The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County's Elder & Disability Rights Program offers legal advice, advocacy, and representation in the following areas:

• Government benefits including Social Security, SSI, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAP)

• Elder abuse

• Consumer law and debt collection

• Simple wills

• Guardianships for seniors caring for young children

• Advance health care directives, so that individuals can appoint caregivers with power of attorney to make health care decisions on their behalf.

Seniors have unique needs, as it relates to healthcare, public benefits, and life planning.  For example, this group is often the target of abuse, ranging from financial scams to physical abuse.  According to San Mateo County’s Aging and Adult Services, only 1 in 6 cases of elder abuse is reported.

In-home appointments are available to homebound persons.  For Tip Sheets on a variety of issues facing seniors, please visit our Resources for Seniors page.

The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County's Clients’ Rights Advocate Program provides legal services to adults with disabilities in San Mateo County.  The program focuses on issues of eligibility, due process rights, and access to public services and benefits.  Legal Aid helps with legal issues involving:

• Access to mental health care

• Americans with Disabilities Act

• Government benefits

• Medical bills

• Accommodation requests

• Transit and paratransit

For more information on Legal Aid's Elder & Disability Rights Program or Clients’ Rights Advocate Program please call: (650) 558-0915. 

Legal Aid would like to thank San Mateo County Aging & Adult Services, and individual donors for their funding support of the Elder Rights & Disability Program and the Client’s Rights Advocate Program.