Although our physical offices are closed we remain open for business remotely.

If you need assistance from the Criminal Defense Practice or Juvenile Rights Practice continue to call our main number 212-577-3300. Indicate you need legal assistance and your call will be forwarded to an operator who will assist you.

If you need assistance from our Civil Practice call the neighborhood office in your borough:

Bronx: 718-991-4758​
Brooklyn: 718-722-3100
Manhattan: 212-426-3000
Queens: 718-286-2450
Staten Island: 347-422-5333

The Access to Benefits (A2B) Helpline 888-663-6880 will be open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Interpreters are available for all languages.

A2B staff can assist NYC residents with:

• HRA public assistance
• Employment and unemployment benefits matters
• Issues related to Medicaid/health law
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Disability and other benefits and issues related to COVID-19

Some court proceedings remain virtual while others have resumed in-person, please consult with your attorney if you have questions about an upcoming appearance.

Visitors (including parties, attorneys, witnesses, spectators, law enforcement officers, prisoners, vendors, and all other non-UCS personnel) to any Court System facility house will be required to submit to temperature screening and questioning upon entry into the Courthouse and prior to magnetometer and x-ray security screening. For more information click here.

• Criminal court has returned to normal in-person operation including all arraignments.
• Judges do have discretion as to virtual appearance options in some cases.
• Please consult with your attorney if you have questions regarding an upcoming appearance.

• Family Court now hears all cases in each borough court, sometimes in person and most of the time virtually.
  • This includes child protective, custody, visitation, family offense, juvenile delinquency, and persons in need of supervision cases.
• All child protective cases are being done virtually and all participants appear by phone or computer unless the judge has ordered a participant to appear in person at the courthouse.
• Delinquency cases are done either in-person or virtually depending on the circumstances of each case. Youth who are arrested and held by the police, whether for a warrant or an alleged act of juvenile delinquency, will be brought to the local Family Court to see the judge in-person with their attorney (for arrests made after 3 pm or on a weekend, consult Family Court FAQ using the link below).
• To get information about how to contact your attorney, social worker, or paralegal, to find out what is happening with your or a family member’s newly filed or ongoing case, and to learn how to get access to Family Court by phone or online, read our full Family Court FAQ.

• Because the statewide COVID-19 public health crisis continues, for now, you do not have to go to Housing Court in-person to answer court papers. For information about how to answer electronically or over the phone click here. For information about how to appear for your court date remotely, please check the notice about your court appearance or call the numbers listed here.
• If you are served with a notice or court papers, you can call 311 to access the COVID Housing Helpline and speak with a legal services provider for more information and to request legal representation.

• Courthouse updates:
  • Varick Street is open for filings and hearings.
  • 290 Broadway is open only for filings.
  • 26 Federal Plaza is open for filings and detained hearings.
• Non-detained removal defense cases have resumed as of July 6, 2021.
• All New York immigration court cases are proceeding by video teleconference or in person, depending on the individual Immigration Judge. Check the court’s website for any standing orders. For both detained and non-detained cases, you can call the immigration court’s automated system at 800-898-7180 and enter your 9-digit alien registration number (“A number”) to find out if your case has been rescheduled.
• ICE check-ins are generally being done by phone for now. Individuals can call ICE at 212-264-4213 to see when their next check-in date will be. Also, the NYC Field Office is not accepting bond payments at this time. In the meantime, the Newark Field Office is open for bond payments.
• USCIS interviews and appointments resumed on June 15, 2020. 
• USCIS has expressed its intention to be flexible with the deadlines for certain submissions. This flexibility applies to Requests for Evidence (RFE), Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOID), Notices of Intent to Revoke (NOIR), Notices of Intent to Rescind and Notices of Intent to Terminate. This flexibility applies to the documents listed above if the issuance date listed on the request, notice, or decision is between March 1, 2020 and March 22, 2022. USCIS will consider a response to a request or notice listed above received within 60 calendar days after the response due date set in the request or notice before taking action. Additionally, USCIS will consider a Form N-336 or Form I-290B received up to 90 calendar days from the date of the decision before it takes any action.
• For Form I-765 applications to renew employment authorization (work permits), USCIS may reuse prior biometrics, so applicants might not need to appear for fingerprinting.

• The court is open for virtual (Microsoft Teams or telephonic) appearances. If you receive a call or an email from the court, you can tell them if you want this type of appearance, or to adjourn the matter. The court will decide the next step.
• The Court is accepting new cases, either electronically or by mail.
• Litigants should review the revised pandemic Part Rules of the judge in their case. Many judges now require separate requests for oral arguments on motions, without which motions will be heard on submission.
• All Temporary Orders of Protection are continued until the next court date. If you have any questions, contact your attorney.
• Emergency applications in divorce matters, such as violations of custody/visitation orders, or support orders will be heard.
• Non-emergency applications, and requests to go before a judge can be filed, either electronically or by mail. If you cannot e-mail or mail, some courts may allow you to walk in.
• Regular and emergency motions and applications will be heard.
• All preliminary conferences will be issued by the court with no appearance required. Parties are required to confer and submit proposed compliance conference order, but no appearances are required for compliance conference scheduled dates, unless required by the court.
• Emergency applications in Guardianship Matters will be heard.

• The court is open for new consumer debt case filings, and answers can be filed in-person, over the phone, or by mail. The clerk will serve the answer if you provide it over the phone to the clerk. Otherwise, you should serve a copy of the answer on plaintiff or plaintiff’s law firm, complete and file an affidavit of service, file it with the original answer, and hold onto a copy of both. 
• ​Consumer debt matters ​are now being heard through virtual (Microsoft Teams) appearances. If you are unable to appear remotely, inform the court and they will arrange for you to appear either in-person or at kiosk computers located at the courthouse. ​
• The court will notify you of the next court date by mail, or by email if you previously provided the court with your email address. If you receive a notice of court date in the mail,​ or Microsoft Teams link by email, please contact the court clerk for guidance on how to appear and to inform if you are unable to appear.
• All non-emergency motions papers, stipulations, affidavits of service, and some other documents may be electronically filed through the Electronic Document Delivery System (“EDDS”). ​All emergency and non-emergency motions may be filed by email to the court. Yet, litigants must still serve papers by mail.
• The court has generally been adjourning court appearances where a party fails to appear, but will grant default judgment to plaintiff if you fail to appear after multiple adjournments.
• If you are unrepresented, and receive an email from the court or the adversary in your case, you should respond, even if it is to state that you are not able to proceed.

The ERAP application portal has reopened. All eligible tenants should apply. Click here to begin the application.

Although no federal money is currently available for NYS ERAP, more funding may become available in the Spring, so tenants should still apply. While an application for ERAP is pending eviction proceedings cannot move forward.

For more information on applying for ERAP click here.

• New York State’s eviction moratorium has expired. 
• DO NOT self-evict. A legal proceeding must be brought against you to remove you from your home.
• In New York City you have the right to an attorney in housing court, to get an attorney call 311.
• New York State’s Emergency Rent relief portal has reopened. All eligible residents of New York State should apply immediately. While an application is being processed eviction proceedings cannot move forward. For more information on how to apply click here.

• The Legal Aid Society is continuing to assist homeowners facing foreclosure and related issues. Call our helplines: ​Bronx: 646-340-1908 Queens: 718-298-8979.

• The eviction moratorium expired on January 15, 2022. NYCHA will only pursue non-payment eviction proceedings in cases where the rent due is extremely high, excluding cases where seniors are the head of household or where the household has applied for the State’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).
• NYCHA has resumed administrative termination cases. Tenants with new cases and cases predating the pandemic have a right to meet with a legal services provider during a virtual Right to Counsel conference. Tenants facing termination should receive a notice with a date, time and phone number to participate in the conference and connect with a legal services provider before any case proceeds.
• Loss of Income: Residents experiencing loss of income are encouraged to request a rent reduction and can self-certify income loss. Both NYCHA and Section 8 residents can do this online, through the NYCHA self-service portal, by mail or by calling the Customer Contact Center 718-707-7771. Keep a record of when the request was made.
• Management Offices: Management offices continue to remain open and staff can assist residents via phone, email or scheduled appointments.
• Repairs and maintenance, routine cleaning, and planned outages have returned to their normal schedules. Residents can call the Customer Contact Center (CCC) at 718-707-7771 to report emergencies and schedule routine maintenance repairs in their apartments and developments.
• Additional information for NYCHA and Section 8 residents is available here.

If you have lived in your apartment for more than 30 days, then your landlord must get a court order to evict you, and such orders have currently been suspended by the State of New York. If your landlord illegally changes your locks, shuts off your utilities, or removes your belongings, click here for more information on your rights and what steps you can take if your landlord has locked you out.

The SCRIE & DRIE processing unit of the NYC Department of Finance is still operating but with less staff. There is customer service staff able to assist via 311 and through online inquiries. The walk-in-center is now closed until further notice.​ Click here for the most up to date information, including the revised processes for applications and renewals.

You do NOT have to go to a HRA Job Center in person to apply for benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can apply online, via mail, or fax. In certain circumstances, you can also apply over the phone or request an in-person visit. Learn more about your options here.

• If you have a hearing scheduled, the Social Security Administration will call you to discuss other ways to have your hearing. The call may come from a PRIVATE number and not from a U.S. Government phone. SSA employees will not threaten you or ask for any form of payment.
• SSA will send out a notice before taking any negative action on your benefits.
• Critical Services may be available, for current information click here.

• Individuals who do not have health insurance can enroll in Medicaid and other subsidized and non-subsidized insurance on the New York State of Health Marketplace by calling 855-355-5777 or visiting New York State of Health. You can always enroll in Medicaid or the Essential Plan any time of year.
• Individuals who are undocumented can enroll in Emergency Medicaid through the Marketplace. Emergency Medicaid ordinarily covers emergency conditions only but is covering all testing, evaluation, and treatment for COVID-19. Also, pregnant individuals who are undocumented are eligible for full Medicaid benefits if they meet other eligibility requirements.
• All low-income New Yorkers regardless of immigration status can access free or low-cost health care at New York City Health + Hospitals locations. Anyone who is uninsured can enroll in the Health + Hospitals Options program by calling 646-NYC-CARE.
• Our Health Law Unit has created resources with additional important information on applying for and keeping Medicaid and other insurance. There is also information about accessing healthcare services, fair hearings and overpayments.

Immigrants are eligible for many forms of health insurance, cash benefits, and food assistance. Some immigrant households may have concerns about accessing benefits because of an immigration issue called “public charge.” Please note that public charge only applies to certain immigrants and certain public benefits. Accessing COVID-19 testing and care WILL NOT count against an immigrant who is or may be subject to public charge in the future.

Read our Public Benefits Flyer for Immigrants (English / Spanish) for more information. Also see our updated FAQ on Public Charge which includes COVID-19 information, and other information and resources regarding public charge here.

Any community member or advocate with questions should call Legal Aid’s Immigration Helpline at 844-955-3424, Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Our team can then call you back to answer additional questions. Interpreters are available for all languages.

• Various federal, New York State, and New York City laws require employers to give workers leave from work to care for their own and/or a family member’s health needs, and there are some protections for a worker who needs to care for a minor child whose school or daycare is closed because of COVID-19. This leave can be paid or unpaid depending on the law and other factors.
• There are federal, New York State, and New York City laws that protect workers against discrimination in the workplace and who have been treated unfairly because of their race, color, national origin, disability, citizenship status, sex/gender, criminal record and many other protected categories. This includes the obligation of employers to provide reasonable accommodations for disability, pregnancy, religious observance, status as a victim of domestic violence, and lactation. A reasonable accommodation can include a request to telecommute or for additional leave due to health conditions that put a worker at additional risk from COVID-19. The New York City Human Rights Law is one of the most comprehensive anti-discrimination laws in the country, and in addition to the workplace, the law protects against discrimination in housing and public accommodations. To find out more about the New York City Human Rights Law, visit The New York City Commission on Human Rights.
• The pandemic has not changed your right to get paid according to the law:
  • The minimum wage in NYC is $15/hr.
  • Employers may pay tipped workers $10/hr but only if workers receive enough in tips to still earn $15/hr.
  • Workers must be paid overtime when they work more than 40 hours per week (44 hrs for live-in domestic workers).
  • Hospitality workers must also receive an extra hour of pay if they work more than 10 hrs/day. This rate also applies to some others.
  • More information is available at the Department of Labor web site.

• Re-entry individuals are eligible for public benefits. For more information read our Re-Entry Benefits FAQ or call our Access to Benefits (A2B) Helpline at 888 663-6880, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• If you have medical needs or concerns the Correctional Health Services (CHS) Point of Reentry and Transition Practices or PORT can help. Call 646-614-1000 or email CHSPORTline@nychhc.org for help with prescriptions for people recently released from jail. PORTline may also be able to help with prescription refills if you haven’t been able to establish care in the community. PORTline is also available to troubleshoot problems with Medicaid coverage (e.g. suspended/in patient only status). They can also provide referrals to other social service and health care providers.
• Network Support Services provides COVID 19 discharge and resettlement services for individuals being released from State Prisons to the NYC area. Assistance includes; a smartphone with plan, backpack filled with toiletries, cash stipend, MetroCard, transport from the facility back to the community and more. For more information contact Network Support Services at 347-584-8601 or mgonzalez@networkssi.org.
• The Housing Works S.M.A.R.T. program can provide Emergency Supplies such as cell phones, Metrocards, clothing, food supplies and many other health and employment services.

• Non-court-based Probation offices are now closed to the public.  Court-based offices will only be open if the courts are open.
• All supervision will, in general, be done via telephone or electronic means; All kiosk (hand-scan) reporting is being transitioned to Web Check-in and/or telephone Everyone on probation supervision should have received a telephonic or electronic message from their probation officer.
• More Information is available at the NYC Probation Website.

New York City has many options to provide free food to those in need. Grab and go meals are available to all at City schools. Additional pickup options and emergency home delivery are also available. For information about the City’s food programs click here.

• A federal student loan payment pause has been extended through May 1, 2022. For more information click here.
• The NYS Attorney General is accepting applications for suspension of debt collection if you were financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic AND you want temporary debt relief for debts that have been referred to the Office of the Attorney General for collection. Applications can be made online here.

Free financial counseling by phone
Professional financial counselors from NYC Financial Empowerment Centers are available by phone to answer questions about eligibility, help you open a bank account and set up direct deposit for your payment, and check the status of a payment. For more information click here.

Free tax preparation online
IRS certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparers from NYC Free Tax Prep can guide you. To use the free service, you must earn $72,000 or less (families) or $50,000 or less (single filer).  For more information click here.

Please refer to the following sites for up to date information on COVID-19 from public health officials:

• NYC COVID-19 Vaccine Information
• NYC COVID-19 Testing Information 
• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Every school will randomly test weekly unvaccinated students, who have submitted consent for testing, at a threshold of ten percent of unvaccinated students per school population (Pre-K and Kindergarten are excluded). Please note that students must submit a new COVID-19 testing consent form for the 2021-2022 school year to participate in the testing program. Read the City’s FAQ on school testing here.

The New York Health Care Proxy Law allows you to appoint someone you trust — for example, a family member or close friend – to make health care decisions for you if you lose the ability to make decisions yourself. For more information and a form you can complete online, visit Health.NY.

DSS/HRA has issued an emergency rule that increases the burial allowance to $1,700 and increases the cap on burial costs to $3,400. It also extends the time frame for when you can apply to 120 days from the date of death. Applications received on or after March 12 will be considered for the increase, regardless of immigration status. For more information click here​.

The information on this page has been prepared by The Legal Aid Society for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. You should not act upon any information without retaining professional legal counsel.