Public Benefits

Because SSI's income and resource limits are so restrictive, it pays to know the basics about the program before deciding whether it is right for you or your family member.

Special Needs 101

One of the most commonly asked questions about special needs trusts is what can the trusts pay for without affecting the beneficiary's public assistance?...

Special Needs 101

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are both federal programs that provide cash payments to people who meet the federal definition of "disabled." But the similarities between the two programs end there. Here are the three...

Special Needs 101

Even before the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) expanded Medicaid access for hundreds of thousands of people, a little-known program called Medicaid Buy-In allowed people with disabilities who work to qualify for Medicaid benefits even though their incomes...

Special Needs 101

In many states, full Medicaid coverage is often equal to, or even better than, many private health insurance plans, allowing SSI beneficiaries and other Medicaid recipients to effectively manage their illness or disability. However, many Medicaid recipients don't realize that...

Special Needs 101

A special needs trust can allow individuals with special needs to preserve assets that will enhance their quality of life while allowing them to remain eligible for needs-based public benefits like Medicaid and SSI.

Special Needs 101

There are so many programs and services available for people with disabilities that it can make your head spin. Fortunately, the federal government has created a Web site that collects information about a wide variety of state and federal resources...

Special Needs 101

The PASS program allows SSI beneficiaries to use their non-SSI income to pay for job training or to start a business. If beneficiaries follow the complicated rules governing the program, the Social Security Administration will not count income used for...

Special Needs 101

Do you have a friend or loved one who receives Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and is unable to manage her payments?  If so, you can request that the Social Security Administration name you as...

Special Needs 101