Coronavirus Updates

The Legal Services Center building is currently closed to the public, and our attorneys and staff are working remotely. Please do not come to our building.

If you are an existing client of LSC, your attorney will contact you to let you know how to reach them by phone or email with any questions or for updates on your case. For other questions, please call us at 617-522-3003.

If you are not a current client and are seeking legal help, you can call us at 617-522-3003 and leave a message. We will do our best to respond to messages but cannot guarantee a response or that we will be able to provide legal advice or representation.

Latest COVID-19 News and Resources

MBTA expands RIDE service to personal-care attendants for disabled people who have RIDE accounts – Universal Hub, April 24

Information on Pandemic EBT (food stamp) benefits

What to do when the bills keep coming but you’re out of work and can’t pay them – The Boston Globe, 4/21/20
Practical advice about credit card payments, auto loans, utility bills, etc.

Government Updates

City of Boston Coronavirus Updates – Information on relief funds, virus testing, food resources, resources for people with disabilities, and more.

The City of Boston has a free texting service to provide daily updates and information about the coronavirus. Text BOSCOVID to 99411 to opt-in for English. Text BOSEspanol for Spanish; BOSKreyol for Haitian Kreyol; BOSFrancais for French; BOSKriolu for Cabo Verdean Creole; BOSPortugues for Portuguese. Updates in 10 total languages can additionally be accessed through boston.gov/coronavirus#multilingual-help.

Mass Health Connector extends open enrollment deadline to May 25

Office of the Attorney General – Resources on topics including workers’ rights, earned sick time, health care and insurance, child care, protecting yourself from scams, and student loans, among others.

Legal Resources

Mass Legal Help – Self-help legal information on various topics.

Legal Resource Finder – Find out if your are eligible for legal services, and get contact info for a legal services program in your area.

Massachusetts Legal Answers Online – Ask a volunteer attorney a specific question about your civil legal issue.

Employment / Unemployment

The Massachusetts Department of Labor is hosting daily virtual town halls (including some in Spanish) to help residents who have applied for unemployment assistance. Learn more and sign up here.

Independent contractors, the self-employed, and ‘gig’ workers can now apply for state unemployment benefits – The Boston Globe, 4/20/20
“Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to individuals who are unable to work because of a COVID-19-related reason but are not eligible for regular or extended unemployment benefits.” Instructions on how to apply are available here.

Financial Assistance

One Chelsea Fund– for residents of Chelsea affected by the pandemic.

“Restaurant Strong” Fund – provides $1,000 grants to unemployed restaurant and bar staffers in 20 states, including Massachusetts.

Mass Jobs with Justice Workers Funds – links and information about various worker-focused relief funds in Massachusetts.

City of Cambridge Disaster Relief Fund – for Cambridge residents affected by the pandemic.

COVID-19 Relief Coalition – helps small businesses and nonprofits in the Greater Boston area access emergency loans and other sources of relief.

Resources for Veterans

Attention low-income Massachusetts veterans: you may be eligible for financial assistance to pay for rent, utilities, and other expenses. Visit MassVetBen.Org to find out if you are eligible.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) has established a relief fund for service-connected disabled veterans who have lost employment as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes veterans who are self-employed as contractors or small business owners.