Public Benefits

Parents of a child with special needs are often daunted by the different government programs that fall under the general definition of "disability benefits." To make matters worse, two of the most common benefit programs available also have very similar...

An attorney who attended the Academy of Special Needs Planners' recent Annual Meeting in New Orleans reports on his post-Katrina view of the city and the volunteer effort to refurbish the headquarters of a local organization that assists special needs...

While creating a financial plan and establishing a specialized trust are central to preparing for your child's future, planners also advise families to write down their intentions and expectations in a special document.

A case illustrates the elaborate lengths some disability applicants must go through in order to obtain benefits that are rightfully theirs, and it also is a reminder of a dilemma many beneficiaries face once they receive their awards.

There are government programs to help military veterans’ children with special needs — the trick is to find them.

The agency’s 1,200-plus offices are open again, but a new online tool for SSI applications means you can avoid the crowds and long lines.

Not everyone will get the relief payment the federal government is sending to help Americans through the economic disruption triggered by the pandemic. Among those left out are adults with special needs and seniors who are claimed as dependents.

Student loan officials from seven states and the District of Columbia are calling on the federal government to automatically discharge the student loan debt of people with disabilities who are eligible. ...

To protect its workers and the public during the coronavirus pandemic, the Social Security Administration has suspended face-to-face service at its field and hearings offices, although people with severe disabilities can still get appointments.