits were terminated. HLS advocated for the client�s reinstatement and negotiated a significant reduction to the overpayment with a $10 monthly payment plan.

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Health Legal Services: What's New

On August 4, 2010, Hilary Armstrong, Supervising Attorney at Health Legal Services, was honored by The Health Trust AIDS Services for all of the support she has given to help community members living with HIV/AIDS. In recognition of her work, Hilary was selected to receive the Second Annual HIV/AIDS Heroes Award! The award was presented to Hilary at an awards ceremony held before a special showing of the musical Rent at City Lights Theater in San Jose. Hilary has been an attorney at Health Legal Services, formerly AIDS Legal Services, for five years, where she has served hundreds of low income individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Hilary also serves on the Santa Clara County HIV Planning Council and works on larger policy issues with community partners like The Health Trust AIDS Services.

On March 11, 2009, the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley and the Diabetes Center at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center officially launched a new program to serve the legal needs of low-income residents who live with diabetes. Called The Diabetes Law Collaborative at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (DLC), this is the first program in the country dedicated to providing legal services to individuals living with diabetes through a medical-legal partnership model.

Since opening in March, the program has already assisted over forty clients with issues ranging from wrongful termination from employment to Medi-Cal eligibility to a housing evictions.

The DLC provides free legal assistance to eligible clients in the following areas:

Public and Private Benefits, including health, income and disability benefits
Employment Rights
Housing Rights
Discrimination
Consumer Law/Debtor Relief
Estate Planning and Wills

Through the Diabetes Law Collaborative, medical staff can refer patients for legal consultation. Patients can also self-refer to the program by calling the Collaborative intake line at (408) 280-2476. Services provided are free and confidential.