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A Basic Training on VA Disability Compensation Benefits

Nov 5, 2021

Despite being a nation that historically couldn’t really give a fig for the plight of the indigent or the disabled America has always had a soft spot for those who fight for whatever it is the nation believes in at any given time. Be it fighting off the shackles of an...

Let Them Have It: Social Security Wants Your Feedback

Oct 29, 2021

A quick perusal of the regular and often enlightening Social Security blog, Social Security Matters, reveals that the agency has created a simple on-line customer survey that can be completed in a matter of seconds, but allows for more in-depth analysis if that’s more...

Reprising a Classic: Impairment Related Work Expenses

Oct 22, 2021

A dip into the MDBCN blog archives gives the curious reader a real sense that Social Security, like time itself, does actually move inexorably onwards, even though the ultimate goal may still elude us. Within all those blogs that meant something at the time but have...

2022 Social Security COLAs Announced!

Oct 13, 2021

Next year’s Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) have just been published by Social Security and as predicted by many it’s a huge leap to the tune of a 5.9% increase. In real terms that means that the full amount of SSI that an individual can receive has gone up from...

Work Activity Reports Now On-line

Oct 8, 2021

One of those rather unwelcome letters from Social Security that beneficiaries receive from time to time is the one that informs them that their past and present work activity is under review. Along with the dread of an impending overpayment or even the loss of...

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Oscillate Wildly: Changes to SSDI Overpayment Recovery Rates

It may have escaped your attention, as it did this writer’s, that on August 29 this year Social Security issued Emergency Message 25029 REV. Emergency Messages are the agency’s method of notifying every office of the new protocols to follow. This one’s purpose is to...

Tapping In: Maryland’s Assistive Technology Financial Loan Program

To judge from the figures presented in the 2024 review of Maryland Department of Disabilities’ Technical Assistance Program (MDTAP) there’s not much knowledge within the state of the program itself or any of its projects. MDTAP has provided the Assistive Technology...

Listen Up: Maryland DDA’s Low Intensity Support Services Program Accepting Applications

Maryland’s Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) has long understood the need to provide funding to children and adults in the community in order that they might lead happier and more fully integrated lives in the community. What was once called Rolling...

Social Security Turns 90!

To commemorate this landmark birthday, we've re-published the open letter from Frank Bisignano, the agency's current commissioner. Today, we celebrate the 90th anniversary of Social Security—a program that has stood as a pillarof economic security and dignity for...

Healthy Options? USDA Encouraging SNAP Food Restrictions

In further changes under the new administration (remarkably, it has only been seven months) the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services are now actively seeking states to implement further restrictions on what you can buy with food...

As You Were: VCU’s National Training and Data Center Re-opens

Last week we reported that Virginia Commonwealth’s NTDC has been closed and all services terminated. This week Social Security announced that the center is open once more. Melanie Webb, the Branch Chief of SSA’s Employment Programs, sent out an n email to the nation’s...

VCU’s National Training and Data Center Closed Down

Benefits Counselors around the country received the news today that Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) was forced to close the National Training and Data Center (NTDC) on July 29. The brief announcement from Melanie Webb, Branch Chief of Employment Programs at...

Salt in the Wound: OBBBA and Cuts to Medicaid for Non- Citizens

Further to our recent blog on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and its plan to cut Medicaid funding, here’s some more bad news brought to you by your government. This time the target is Non-Citizens. At present there are some severe limitations to eligibility...

Stopped Check: SSA to Eliminate Paper Payments to Beneficiaries

These days if you are to order a new batch of checks you are given a choice of designs for the background and can even select a personal message line. You may notice, however, that the choices appear to skew towards appealing to an older demographic. One recent option...

Uncivil Service: OBBBA and Medicaid Work Requirements

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that was recently signed into law by the current incumbent in the White House has within its hundreds of provisions a number of cuts to Medicaid funding under the pretext that there’s vast and widespread fraud and cheating going...