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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...

Reversion to Type: A Quick Reminder about SNAP Benefit Changes

Oct 1, 2021

If you receive food stamps the State of Maryland should have already sent you a letter letting you know that now that the State of Emergency is over your Supplemental Nutrition Allocation Program (SNAP) amount will very possibly be changing as of today, October 1. For...

New Report Shows SSI Work Incentives Need Work

Sep 24, 2021

The non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued a report to the US senate’s Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy which highlighted how far we are from truly assisting SSI recipients who are looking to work their way out...

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Forking Out: SNAP Updates and Maryland’s Response

It is now widely known that it is forty-two million Americans who receive SNAP benefits, still also known as food stamps. They remain at the mercy of a government, which has remained shut down for thirty-seven days at the time of writing, and shows no sign of opening...

SSA Announces 2026 COLAs

2026’s Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) was recently published and there are some limited but welcome increases across the board. Benefits are due to go up 2.8%. In terms of how that looks to SSI recipients, it means that the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) will rise to...

SSA Reveals Service Plan during the Federal Government Shutdown

Social Security has issued a statement on its Advocates webpage highlighting the level of its availability during the government shutdown which went into effect today, October 1. Crucially, all SSI and SSDI payments will continue without change and on the same payment...

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...