Public Benefits

President Obama has signed into law a bill eliminating use of the phrase "mentally retarded" from all federal law.

When you add a special needs trust to a financial aid calculation, things can get complicated because the regulations governing federal financial aid don't do a very good job of distinguishing special needs trusts from other types of trusts.

The Obama administration has suspended implementation of the CLASS Act, a proposed national long-term care insurance program . . .

The Boston Globe published a three-part special report that focused on children who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Unfortunately, the story gives the impression that children in this position make up the majority of young SSI recipients, when in...

After receiving no cost-of-living increase (COLA) for two years running, the nation's Social Security recipients, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries, will get a 3.6 percent increase in payments in 2012.

At a recent White House meeting, families of people with special needs had the opportunity to explain to some very high-ranking administration officials just how painful some of these proposed changes could be.

Under federal law, you may have a disability for purposes of anti-discrimination laws but still not qualify as "disabled" when it comes time to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid.

A recent National Public Radio (NPR) report on disability benefits has drawn fire from disability advocates and eight former Commissioners of the Social Security Administration for relying on anecdotal evidence and exaggeration to imply that people are abusing the Social...

The final budget deal Congress passed to avert the fiscal cliff repeals a long-term care insurance program that would have helped keep the elderly and disabled out of nursing homes and off the Medicaid rolls.