Virtual Training Library

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...

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...

“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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...