{"id":"disability-protection-advocacy-systems","name":"State Protection and Advocacy Systems","provider":"Administration for Community Living","entitlement_type":"rights-advocacy","entitlement_type_label":"Rights advocacy","entitlement_type_context":{"definition":"Independent advocacy, investigation, information, or representation intended to protect a covered population's legal and human rights.","domain":"rights-and-assistance","archetype":"support-service","agent_instruction":"Check population, issue area, jurisdiction, intake, case priority, capacity, and whether individual representation is available."},"summary":"Independent organizations in every state and territory protect the legal and human rights of people with disabilities.","benefit":{"description":"Information, referrals, self-advocacy help, investigation, monitoring, and selected individual or systemic advocacy and legal representation.","estimated_value_usd":null},"discovery":{"focus":"public-service","has_estimated_dollar_value":false},"access":{"relationships":["Person with a disability","Family member or representative seeking disability-rights help"],"requirements":"The issue must fit one of the system's federal disability-program authorities, priorities, geographic area, and capacity. A system may decline individual representation even when a person is eligible.","activation":"Use ACL's state-system directory, contact the organization serving the relevant jurisdiction, and complete its intake with documents and deadlines.","cost_basis":"no-cost","cost_basis_label":"No-cost access","cost_basis_context":{"classification":"free","definition":"The core benefit has no required payment, purchase, deposit, paid membership, or pre-existing paid-product relationship under the captured terms.","agent_instruction":"Still disclose optional add-ons, transportation, parking, replacement charges, taxes, capacity, and eligibility conditions found in fees or requirements.","variation_patterns":null,"does_not_mean":null},"fees":"No charge for federally authorized protection-and-advocacy services. Representation is not guaranteed.","personalized":false,"regions":["US","State and territory service areas"],"expires":null},"status":"verified","last_checked":"2026-08-04","claim_url":"https://acl.gov/programs/pa-programs","source_url":"https://acl.gov/programs/pa-programs","source":{"primary_url":"https://acl.gov/programs/pa-programs","evidence":[{"source":"Administration for Community Living","url":"https://acl.gov/programs/pa-programs","kind":"provider","checked_at":"2026-08-04"}]},"parent":null,"coverage":{"level":"national","family":"aging-and-disability","jurisdiction":"United States","maturity":"direct"},"web_url":"/benefits/disability-protection-advocacy-systems","taxonomy":{"version":"1.0","url":"/api/v1/taxonomy"}}