By collecting the full amount of public assistance debt without crediting the value of workfare from public benefits recipients receiving SSI, the OTDA is violating the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Advocates Argue Appeal in Disability and Labor Rights Lawsuit against OTDA Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 16, 2025 NEW YORK, NY: Today, the National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ) and Empire Justice Center argued their appeal before the New York Court of ...

This week, we argued for appeal in our labor and disability rights lawsuit against the New York OTDA. nclej.org/news/advocat...

2026 Gala: A Celebration of Changemakers The National Center for Law and Economic Justice’s 2026 Justice Makers Award ceremony promises to inspire and showcase our incredible work at the intersection of economic, race, and disability justice...

On May 19, NCLEJ will host our Annual Justice Maker Awards Gala. Please join us for an inspirational evening as we celebrate our critical work to protect the social safety net, fight for low-wage workers, and advocate for people living with disabilities. nclej.org/2026-justice...

We’re suing the USDA to block implementation of these waivers in multiple states.

The USDA’s unlawful food restriction waivers have caused chaos and confusion for SNAP recipients and retailers alike, and threaten to worsen food insecurity for millions of people by kicking retailers off SNAP.
montanafreepress.org/2026/04/09/m...

The stories of our disabled clients are shocking and egregious. We are asking the Court to hold the agency accountable.

We are moving to hold the Suffolk County Department of Social Services in contempt of a class action settlement for failing to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled individuals applying for and receiving public benefits.
nclej.org/news/disabil...

OP-ED: In New York, slavery still shapes who gets paid In 2026, New York still pays certain workers pennies an hour — and the system that allows it was designed in the shadow of slavery.

As a member of the 13th Forward Coalition, we’re fighting to end forced prison labor in NY, which keeps communities poor and creates perverse incentives for mass incarceration. This is a matter of racial and economic justice for communities of color. amsterdamnews.com/news/2026/04...

Interested in Public Interest law? Check out PLI’s Lawyers in Practice with Saima Akhtar YouTube video by Practising Law Institute

PLI's Lawyers in Practice interview series offers valuable insights for law students and early-career attorneys exploring different practice areas. Watch their episode featuring NCLEJ Senior Attorney Saima Akhtar: www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1DJ...

SNAP Recipients Sue USDA Over Soda, Candy Restrictions In the lawsuit, plaintiffs argue the agency did not follow the proper procedure before signing 22 state waivers restricting what can be purchased with SNAP benefits.

The USDA’s unlawful food restriction waivers have created enormous confusion for people who rely on SNAP and could cause more retailers to drop out of the program. We’re suing the USDA to strike down these waivers and defend the dignity of SNAP recipients.

SNAP lawsuit challenges restrictions approved in Indiana and other states Waivers restricting the purchase of candy and soft drinks are being challenged by plaintiffs in five states.

We’re suing the USDA over their unlawful SNAP food restriction waivers. The USDA did not provide opportunity for public comment as required by law before approving these waivers.

The USDA’s unlawful food restriction waivers are harming SNAP recipients who require certain foods to manage chronic health conditions like diabetes. We’re suing the USDA to block these waivers in CO, IA, WV, TN, and NE.

The USDA’s SNAP food restriction waivers have caused unprecedented chaos and disruption for SNAP recipients and retailers alike. We’re asking the Court to block these unlawful waivers. thehill.com/policy/healt...

Lawsuit Seeks to Void USDA’s Candy, Soda Food Stamp Bans (1) A group of low-income individuals reliant on federal food assistance sued the Trump administration Wednesday, alleging new restrictions to which foods they can buy using government benefits violate…

The USDA’s food restriction waivers have created chaos for SNAP recipients and retailers alike, and have harmed those who rely on sugary drinks to manage chronic health conditions like diabetes. We're suing to block these waivers in CO, IA, WV, TN, and NE.

In addition to causing chaos for consumers and retailers, these restrictions also prevent people with chronic health conditions like diabetes from purchasing the food they need. For diabetics, sugary drinks can be lifesaving.

US sued by food stamp recipients over restrictions on sugary drinks, candy Food stamp recipients sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday ​to undo Trump administration efforts to prevent them from using benefits ‌to buy products such as sugary drinks, energy drin...

We’re suing the USDA over their unlawful waivers that restrict what foods can be purchased with SNAP. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

Food Stamp Recipients Sue Over Bans on Sugary Drinks

BREAKING: We’re suing the USDA over their unlawful waivers that restrict the type of food that can be purchased with SNAP. We’re asking the Court to block implementation of these waivers in CO, IA, WV, TN, and NE: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/u...

Civil Rights Groups File FOIA Request Seeking Records on Politically and Racially Motivated Child Care Funding Restrictions Request demands transparency into the nationwide new “Defend the Spend” policy affecting billions in child care funding FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2026  CONTACT:    NEW YORK — Today, civil right...

We have filed a FOIA request regarding the Trump administration’s restrictions on federal childcare and family assistance funding. These restrictions have placed significant financial strain on low-income families already struggling to make ends meet. nclej.org/news/civil-r...

NCLEJ's 2026 Justice Maker Awards: A Celebration of Changemakers The National Center for Law and Economic Justice’s 2026 Justice Makers Award ceremony promises to inspire and showcase our incredible work at the intersection of economic, race, and disability justice...

Mark your calendars – NCLEJ’s 2026 Justice Maker Awards will be held on May 19! Learn more about our honorees and available sponsorships: nclej.org/2026-justice...

State faulted for delays in public benefit eligibility Tens of thousands of New Yorkers are waiting months to navigate a state appeals process to access public benefits they were initially denied.

We won a major court ruling against the New York OTDA over their failure to provide fair hearings for public benefits recipients within mandatory timeframes. NCLEJ Senior Attorney Saima Akhtar spoke with WCNY about the latest in our class-action lawsuit: capitolpressroom.org/2026/01/21/s...

SNAP for Minnesota Challenged Amid Ongoing Turmoil A federal judge blocked the USDA from cutting off some food assistance funding this week, but other Trump administration threats remain.

NCLEJ Senior Attorney Katie Deabler: “The first step is never cutting funding. We’re in totally uncharted waters and it frankly seems like the administration is making this up as they go along.” civileats.com/2026/01/16/f...

A blue gradient graphic featuring a photo of the Martin Luther King, Jr. monument. A quote from MLK reads: “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.”

Today, we proudly commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As our nation faces enormous challenges, we must double down on our efforts to secure justice for our most vulnerable communities.

NCLEJ Condemns Trump Administration’s Illegal Suspension of SNAP Funding in Minnesota FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MINNESOTA – Last Friday, the Trump administration announced that it will immediately suspend over $129 million in annual benefits funding from the USDA to Minnesota—and to Minnea...

In a wildly illegal move, the Trump administration has suspended SNAP funding to Minnesota. Over 440,000 low-income Minnesotans rely on SNAP and will face hunger if their food benefits are slashed. nclej.org/news/nclej-c...

Legal Aid and NCLEJ Secure Court Order Reopening Wage Claims for Hundreds of 24-Hour Home Care Workers Decision grants class certification, clearing the way for home healthcare workers to pursue unpaid wages (NEW YORK, NY) — The Legal Aid Society and the National Center for Law and Economic Justice sec...

We secured a court order against the NYSDOL compelling the agency to reopen hundreds of unpaid wage claims and secured class certification in our lawsuit. This is a major development and a big step forward towards securing justice for our clients. nclej.org/press/legal-...

Many were forced to skip meals so their children could eat, and others were burdened with large benefits overpayment debts that they couldn’t pay back. This decision is a critical win for our clients and a strong affirmation of their due process rights.

New Court Ruling is a Victory for People Who Receive SNAP, Other Benefits New York Court Rules That State Agency Must Provide Administrative Hearings Within Timeframes and Restrains Collection of Overpaid Benefits For Immediate Release: January 5, 2026 Contact: New York, NY...

Low-income New Yorkers have been forced to wait months or even years for hearing decisions that would fix problems with their SNAP and TA benefits.
nclej.org/news/new-cou...

NCLEJ Seeks Court Order to Prevent IDOC from Further Harming Disabled Client FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 4, 2025 Contact: Patrick Fowler, Communications Strategist | fowler@nclej.org   ILLINOIS – The National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ) moved for a prelimin...

We have moved for a preliminary injunction against the IDOC and its contractors to secure critical disability accommodations for our client on Mandatory Supervised Release. Read the latest update: nclej.org/news/nclej-s...

New Work Requirement Adds Red Tape to Missouri’s Snarled Food Aid System | The Daily Yonder This story was originally published by KFF Health News. Distributing food stamps soon could get even harder for Missouri’s food aid system, which a

At a time when Americans are struggling to afford groceries and facing massive delays to SNAP benefits caused by agency dysfunction, new work requirements will ultimately kick more vulnerable people off SNAP. This is a terrible step in the wrong direction.

Federal changes delay long-overdue overhaul of Missouri’s troubled safety net systems • Missouri Independent Plans to combine eligibility software for SNAP and Medicaid into a single, updated system are on hold due to sweeping federal changes.

Low-income Missourians continue to face illegal barriers to accessing their SNAP benefits. Separate and outdated SNAP and Medicaid systems only compound the problems of benefits being wrongfully denied. missouriindependent.com/2025/11/24/f...

Because IDOC failed to accommodate our client’s physical disabilities while on MSR, he was unnecessarily and illegally sent back to prison for four months.