Read our Latest Posts

Recovery and Wellness Programs: Access Meetings and Resources On-line

Mar 26, 2020

The current unpleasantness has caused all of us to adapt our ways as we endeavor to carry on and function under these new restrictions. The loss of a freedom to meet with others in person wherever we choose has, for most of us, and each to varying degrees, caused...

Maryland Department of Health and Social Services Offices Closed to the Public Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Mar 23, 2020

The Maryland Department of Human Services announced it will close office buildings to the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This announcement was posted March 18th, 2020 and offices continue to remain closed. DHS reports that it will continue to provide program...

Social Security Field Offices Suspend In-Person Services

Mar 19, 2020

In line with much that has happened around the globe Social Security announced and promptly carried out its plan to close its doors to the public at each field office in the country. As of March 17 there's been no chance to address staff in person but that doesn't...

Social Security Publishes New 1619(b) Threshold Figures

Mar 5, 2020

Social Security has made public the new threshold figures for 1619(b) and it's good news for working Marylanders on SSI. The new limit is set at $41,157 which compares favorably with other states and sees a small but potentially crucial increase on last year's...

Update on the Fight Against Social Security Scams

Feb 14, 2020

In a concerted effort to make the public aware of a recent spate of scam calls and emails (see the blog on Beneficiary Beware for more details on those scams) Social Security recently launched a Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign headed by the agency's...

« Older Entries

Next Entries »

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...