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Seniors are often vulnerable to different kinds of consumer frauds. A common and less-known type of fraud affecting seniors is Medicare fraud.

During this time we honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.Home to over 1,000,000 Veterans, New Yorkers lead the way in service to our country.  80,000 New York veterans have served or are currently serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, including more than 7,000 members of the New York Army National Guard.

Steven Banks, the new commissioner of New York City’s Human Resources Administration (“H.R.A.”) announced changes that make it easier to receive public assistance. The purpose of these immediate reforms is to remove policies that have harmed welfare recipients in the past, as well as to address unnecessary financial penalties. Changes have been made in the following areas: Adults with no childrenAdults with no children are no longer required to work full-time in order to receive food stamps.

Unemployment Insurance process can be overwhelming and at times frustrating, especially for individuals with limited English proficiency or other barriers.  As a result, there is a new state agency available to help you with your unemployment application.

[caption id="attachment_3802" align="alignleft" width="363"] Credit: Shutterstock[/caption]NYC women have something to celebrate this year!Whether dealing with limited maternity leave and work protections, or threats of being laid-off or fired, it's no secret that expecting mothers do not have an easy time in the US.  Despite the fact that the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act bars employer discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, pregnant workers are often forced out of their jobs or denied accommodations that allow them to keep working.Studies

[caption id="attachment_3242" align="alignleft" width="380"] Photo: Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff[/caption]Mayor de Blasio released his long-awaited report evaluating NYC's Sandy response and detailing his plan to overhaul the Build it Back program.

On March 19, 2014 Mayor de Blasio signed into law a major expansion of the Earned Sick Time Act that was first enacted last spring. Businesses with 5 + employees who are hired to work more than 80 hours a calendar year are now required to provide paid sick days (an increase from the prior law which only covered businesses with 15+ employees). Workers at smaller businesses will accrue unpaid sick time.Employers who have one or more domestic workers who have been employed at least one year and who work more than 80 hours a calendar year must provide paid sick leave.

[caption id="attachment_3242" align="alignleft" width="150"] Photo: Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff[/caption]Reports of problems with insurance companies are surfacing.The Washington Post is reporting that insurance companies are  shortchanging victims of Hurricane Sandy and either not paying or underpaying the claims.The article states, “Many homeowners who got slammed by Hurricane Sandy one year ago are finding that their flood insurance checks are nowhere near large enough to cover their repairs, and consumer advocates put some of the blame on errors by the multitude of adjusters who

From the staff of New York Legal Help and New York LawHelp, we'd like to wish you and your families a healthy, happy, and safe holiday season!Please remember that if you or a family or friend is encountering a legal issue and you reside in New York State,  LiveHelp will available for select days during the Christmas and New Years period.

The City Housing Maintenance Code and Multiple Dwelling Law requires building owners to provide heat and hot water to all tenants.Building owners are required to provide hot water 365 days per year at a constant minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.  Between October 1st and May 31st, a period designated as "Heat Season," building owners are also required to provide tenants with heat under the following conditions: Between the hours of 6am  and 10pm, if the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit.