Read our Latest Posts

Social Security Administration’s 2018 Red Book Out Now!

Aug 15, 2018

The much anticipated update of Social Security’s Red Book is finally available. The annually published guide is a general reference source for beneficiaries, providers, and the generally curious who need to know about work incentives and employment-related provisions...

Job Vacancies – Benefits Case Manager

Aug 9, 2018

Job Announcements! Maryland Benefits Counseling Network – Benefits Case Manager The Maryland Benefits Counseling Network is seeking two full-time contractual Benefits Case Managers to provide benefits technical assistance and work incentives counseling to assist...

Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Made Better Yet

Jul 26, 2018

There has been a quite notable change to the ABLE program in Maryland, which actually came into effect on June 1 of this year. The change was designed to be more generous to beneficiaries and goes further than federal regulations in taking consumers’ needs into...

All About EID: Seeking Feedback on Your Experience

Jul 20, 2018

If you are currently enrolled in or have had experience applying for Maryland's Employed Individuals with Disabilities (EID) program, please consider taking a moment to fill out a survey and provide feedback about your experience - positive or negative. Willing to...

Wage Reporting: Now with Automatic Reminders

Jul 3, 2018

In a further update to the new wage reporting options, Social Security is now offering beneficiaries the chance to opt in for an automatic reminder to report their wages. It doesn't matter which method anyone uses to report their wages, be it by mobile app, phone...

« Older Entries

Next Entries »

Health Check: Changes to Medicaid in Maryland

The new year is an obvious time to make changes if that’s what you’re going to do and it might seem that if things are going to be different for Medicaid beneficiaries now would be the time to learn what’s new. Oddly enough, even though there are changes afoot,...

What’s New? Update on 2026 Benefits Changes

Now that we have to admit that the holidays are truly over and we're embedded in the new year, for better or for worse, it's worth having a quick look over the new annual figures that will affect those of us who receive federal benefits. By now everyone who receives...

Happy Holidays from MDBCN to You!

Another year comes to another close and although we can hardly look back on 12 months of love, peace, and harmony we can always hope for that in the future. Whatever may come to pass, we at the Maryland Benefits Counseling Network will continue to endeavor to keep you...

Getting Better: ABLE Changes for 2026

Back in 2022 Congress passed a bill that is about to go into effect. The ABLE Age Adjustment Act decreed that as of January 2026 the age threshold for Achieving Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts would increase from 26 to 46. The ABLE Act has been around for more...

A Bitter Pill: Medicare Costs in 2026

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the 2026 premium and deductible figures. It’s a familiar story, as those costs are up again. The standard Medicare Part B premium will raise eyebrows and blood pressure as it increases by $17.90 a...

From the Horse’s Mouth: SSA Commissioner Delivers 2025 Fiscal Report

Gues what? It’s all good. On November 20 Frank Bisignano, Social Security’s Commissioner, published his letter to Congress detailing the agency’s achievements in 2025. The letter, which you can read in full here (Commissioner Letter to Congress: Year in Review) begins...

SNAP’s Back: Federal Food Stamp Payments to Resume

After the longest shutdown in its 249-year history the US government officially re-opened on Wednesday when its president signed a bill allowing funding until January 30 next year. While this would certainly appear to be only a temporary easing of the situation it...

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...