Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy seeks to ensure that low-income children, seniors, people living with disabilities, immigrants and their families have fair access to vital health care and public services. We promote economic security, mobility and opportunity to end the cycle of poverty, empowering families to build wealth and prepare for the future.
The economic security and well-being of many families is contingent on their access to services and benefits that supplement health, food and income. For some, including people with disabilities, seniors and non-English speakers, obstacles can hinder their access to these critical services and benefits.
Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy fights for access to the resources that low-income people need to protect economic stability and advocates for policies that promote economic mobility.
Our work to support income security for our clients includes these areas:
- Medicaid estate recovery
- Social Security
- Supplemental Security Income
- Work First Family Assistance
- Food Stamps (SNAP)
- Home and community services
- Developmental disability services
Our services focus on:
- Accessing quality health care for children and their parents in low- and moderate-income families through Medicaid and implementation of health reform
- Improving health care and income support for seniors and people living with disabilities, with a focus on issues involving Social Security, SSI, Medicaid and Medicare, and on improving mental health and developmental disability services, access to in-home services, care in nursing and rest homes, access to community-based care, and managed care
Case work
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Food security
- Quality nursing and rest home care
- Behavioral health services
- Mental health services
- Health care access and health insurance
- Home and community services
- Developmental disability services
Systemic advocacy and community outreach
Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy represents individuals and families who contact us for assistance. We utilize systemic advocacy strategies to change the rules, procedures and practices of federal and state agencies to ensure access to health care and public services for all people. We maintain a strong collaborative relationship with local and state agencies.
Technical assistance
Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy assists legal services firms and other advocates throughout the state. We provide ongoing training, individual assistance and
Eligibility
Our health and income security program focuses on the representation of Mecklenburg County residents who earn less than 200% of the federal poverty standard, but we also accept residents in Union and Cabarrus Counties in the priority areas above – to the extent resources permit and Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy is the most appropriate legal representative.
During 2025, the Health and Income Support Team:
- Assisted over 600 families
- Retained a value of $16,294,910 in benefits for our clients
Get Help
Call 704-376-1600
(select option 2, public benefits)
or
NCMedHelp
NCMedHelp supports people with Medicaid as they navigate the often complicated health care system. Our knowledgeable Health Benefits Resolution Specialists (former NC Medicaid Ombudsman staff) work one‑on‑one with beneficiaries to overcome barriers to Medicaid services and medications – including assistance in filing complaints or appeals, resolving system errors, and connecting to helpful community resources. Access our NCMedHelp one-pager (in both English and Spanish) here. For more information, check out NCMedHelp.org. If you have questions or are interested in a tailored presentation for your staff or clients about Medicaid and NCMedHelp, please email us at ncmedhelp@charlottelegaladvocacy.org.
Additional Resources
Apply for benefits and services online: https://epass.nc.gov
Public Charge: What Families Need to Know
Immigrant Access to Health Insurance & Nutrition Programs
Inmigrantes: Seguro de Salud y Programas de Alimentacion
CLASP Presentation: Immigrant Access to Health Care in N.C.
Health Insurance Options for Immigrant Families
Seguro Medico para Familias Inmigrantes
North Carolina Health Insurance Eligibility for Immigrants (Sept. 2025)
Latest News, Stories and Updates:
- A $1,000,000 Outcome for JerryWhen Jerry’s* mother passed away in April 2025, he and his brother were grieving her loss while also trying to manage the many responsibilities that come with the passing of a loved one. A few months later, Jerry received a letter that left him stunned. NC Medicaid informed him that because his mother had received… Read more: A $1,000,000 Outcome for Jerry
- “This was a lifesaver for my son”For more than a decade, Medicaid has been a lifeline for John. After being diagnosed with hypermobility, he endured years of intense joint pain while working with his doctors to find a medication that could ease his suffering without causing harmful psychological side effects. When he finally found a drug that worked, it transformed his… Read more: “This was a lifesaver for my son”
- Client Testimonial“I had a frustrating experience recently where the insurance marketplace thought I was Medicaid eligible despite that not being the case. I made numerous calls and spent hours on the phone trying to resolve this to no avail. The process to undo this was maddening. I was referred to your agency, and luckily was assigned… Read more: Client Testimonial
- SNAP Benefits UpdateNote: At the time of posting this (Thursday, Nov. 6), it is believed that SNAP beneficiaries, nearly 1.4 million North Carolinians, will receive a reduction in benefits for November that may vary depending on the amount usually received. The timing for the partial benefits to be loaded on EBT cards remains uncertain, but payments may… Read more: SNAP Benefits Update
- Periodo de inscripción abierta. Preguntas frecuentes.¿Cuándo es el Período de Inscripción Abierta para el Mercado de Seguros Médicos? El Período de Inscripción Abierta para el Mercado de Seguros Médicos (Healthcare.gov) es del 1 de noviembre de 2025 al 15 de enero de 2026. ¿Todavía hay una multa por no tener seguro médico? Desde el 1 de enero de 2019, ya… Read more: Periodo de inscripción abierta. Preguntas frecuentes.
