Youth and Young Adults

The Maryland Benefits Counseling Network understands the unique challenges and questions that transitioning aged youth may experience related to public benefits. There are often questions related to being a student, health insurance, and living with parents. Below is information about the most common situations that arise; however, we recommend that you speak with a certified benefits counselor to discuss your unique situation.

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Are you a student receiving SSI who wants to work?

Spotlight on Student Earned Income Exclusion

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Are you receiving SSI as a child’s benefit?

Age 18 Benefits Check-UP & SSI Age 18 Redetermination

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Are you receiving SSI as a child’s benefit and participating in an employment program?

Section 301 Factsheet

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Wondering how you can save money for college?

Saving for Post-Secondary Education

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What benefit concerns should I have when transitioning to adult benefits?

Social Security Benefits Issues Affecting Transition Age Youth

SNAP Tackles Pop: States Ban Food Stamp Purchases of Soda and Candy

by Charlie Hollins | 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...

2026’s 1619(b) Thresholds Are Out!

by Charlie Hollins | 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...

Health Check: Changes to Medicaid in Maryland

by Charlie Hollins | 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,...

What’s New? Update on 2026 Benefits Changes

by Charlie Hollins | 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...

Happy Holidays from MDBCN to You!

by Charlie Hollins | 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...

Getting Better: ABLE Changes for 2026

by Charlie Hollins | 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...

A Bitter Pill: Medicare Costs in 2026

by Charlie Hollins | 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...

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

by Charlie Hollins | 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...

SNAP’s Back: Federal Food Stamp Payments to Resume

by Charlie Hollins | November 14, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

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

by Charlie Hollins | November 7, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

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...