Financial Wellness Education, Tools & Resources

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COMING SOON

Spread the Word: Social Security Promotes ‘Slam the Scam’ 2026

by | February 27, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

National Consumer Protection week, which has been sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission since 1998, is soon to be upon us. It runs from March 1 to 7 and is designed to spread awareness and provide information to us, the consumers, on how to best safeguard our own...
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Cold Comfort: The Scope of Maryland Energy Assistance Programs

by | February 13, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

The recent cold snap has brought with its rock-heavy snow and breathtakingly icy winds the reminder of how lucky the majority of us are to have warm homes in which we can hide away until the temperatures rise again. Of course, not all of us can rely on such comforts,...
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SNAP Tackles Pop: States Ban Food Stamp Purchases of Soda and Candy

by | January 30, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

There have always been restrictions on what you can buy with food stamps, now dubbed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP (a godsend to sub-editors everywhere). The simple, if perhaps occasionally dubious, pleasures that alcoholic beverages provide...
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2026’s 1619(b) Thresholds Are Out!

by | January 23, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Unlike many annual changes in the benefits world, which are announced on a fairly rigid schedule, recent history has shown that we can never quite be sure when the new thresholds for 1619(b) are going to be announced. Fortunately, this year there hasn’t been much of a...
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Health Check: Changes to Medicaid in Maryland

by | January 16, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

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,...
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What’s New? Update on 2026 Benefits Changes

by | January 9, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

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...
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Happy Holidays from MDBCN to You!

by | December 19, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

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...
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Getting Better: ABLE Changes for 2026

by | December 12, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

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...
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A Bitter Pill: Medicare Costs in 2026

by | December 4, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

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

by | November 21, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

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...
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