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.



Are you a student receiving SSI who wants to work?

Spotlight on Student Earned Income Exclusion



Are you receiving SSI as a child’s benefit?

Age 18 Benefits Check-UP & SSI Age 18 Redetermination



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

Section 301 Factsheet



Wondering how you can save money for college?

Saving for Post-Secondary Education



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

Social Security Benefits Issues Affecting Transition Age Youth

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...

SSA Announces 2026 COLAs

by Charlie Hollins | October 28, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

2026’s Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) was recently published and there are some limited but welcome increases across the board. Benefits are due to go up 2.8%. In terms of how that looks to SSI recipients, it means that the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) will rise to...

SSA Reveals Service Plan during the Federal Government Shutdown

by Charlie Hollins | October 1, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Social Security has issued a statement on its Advocates webpage highlighting the level of its availability during the government shutdown which went into effect today, October 1. Crucially, all SSI and SSDI payments will continue without change and on the same payment...

Oscillate Wildly: Changes to SSDI Overpayment Recovery Rates

by Charlie Hollins | September 19, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

It may have escaped your attention, as it did this writer’s, that on August 29 this year Social Security issued Emergency Message 25029 REV. Emergency Messages are the agency’s method of notifying every office of the new protocols to follow. This one’s purpose is to...

Tapping In: Maryland’s Assistive Technology Financial Loan Program

by Charlie Hollins | September 12, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

To judge from the figures presented in the 2024 review of Maryland Department of Disabilities’ Technical Assistance Program (MDTAP) there’s not much knowledge within the state of the program itself or any of its projects. MDTAP has provided the Assistive Technology...