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Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS):

DORS provides benefits planning services to beneficiaries who are receiving DORS services. Please contact your DORS counselor to request benefits planning services from DORS. If you having trouble accessing benefits planning through your DORS counselor and need assistance, please reach out to us at the ‘Contact Us’ link.

http://dors.maryland.gov/

Maryland Work Incentives Network (MD-WIN):

MD-WIN provides free benefits and work incentives counseling services to Social Security disability beneficiaries via the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program. WIPA is a Social Security funded benefits counseling program that seeks to help beneficiaries understand and utilize work incentives to obtain financial independence. If you do not have access to benefits planning services through DORS, you may be able to access information and services through MD-WIN.

http://www.md-win.org/

Maryland Employment Network (MD-EN):

MD-EN is an Employment Network that takes part in Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program. The MD-EN connects Social Security beneficiaries with the services they need to go to work, including benefits counseling, so that beneficiaries can obtain financial independence.

http://www.ticket2workmd.org

Grave Concerns: CDC Publishes Latest Life Expectancy Data

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published its findings on life expectancy in the USA for the year 2022. The figures show an increase on the previous year, but still remain low compared to 2019, the last year before the pandemic, and...

A Salute: How Social Security Aids Veterans

On November 11 we’ll commemorate Veterans Day and Social Security has chosen to remind us of the role it can play in aiding veterans with disabilities. Those who served in the military and who now have a disability are entitled to VA (Veterans Affairs) Disability...

2024 Medicare Premiums and Deductibles Are Out!

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published the 2024 Medicare premium and deductible costs. In a disappointing reversal of last year's drop in costs, there's a $9.80 increase in the standard part B premium, which will send it bouncing...

QR Barging: SSA’s New Mobile Check-In Express

In another move to seemingly keep with the times Social Security has introduced a new Mobile Check-in Express feature. The set- up purports to ease the check in process for anyone visiting an SSA office, although it remains unclear to this reader of the promotional...

Shifting Gear: Maryland’s Durable Medical Equipment Re-use Program

One of the ways the Maryland Department of Aging has been working to provide assistance to Marylanders with disabilities is the, perhaps under-advertised, Durable Medical Equipment Re-use (DME) program. As the name suggests, it is looking to help local residents...

SSA 2024 COLA Figures Are Out!

2024's Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) has been published as planned. As many had predicted, compared to last year’s staggering 8.7% increase, it’s a rather more modest 3.2%. In terms of how that looks to SSI recipients, it means that the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR)...

Speculation Mounts on 2024 COLA Increase

It’s nearly that time again when the Social Security Administration reveals the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Social Security and SSI beneficiaries. In fact, as the government shutdown was postponed for a little while at least, we’re just a week away now from...

Leave of Absence: How the Government Shutdown May Affect Benefits

It is looking increasingly likely that our government won't be able to overcome the present gridlock and will be heading for a shutdown on Saturday night. This means that until a resolution is arrived at government services are going to restricted at best. The good...

SSI Resource Limits to be Increased?

It couldn't happen, could it? A resource limit that has remained resolutely entrenched at $2000 for an individual and $3000 for a married couple since the 1980s might just get an increase. There is an awfully long way to go to see if that actually does come to pass...

Required Writing: Medicaid Redetermination Reminder

There were decidedly few positives that came from the recent pandemic, but one bright spot was the decision by states to suspend the usual practice of obliging Medicaid recipients to undergo an annual redetermination, or renewal, of their eligibility for the benefit....