Legal Benefits

The MELS benefit is available to full-time and part-time public sector DC 37 members in a covered job title and retirees residing in New York State and New York City. The geographic area covered by MELS is limited to those members and retirees residing in New York State and in New York City, Westchester County, Rockland County, Nassau County, or Suffolk County (in zip code area 117 except for 11719, 11764, 11778, 11786, 11789, and 11792).

Social Service Employees Union Local 371 members are covered by the SSEU Local 371 Legal Services Fund. Call (212) 777-9000 for questions about those benefits.

To determine your eligibility for the MELS benefit, call MELS at (212) 815-1111.

MELS attorneys can assist full-time and part-time members and retirees with:

• Preparation of wills, powers of attorney, living wills and health care proxies
• Debt matters, including bankruptcy (amount in dispute must be over $500)
• Matters involving the purchase and sale of goods and services where the amount in controversy exceeds the monetary jurisdiction of Small Claims Court
• Divorce, separation and annulment
• Citizenship matters
• Correction of inaccurate credit reports
• Billing disputes with utilities (gas, electric, phone)
• Landlord actions that could result in your eviction from your primary residence
• Government benefit programs where the amount in controversy exceeds $500, including: Medicare, SNAP, Social Security
• Review of legal documents as it relates to MELS-covered matters
• Phone advice as it relates to MELS-covered matters

Additional benefits for full-time members and retirees:

• Buying or selling your one-family house, co-op or condominium if it is your primary residence
• Purchase of a two-family house if it is to be used as your primary residence
• Disputes over custody, visitation and paternity of children
• Representation where you are the parent in a child abuse, neglect, or foster care case (representation of foster parents is limited to those having had custody of the child for more than 24 months)
• Orders of protection in cases of spouse abuse and other domestic violence (representation will not include cases brought in Criminal Court)
• Adoption of minor child
• Guardianship of minor child
• Telephone advice on matters involving child support
• Name Change

MELS does not accept criminal cases or handle business problems. MELS does not initiate appeals of trial courts decisions; however, MELS will provide representation in defending against appeals of those decisions. Representation is also not available for defense of tort claims, such as libel, slander, and personal injury caused by negligence.