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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

Off the Press: SSA to Change Public Communication Strategy

1984 was a pretty wretched year. Thatcher’s jackboot was stamping down on Nationalized industries as she sought to gut the workforce while providing little support for those crushed under the heel. All in the name of capitalism, you understand. It all seems a little...

Correcting the Record about Social Security Office Closings

Recent reports in the media that the Social Security Administration (SSA) is permanently closing local field offices are false. Since January 1, 2025, the agency has not permanently closed or announced the permanent closure of any local field office. From time to...

Statement from Acting Commissioner Dudek about Temporary Restraining Order

“Today, the Court issued clarifying guidance about the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) related to DOGE employees and DOGE activities at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Therefore, I am not shutting down the agency. President Trump supports keeping Social...

Reduced Benefits: SSA to Cut Workforce

If you thought the Social Security Administration (SSA) was struggling in recent years to handle its workload it will come as a nasty surprise to learn that the new regime have decided that the solution is to reduce the number of workers at the agency. Sadly enough,...

SSA’s Acting Chief Resigns

It was no great surprise to learn in the days after the 2024 election that the commissioner of the Social Security Administration, former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley, stepped down from his position in readiness for the in-coming lunacy of the Trump...

2025’s 1619(b) Figures Announced!

Continued Medicaid Eligibility under Section 1619(b) of the Social Security Act is the crucial work incentive that allows those on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to continue to remain eligible for Medical Assistance even if their earned income has caused their SSI...

Federal Poverty Levels for 2025 Announced

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently published the Federal Poverty Levels (FPL) for this year. There’s a slight increase, as is usually the case. To be on the very verge of poverty (100% of FPL) as the federal government has determined, an...

Supermarket Weep: USDA’s 2025 Food Stamp Allotments

If there might be an advantage to conducting business that runs on a financial year of October to September it is that annual changes can be made without an unsuspecting clientele even being aware. This surely is the case for the US Department of Agriculture who...

Medicare Premiums to Rise in 2025

It was a couple of weeks ago now, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the 2025 premium figures. It doesn't make for particularly happy reading as they're up again. The standard Medicare Part B premium will increase $10.30 a month on this...

SSA’s 2025 COLA Figures Announced!

2025’s Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) was recently published and there are some modest increases across the board. This year that means benefits are up 2.5%. In terms of how that looks to SSI recipients, it means that the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) will rise to $967...