In the News: Johnny Thach Shares His Journey from Laundromat to Principal Law Clerk 

In a recent Queens Daily Eagle feature, reporter Noah Powelson profiles Johnny Thach, principal law clerk to Civil Term Supreme Court Justice Karen Lin. The article traces Thach’s inspiring journey from growing up in a working-class immigrant family in Elmhurst to becoming a first-generation college and law school graduate. As a child of Vietnamese immigrants, Thach spent much of his youth helping his mother run their family laundromat. That experience shaped his understanding of the challenges immigrant communities face and fueled his drive to pursue a legal career.

“When you are growing up in an immigrant family, it’s often very difficult because that road really isn’t paved for you,” Thach told the Eagle. Now serving in the courts, he supports Judge Lin in assisting litigants and mediating legal disputes, while staying deeply connected to the community through pro bono work and his involvement with the Asian American Bar Association of New York, where he serves as one of the Government Service and Public Interest Committee Co-Chairs. “I’m just trying to be as involved in the community as much as possible and give back,” he said.

Congratulations to AABANY member Johnny Thach on this well-deserved recognition!

To read the full article, click here.

Apply for Supplemental Security Income: A Message from the Social Security Administration

If you have limited income and resources (things you own), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may be able to help. SSI financing comes from general revenues, not Social Security taxes.

SSI makes monthly payments to people who are age 65 or older or who are blind or disabled. They don’t count some of your income and some of your resources when they decide whether you’re eligible for SSI. Your house and your car, for example, usually don’t count as resources.

To apply for SSI, you can begin the process and — in some cases — complete most or all of your application online by visiting their website at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyforbenefits.  

You can also call them toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 to set up a telephone appointment with a representative from your local Social Security office. To contact your local Social Security office directly, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/locator, select Locate An Office By Zip, enter your five digit ZIP Code, and select Locate.  Your local Social Security office’s local toll-free number will be displayed.  

For more information about SSI, please review:

Understanding the Benefits (EN-05-10024)

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Non-Citizens (EN-05-11051)

For further inquiries, please contact:
Everett M. Lo
Social Security Administration – Regional Public Affairs Office
26 Federal Plaza, Room 40-120, New York, NY  10278
everett.lo@ssa.gov

Census Bureau Seeking Workers With Specific Asian Languages Skills

The Census Bureau is looking for Japanese, Tagalog and Vietnamese Partnership Specialists.

The jobs are limited term appointments. The initial appointments are not to exceed (NTE) 09/30/2020. The appointments may be extended or terminated earlier at management’s discretion.

To learn more about each of the vacancies, click on the links below.

Japanese Partnership Specialist – Internal – RCC2020NY-2019-0192
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/517681300

Japanese Partnership Specialist – External – RCC2020NY-2019-0193
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/517681600

Tagalog Partnership Specialist – Internal – RCC2020NY-2019-0194
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/517860000

Tagalog Partnership Specialist – External – RCC2020NY-2019-0195
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/517860500

Vietnamese Partnership Specialist – Internal – RCC2020NY-2019-0197
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/517860600

Vietnamese Partnership Specialist – External – RCC2020NY-2019-0198
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/517861000