Public Benefits

Social Security disability recipients will see an increase in benefit levels for 2021, although the rise will be the smallest in years, due to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  ...

The U.S. Supreme Court's terse order halting the census count more than two weeks early could result in the undercounting of people with disabilities and less funding of services like Medicaid, according to disability advocates.

The federal Department of Education (DOE) has rescinded regulations that attempted to shift additional stimulus funds to private schools, which would have shortchanged students with disabilities, advocates contended. ...

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report reveals that thousands of applicants for SSDI and SSI benefits are dying or going bankrupt while waiting for their cases to be resolved.  ...

A new executive order from President Trump that would cut half of Social Security’s funding threatens the program’s financial foundation, disability advocates are warning.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is temporarily re-opening an online tool to allow families that do not typically file tax returns to claim a $500-per-child coronavirus stimulus payment. ...

The Trump administration has, for the second time, delayed compliance with new regulations designed to ensure the independence of people receiving services through Medicaid waivers.

Although the up to $1,200 relief payment does not immediately affect eligibility for means-test programs like Medicaid and SSI, if the money is not spent within 12 months it will count as an asset and could affect eligibility.

Blocked in the lower courts, the Trump administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to allow states to require certain Medicaid recipients to work in order to maintain eligibility for benefits.