GA_Cardinal Rules Substantive Law Screening

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GA_Cardinal Rules Substantive Law Screening Powered By Docstoc
Key Facts: Ensure case notes contain key facts, legal issues, and summary of legal
advice and referrals.
Intranet Resources:
                go to Document Bank
                click on Staff Shares
                click on Senior Hotline
                click on substantive law file
                click on document
Resources: hardcopy resources and on-line resources
Bankruptcy / Debt Collection
    List debts (can use general categories, i.e. credit card debt of $30,000, medical
       bills of $50,000). Co-debtors?
    Has client been served with lawsuit? Ask for Plaintiff, court, date of service, date
       answer due.
    Does client admit to owing the debt? If not, send FDCPA letter and FCRA letter.
    When did client default on debts? Statute of Limitations for collection on credit
       card debts is 6 years from date of default; default date is typically one month after
       client’s last payment.
    Are collection agencies calling and harassing? Send FDCPA letter.
    List client (and co-debtors) sources of income. Garnishable? (See
    List client (and co-debtors) assets. House and car.
    If client has house, does client have mortgage? Is client behind on mortgage?
       How much equity? Re-finance? When? ARM? Check for predatory mortgage
       red flags.

         “Answer how to write” and “Answer and certificate of service”
        “Bankruptcy, letter to client” and “Bankruptcy education pamphlet from
        State Bar”
        “Student Loans and Bankruptcy”
        FDCPA letters
        FCRA letters
        Garnishment Outline 2007
Resources: NCLC Manuals
Benefits (VA, food stamps, SS, SSI, Etc)

      Did Agency send written notice of adverse action (denying, terminating, reducing
      What is the date of the notice?
      What exactly did the notice say? (ask client to read you the notice; if client
       doesn’t have the notice, document this in the case notes)
      What is the appeal deadline?

Shared documents:
        “VA wavier”
Resources: Agency websites have forms, summary of policy
If your client receives Social Security or Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) benefits and is applying for [public] assistance, they can get proof
of their benefit quickly and easily by going to Just
look in the left column under "What you can do online," expand the "If you
get benefits" section, and select the "Request a Proof of Income letter"
link. apply for food stamps on-line (the on-line eligibility calculator is
not good)
Domestic Violence
Did client seek a TPO?
Did client call the police?
Does abuser have access to client’s house?
Look up victim witness programs/domestic violence organizations in client’s county.
When was bank served?
Are funds exempt?
If funds are exempt and frozen, call Bank and AP’s attorney to seek
Are non-exempt funds greater than 30 times the Federal min wage ( $7.25 per hour).
Self-help with traverse and/or refer to ELAP

Shared documents:
“Garnishment Outline 2007” (with 2009 minimum wage inserted)
Identity Theft/Unauthorized ATM and Credit Card Use

Security freeze with credit bureaus
FTC affidavit
Shared documents:
“Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003”

Kinship Care (grandparents raising grandchildren)
Entering Intake Information for Relative Caregiver Intakes
   1. The biological parents are the adverse parties. Always get their names, birthdates
       (even if it is a guess), and address(es).
   2. If the client is married, the spouse must be listed in the “Family” section. Click
       “yes” to make the spouse a non-adverse party.
   3. The children: need all names and birthdates of all children in the household. Be
       as accurate as possible in listing the relationship between the client and the child.
       Do not put “child” unless the child actually is the client’s biological (or already
       adopted) child. Put other if nothing else works.
   4. Income Limit: Accept up to 200% of the federal poverty level.
   5. Income: If the client is receiving Social Security benefits, be very specific about
       who is receiving the benefits and what type of benefits they are (ie. SSI,
       Survivor’s, disability, etc.).
Key Screening Questions
   1. What is the caller’s relationship to the child(ren) (grandparent, aunt, etc.)?
   2. Does caller have a legal relationship to child(ren) in his/her care? If so, what type
       and through what court?
   3. How long has caller had the child(ren)?
   4. How often do the parents contact the child(ren) (visits, phone calls, letters,
       money, gifts)?
   5. Has the child(ren) ever been in DFCS custody? What, if any, involvement from
   6. If caller is calling for guardianship, custody, or adoption, why do they want to do
       this now?
   7. Determine caller’s source(s) of income. If client is receiving Social Security
       benefits, be very specific about who is receiving them and what type of benefits
       they are (i.e., SSI, RSDI, Survivor’s, etc.).
   8. Based on client answer to # 7, determine if family is receiving all the benefits to
       which they are entitled.
   9. Discuss with caller the potential impact of a particular legal relationship on the

Private or government subsidized (subsidized housing includes a wide range of programs:
traditional public housing, Section 8 voucher, Section 8 project based, tax credit).
To determine if housing is tax credit, go to
Bookmark this GREAT website:
AgeWise Connection's online Benefits Navigation Center has information and resources
relating to insurance, Medicare benefits and managing personal health information. The
online Benefits Navigation Center, a program of the Atlanta Regional Commission Area
Agency on Aging, provides:
.     Help in navigating the Medicare system
.     Information on prescription assistance programs
.   Long-term care resources
Mortgage Issues       USE SCREENING GUIDE
             (1) Has client received certified letter from lender with foreclosure date?
             (2) Complete the HL intake form
             (3) If no predatory mortgage red flags, think about referring for housing
    Check to see if client is eligible for either a loan modification or refinancing under
      the 2009 federal program established by President Obama (program began March
      4, 2009)
      The website has a worksheet to help determine eligibility.

       Reverse Mortgage Scams
             SCLP priorities: (1) Client moved out of subsidized housing.
                              (2)Client paid high fee (over $500)

Resources: Hotline intake and screening guide

ERISA, 29 USC 1027): Plan administrator should have “Individual benefit Statement”
and “Summary Plan Description” and is required by law to provide to client. If client
cannot find the plan administrator, refer client to Employee Benefits Security
Administration, 1-866-444-EBSA,

Social Security keeps a database of individuals who have been identified by
the Internal Revenue Service as having qualified for pension benefits under
private retirement plans. This database is maintained by SSA under the 1974
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) which was enacted to protect
the pension benefit right of workers.

Under the provisions of ERISA, SSA notifies claimants applying for Social
Security benefits of any information SSA has on file about their vested
pension benefits or those of the deceased number holder. Also under the
provisions of ERISA, SSA can provide, upon request, any information there is
on file about a person's vested pension benefits.

To request information on a private retirement plans, send a written request
to: OCO Office of Earnings Operations
Attention: ERISA Correspondence Group
P.O. Box 33007
Baltimore, MD 21290-3307

In your request, you should include the following information on yourself or
the deceased number holder:
   *Social Security Number, name, date of birth, parents' names, and
   *Name of pension plan and month and year that you or the number holder
terminated employment covered by the plan;
   *The Privacy Act penalty statement: “I certify that I am the person to
to $5,000”; and
   * Name and address of person who is to be sent the information.

Pro Se Plaintiffs/Filing in Magistrate Court
    Advise client on who and how to serve. Look up corporation Secretary of State
       database and give the client the registered agent's name and address. If AP
       company is not listed on the SOS website, advised client to sue the owner
       directly. She didn't have owner’s full name, advised her to call City or County
       business license office and get the owner's full name and address.
    Tell client what type of evidence she’ll need to prove case; advise re: subpoenas.

    Spouse died. When? If less than 2 years ago, then see if Year’s Support is a good
    List estate assets. Were assets owned as Joint Tenants with Rt of Survivorship.

Public and Subsidized Housing
    Tenant has right to appeal any adverse decision (ex. rent increase, lease
    Housing authority/management company has duty to give tenant notice of
       administrative appeal rights.
    Ask when client received notice?
       doesn’t have the notice, document this in the case notes)

LL/TT Outline located in HL office

Repossession, of Car

      Did AP send certified notice of the date and location of the auction?
      Did AP send notice after the sale? Did notice give sale info?
Used Car Manual located in HL office

QIT/Nursing Home Medicaid
Who is POA?
What is client’s income? Assets, including life insurance
When does client need benefits to start?
QIT. Determine the date by which QIT must be established.
    In Metro Atlanta, refer to Troutman Sanders. POA must fax us POA; check that
       POA is legally sufficient; fax intake, POA, and cover sheet to T/S. Do not close
       case. Manager will close case once T/S executes the trust.
    Outside Metro Atlanta, refer to ELAP.
Will Medicaid cover Medicare co-pays incurred prior to application for Medicaid?
Answer is yes. Submit NH bill to DFCS upon application as an incurred medical expense
(“IME”). There is an IME form in the appendix of the MAO manual.

Staff Shares: “Generic QIT letter;” “Generic QIT Instructions to the Bank;”
“Fax QIT to T/S” ; “Burial Exclusion Summary”

Resources: Medicaid Manual.
Wills, drafting
    What are the client’s goals in drafting a will? Does client have assets to
       bequeath? If not, does client still want a will so he can name someone to
       take care of his burial.
    If no pro bono referral sources,
        (1) find out what he wants to accomplish by drafting a will;
        (2) draft a short list of his wishes;
        (3) mail this list with an explanation of witness and notary requirements under
            Georgia law and a Self-Proving Will Affidavit

Resources: “Details of my Final Arrangements” brochure; “Do I Need a Will” brochure.

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