Richard A.J. Prebil, Esq., Supervising Attorney of the Veterans Advocacy Project of
Legal Aid of Southeastern PA discussed his program which provides legal services to veterans who are unhoused, at-risk of homelessness, seniors, living with severe disabilities, low-income, and sometimes those who are incarcerated.

Legal Aid of Southeastern PA provides free legal services to low-income individuals, survivors of domestic violence, and seniors throughout Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. Legal Aid’s Veterans Unit in particular delivers immediate and measurable direct impacts on individuals and families, through the prevention of wrongful evictions and advocacy to stabilize income, which provides housing stability for veterans and their families in our community and 20 counties throughout Pennsylvania. 

LASP’s Veterans Unit works with organizations across our community, including Veterans Multi-Service Center, Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Coatesville VA Medical Center, and local county offices of veterans affairs.

He also discussed the impact of the program, since they started the unit in mid-2020, they have opened over 3,500 cases for veterans and obtained over $4.9 million in retroactive benefits for their clients from VA and SSA, money directly in their pockets to help provide for life’s necessities; their client’s incomes have increased by around $1,400 per month on average.  He described one case of a woman vet who raised six children on her social security while waiting six years for a decision on her military benefits, they were able to resolve her claim with retro benefits, allowing her to buy a home and enable her oldest to get benefits for college.    

For more information call the Veterans Advocacy Helpline 610-283-0884 or visit www.lasp.org/veterans