Elder abuse: changes to Legal Aid NSW eligibility

09/10/2019

Access to justice

The Legal Aid NSW Board approved changes to the means test, and civil and family law policies, to clarify that legal aid is available for people who are experiencing, or at risk of, elder abuse. The changes include amending the definition of an ‘older person’ to 65 years, or 55 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and clarifying that legal aid is available to protect an older person’s interest in property in circumstances where there is elder abuse. The new policies apply to applications determined on or after 1 October 2019. Please see Policy Bulletin 2019 No. 12 for more details.