Medicare to Cover At-Home Covid Tests by 'Early Spring'
Medicare beneficiaries will soon be eligible to obtain up to eight free rapid at-home Covid-19 tests per month, the Biden administration has announced.
SSA Offices Expected to Reopen March 30 (Fingers Crossed!)
After being off-limits to most members of the public since March 2020, Social Security Administration (SSA) offices are set to reopen on March 30, 2022, barring an unexpected snag in negotiations with unions representing agency workers or a major change in the pandemic’s course.
Advice on Vice: Do Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Things Considered “Risky” Count As Special Needs?
Vice might be nice, as the old saying goes, but can things like cigarettes, alcohol, and pornography be paid for out of a special needs trust (SNT)?
New State Laws Erect Barriers to Voting for People with Disabilities, Advocates Say
New laws in many states restrict the use of absentee ballots, drop boxes, and third-party voting assistance, avenues that many with disabilities depend on to cast their votes.
California Is the First State to Move Toward Removing the Asset Limit for Medicaid Eligibility
In a groundbreaking move that could have repercussions in certain other states, California is the first state to phase out the requirement that people impoverish themselves before becoming eligible for Medicaid. Medicaid helps pay medical costs for individuals with limited income, and it covers...
Annual Contribution Ceiling for ABLE Accounts Rises and More States Add Programs
The maximum amount that can be contributed each year to an ABLE account for a person with disabilities just rose $1,000 to $16,000. The figure had been stuck at $15,000 since 2018.
Still-Shuttered SSA Field Offices Pose Threat to Vulnerable Beneficiaries
Two years into the pandemic, most government offices have reopened to the public, but the Social Security Administration is keeping its doors locked, threatening thousands of clients.
SSA Encourages Those on Disability to Work — Until It Doesn’t
The federal government imposes big disability overpayment bills on recipients when it finds they’ve earned too much, prompting some to leave the workforce, according to a study.
ABLE Accounts vs. Special Needs Trusts: Why Not Have It All?
ABLE accounts and special needs trusts can accomplish the same goals, but each has its advantages and limitations. The best approach, depending on the beneficiary, may be to use them in tandem.
The Perils and Pitfalls of Do-It-Yourself Special Needs Planning
The risks of designing your own special needs plan, without the guidance of a professional, far outweigh the potential rewards of cutting costs. Here’s what’s at stake.
Recipients of Supplemental Security Income Now Have 50 Extra Days to Appeal Benefits Cuts
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is giving people who have their SSI benefits suspended or reduced more time to appeal, in recognition of the hurdles and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Uber Broke Law by Slapping Wait-Time Surcharge on People With Disabilities, DOJ Charges
Extra fees for passengers who took more than two minutes to get into cars discriminated against people who needed to fold up wheelchairs or required more time to reach vehicles, a lawsuit says.
Hungry for Support: More Likely to Be Food-Insecure, People with Disabilities Have Difficulty Getting Assistance
People with disabilities are more likely to lack adequate nutrition and they find it hard to get nutritional help — or even recognition — from the federal government’s SNAP (food stamp) program.
What Are a Special Needs Trustee’s Record-Keeping Duties?
If you are considering serving as a trustee for a special needs trust, know what is expected of you before taking on this role.
New CDC Materials Teach COVID-19 Safety Protocols to People with IDD
A new series of guides and informational toolkits help people with IDD and their caregivers adopt practices to protect them and their communities from the spread of COVID-19.
Closing of Social Security Field Offices Disrupted SSI Benefits for Thousands, Lawsuit Charges
When the SSA closed its offices at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it failed to provide practical ways for people with disabilities to demonstrate their eligibility or challenge its decisions, according to a class-action lawsuit.
In 2022, Social Security Disability Recipients Will See the Biggest Increase in Four Decades
Rising inflation due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic means that in 2022, Social Security disability benefits will go up 5.9 percent, the sharpest upsurge since 1983.
“New and Improved” Tax Deductions for Parents of Children with Special Needs
As a handy checklist from a professor and tax expert makes clear, tax benefits for parents of children with special needs have changed due to recent federal legislation.
Senate Holds Historic Hearing on 'Woefully Outdated' SSI Program That Traps Millions in Poverty
Taking its first look at the program in decades, a Senate subcommittee heard sometimes searing testimony that Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) is in desperate need of updating
Pandemic Payments Now Won’t Affect SSI Benefits or Eligibility at All
Pandemic-related financial assistance will no longer affect an individual’s eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or the benefit amount, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced.
Guide Helps People with Disabilities Prepare for a Disaster Emergency
Is your family prepared for nature’s wrath and other disasters? A new guide has tips on how to ensure people with disabilities have everything they need in an emergency—well ahead of time.
Never Say Never: Navigating the Appeals Process if You’ve Been Denied Social Security Disability Benefits
The appeals process after being denied Social Security disabilities benefits is a long and winding road, but worth navigating. Here’s what is involved, at every level.
Medicaid’s Case could increase the Bite out of Settlements
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case disputing how much states can recoup from Medicaid recipients' settlements in personal injury cases. The decision has the potential to affect anyone who receives government assistance with their medical care following a disabling injury that resu...
Leaving an IRA to a Special Needs Trust Is No Longer Such a Bad Idea
An exception to the SECURE Act's otherwise stringent rules about distributions from inherited IRAs potentially changes longstanding advice about leaving retirement funds to a special needs trust.
Do Beneficiaries of Special Needs Trusts Have Rights?
A special needs trust is set up to provide money for the care and support of the beneficiary with special needs. A trustee is then named or appointed to manage the trust's assets and act in the best interests of the beneficiary. The duty a trustee owes to a beneficiary is a fiduciary duty which i...
