State and National Updates
Advance Child Tax Credit
Do you know about the new Advance Child Tax Credit made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act?
Advance Child Tax Credit payments are early payments from the IRS of 50% of the estimated amount of the Child Tax Credit that you may claim on your 2021 tax return during the 2022 tax filing season.
Learn more about eligibility, how to receive payments, and more at: https://lasclev.org/what-should-i-know-about-advance-child-tax-credit-payments/
Transgender Ohioans can now change their gender on birth certificates
Thanks to a December 2020 court ruling, Ohioans can now change their birth certificates so that their gender is accurately identified. With the change, transgender Ohioans can ensure that all their paperwork and vital documents match. The change also furthers equality and anti-discrimination for trans Ohioans. According to usbirthcertificates.com, "The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey found that the resulting discrepancy between names and gender markers on official ID documents and the perceived gender identities of their holders caused one-third of survey respondents to suffer harassment, discrimination, assault and/or see benefits and services denied."
The process to change the gender listed on one’s birth certificate takes place in county probate court and may vary throughout the state. ACLU of Ohio has released this fact sheet to provide clarity about the process.
Equality Ohio, Equitas Health, Living With Change, OCTOPUS LLC, and TransOhio facilitate statewide virtual Name & Gender Marker Change Legal Clinics held the 2nd Wednesday of every month. Click here to learn more about this collaborative partnership and legal assistance available.
SNAP advocacy with the Center for Community Solutions and Legal Aid:
Legal Aid attorneys recently helped to create this policy document about strengthening SNAP and EBT contacts to better serve customers. Read the report here.
FREE Fair Housing Overview for Tenants Course from the Fair Housing Resource Center
The Fair Housing Center is developing online fair housing trainings, which will provide a comprehensive overview of fair housing law, including information on reasonable accommodations and modifications for persons with disabilities, emerging issues, and the goals of fair housing. Enroll in a course to get the training you need from the comfort of your own home, at the pace that works for you. Pre-register for the course here by leaving your email and a message indicating your interest.
Source:
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
