OLDER REFUGEES AND NEW AMERICANS

American Immigrant Couple holding a plastic heart

In partnership with Erie County Senior Services, CELJ’s Older New Americans & Refugee Legal Services Unit provides specialized services to new Americans who are age 60 and above. If you are a senior and have a problem with Social Security’s SSI program, Medical Assistance, or have a nursing home or other family and immigration related matters, we may be able to help. Older refugees have the added burden of trying to tackle aging-related problems while being displaced, facing language barriers and having cultural and nutritional differences that are not addressed at most senior centers. Additionally, they have issues that are specific to refugees, such as the potential loss of Social Security benefits after seven years.

Our legal team can be on-site at the Hope Refugee Center to meet with clients upon request

We are also available to provide immigration information, presentations, outreach and brochures. All services are provided in multiple languages without regard to race, religion or socioeconomic status. Translation services are available! To see if you qualify for our services or to request a presentation, please contact us at (716) 853-3087, or use the online request assistance form below.

Thank you to The New York Bar Foundation and Erie County Senior Services for their support of this program!

Common questions:

  • We can provide advice and counsel on some immigration issues. If needed CELJ will connect our clients with full immigration representation. Currently, we accept cases involving citizenship, green card, family unification, and POA’s for people 60+ years old and their immediate family members (sons and daughters).

  • Lawfully residing immigrants, including refugees, can qualify for SSI benefits. However, their eligibility is limited to seven (7) years. If they do not naturalize in those seven years nor accrue a substantial work history in the Social Security system, they will lose their income unless they prove they are disabled, not just past the age requirement. To find out more about naturalization or options for waivers, contact our office at 716-853-3087 or through the form below.

  • CELJ provides interpreters. We also utilize the language access line to communicate with all our clients.