2025 Poverty Law Conference: Full Schedule

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9:00am CDT

Benefits 101: A Practical Guide to Assessing Basic Client Eligibility

Thursday August 28, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

A practical guide to assessing BASIC client eligibility for food stamps, TANF, SSI, RSDI, Medicaid, Medicare, MSP Medicaid, CHIP, other health benefits, Unemployment, and housing benefits.

Speakers

Jeff Larsen

attorney, Lone Star Legal Aid

woodworking, traditional music and singing in parts, Shakespeare, Social Security

Gloretta Thornton

Paralegal Supervisor, Lone Star Legal Aid

I have been with Lone Star Legal Aid for 49 years and I have been in the Public Benefits Unit in the Houston office all of that time. I truly enjoy helping people and my work with LSLA allows me to do that. I am the mother of 2, the grandmother of 4, and the great grandmother... Read More →

Kim Brown

Lone Star Legal Aid

Thursday August 28, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Room 408 500 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78701

Benefits

10:15am CDT

A Lawyer's Guide to Children’s Medicaid and Managed Care

Thursday August 28, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Room 408

Healthcare access plays an important role in a child’s over all wellbeing. Children who lack access to healthcare will have increased risk of poor health outcomes, developmental delays, and impact to their education. Programs like Children’s Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program also known as CHIP play such a huge role in ensuring that eligible children have access to proper healthcare coverage which leads to better developmental outcomes for their wellbeing. Furthermore, Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are responsible for approving or denying medical claims for Children Medicaid recipients and can potentially be a barrier to a child's access to medically necessary services. In this presentation we will discuss Children's Medicaid and CHIP eligibility requirements, and what advocates can do if an eligible child has been wrongfully denied for these benefits. Advocates will also learn how access to these benefits for low-income families is vital to a child's ability to have positive health outcomes and development into healthy young adults. Our panelists will discuss the importance of Managed Care's role in a child's ability to access medical services after a determination of eligibility, and what advocates can do ensure MCOs are not a barrier to an eligible child's access to medically necessary health services.

Speakers

Elizabeth Green

Staff Attorney, Lone Star Legal Aid

Elizabeth Green is a Staff Attorney at Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) located in Houston, Texas. Elizabeth joined Lone Star legal Aid, which provides free legal assistance for low-income individuals dealing with civil law issues throughout the state of Texas about a year ago. Lone Star... Read More →

Cristina Palacios

Paralegal, Lone Star Legal Aid

Thursday August 28, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Room 408 500 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78701

Benefits

1:00pm CDT

Social Security Appeals Process

Thursday August 28, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Room 408

This session is intended for both new and seasoned advocates. It will focus on the differences in the appeal process when a person's application for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration is denied versus when a recipient of SSA disability benefits receives a notice of SSA determination of medical cessation of disability (termination of benefits). The session will also address the specific ethical obligations of advocates while providing representation of clients before the Social Security Administration, as well as general ethical considerations for legal advocates in Texas will also be addressed.

Speakers

Renee Trevino

Public Benefits Group Coordinator, TRLA

Ms. Treviño practices law in the San Antonio, Texas office of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. (TRLA). She is a legal advocate for low-income Texans and Group Coordinator of the TRLA Public Benefits Group which consists of four teams including the Public Benefits Team, Health Law... Read More →

Thursday August 28, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 408 500 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78701

Benefits

2:15pm CDT

Addressing SNAP Overpayments and Intentional Program Violations in Texas: Legal and Practical Perspectives

Thursday August 28, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT

Room 408

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides critical assistance to individuals and families facing food insecurity in Texas. However, overpayments and intentional program violations (IPVs) are common issues that affect both recipients and administrators of the program. This session will provide an overview of the legal landscape surrounding SNAP overpayments and IPVs, focusing on Texas-specific regulations and practices. We will examine the causes and implications of SNAP overpayments, the process for identifying and addressing IPVs, and the rights of recipients facing potential disqualification or penalties. Participants will learn about best practices for advocating on behalf of clients affected by SNAP overpayments and how to navigate legal remedies and administrative hearings. The session will include real-world case studies and interactive discussions to help attendees understand both the legal frameworks and the practical challenges involved in defending clients against overpayment charges and accusations of intentional program violations.

Speakers

Marty Orozco

Litigation Director for Public Benefits & Outreach, Lone Star Legal Aid

Tobenna Okezie

Lone Star Legal Aid

Tunrayo Lumpkin

Staff Attorney, Lone Star Legal Aid

Thursday August 28, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm CDT
Room 408 500 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78701

Benefits

3:30pm CDT

Legal Issues Regarding Mixed Immigration Status Families: Meeting Basic Needs with Public Benefits and Services

Thursday August 28, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT

Room 408

Families are having to choose between meeting their basic needs of food, shelter, and family and the fear of losing everything. It is our job to know the law and how to help them maneuver these obstacles. Melissa and I are going to focus on the two overlapping legal specialization areas that are affecting mixed immigration status families. Families are already having to make very hard choices about meeting their basic needs and applying for benefits for eligible family members and avoiding immigration consequences for family members who are not applying for benefits or not eligible for benefits. In the last Trump administration there were proposed changes to the Public Charge rule that were not finalized that would have affected mixed status families. Many of us are watching to see if the administration or Congress will attempt to make changes that will affect eligible persons based on non-eligible persons in their households. This is extremely important for our client populations as many families eligible for our services live in mixed immigration status households or multi-generational households with needs that vary by generation.

Speakers