Work and legal help
Free legal help, ombudsman and elder abuse reports
Every state has Older Americans Act legal programs that help people 60 and older with problems like benefits, housing and eviction, guardianship, scams and abuse, with no fee. Every state also has a long-term care ombudsman, who takes complaints from people in nursing homes and assisted living, and Adult Protective Services, which responds to reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Who may qualify
| Age for Older Americans Act legal help | 60 or older Source: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives) (source 5) |
|---|---|
| Income test for Older Americans Act legal help | None. Programs can't charge you a fee or use your income or savings to turn you away Source: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives) (source 5) |
| Who comes first | Older people with economic or social needs |
| Long-term care ombudsman | People living in nursing homes, assisted living, board and care homes and similar places, and anyone acting on their behalf |
| Adult Protective Services | Older adults and adults with disabilities facing abuse, neglect, self-neglect or financial exploitation |
What you may get
| Legal help with | Social Security, SSI, Medicare, Medicaid and veterans benefits; advance directives; guardianship; housing, foreclosure and eviction; scams, financial exploitation and elder abuse |
|---|---|
| What an ombudsman does | Looks into and works to resolve complaints about residents' health, safety, welfare and rights, and gives residents information |
| What Adult Protective Services does | Takes and responds to reports of abuse, neglect, self-neglect and financial exploitation |
Good to know
- If someone is in danger right now, call 911.
- To report fraud against anyone 60 or older, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 (1-833-FRAUD-11), Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern.
- To find legal help, your ombudsman or Adult Protective Services near you, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or visit eldercare.acl.gov.
- Legal aid offices funded by the Legal Services Corporation help people with low incomes with civil legal problems. You can search for one near you on lsc.gov.
- Adult Protective Services is run by state and local governments, so how you make a report depends on where you live.
Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Elder Justice Initiative (source 6), U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (source 7), Administration for Community Living (source 8), Legal Services Corporation (source 9)
What people get wrong
MythI can't afford a lawyer, so I can't get legal help.
Not true. Older Americans Act legal programs can't charge you a fee or turn you away because of your income or savings.
Sources
- Administration for Community Living, Legal help (legal assistance and elder rights programs) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Administration for Community Living, Legal Services for the Elderly Program (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Administration for Community Living, Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Administration for Community Living, Supporting Adult Protective Services (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives), 45 CFR Part 1321: Grants to State and Community Programs on Aging (sections 1321.3, 1321.9 and 1321.81) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Justice, Elder Justice Initiative, Find help or report abuse (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, National Elder Fraud Hotline (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Administration for Community Living, Eldercare Locator (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Legal Services Corporation, I need legal help (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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