People living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are faced with many challenges in life, including legal issues such as insurance, income security, employment equity and estate planning.  They may often not be able to afford the legal advice and need to go pro-bono, something that has not been easily accomplished in Manitoba until now.
“To qualify for regular pro-bono legal aid is not easy; the criteria and income cut-off is commonly based on factors from the 1990s, like minimum wage,” said Nadine Konyk, Client Services Coordinator at the Manitoba MS Society.
“People need to be really far below the poverty line to qualify for regular pro-bono. Our qualifications are much easier to meet. We understand that people living with MS may be faced with many financial burdens that leave them unable to pay for quality legal services alone.”
The MS Society of Canada, Manitoba Division has launched its Volunteer Legal Advocacy Program (VLAP). This is the first program of its kind in Manitoba available to people living with MS, assisting people living with MS who cannot afford legal assistance and are ineligible for other legal aid programs.
People who live with MS are often forced to leave the workplace prematurely, greatly reducing their financial security. For many, income is obtained solely from disability benefits.
“Part of what we do at the MS Society is advocacy, which is where this new program falls,” said Konyk.
“We modelled our program after a similar program that has been running in the B.C. division for nearly 10 years, but their legal system is different than ours in a lot of ways, so it took some adapting to make it fit right.”
A client of the program from B.C., who wished to remain anonymous, was cut-off from her insurance benefits, leaving her worrying about what may lay ahead. She was referred to the VLAP program and was assigned a lawyer.
“I was able to be more at-ease after receiving very helpful advice, which I followed to the letter,” she said. Her lawyer helped to relieve a lot of the added stress in her life, and after a short period of waiting, she received a phone call from the insurer to inform her that not only were they reinstating her benefits in full, but they would also make them retroactive.
“If something happens, people can call and apply for the program,” said Konyk.
“They have to meet our income limit, which is based on household income as well as various other factors like whether they just need advice or active representation. Once they fill out their application, it gets reviewed and a lawyer will connect with them as soon as possible.”
“We have a small pool of lawyers right now who are volunteering with us, all based in Winnipeg,” she continued.
“Right now, because the program is really just in the infancy stages, we are still trying to get the word out. We have a few people in the process of utilizing the program already, but we are still trying to make people aware. While our lawyers are only based in Winnipeg for now, anyone in Manitoba can apply, whether you are from a city like Brandon or a smaller community like Neepawa or Rivers.”
For further information or access to VLAP, please contact the Manitoba Division of the MS Society of Canada at (204) 943-9595 or by email at info.mb@mssociety.ca with “VLAP” in the subject line.