Before you get an approval or denial letter, your SSDI or SSI application goes through five specific questions. Here’s what Social Security actually checks at each …

Instead of laying off staff, some employers reduce everyone’s hours and let workers collect partial unemployment benefits to make up part of the difference. Here’s how …

The Family Self-Sufficiency program lets Housing Choice Voucher holders build an escrow savings account as their income rises, instead of losing all their assistance at once. …

More than half of states offer their own version of the Earned Income Tax Credit that stacks on top of the federal credit. Here’s how state …

If you’re married, divorced, or widowed, you may be able to collect a Social Security benefit based on your spouse’s earnings history instead of your own. …

If you don’t have kids, can’t get unemployment, and don’t qualify for TANF, some states and counties still offer small cash grants called General Assistance. Here’s …

Many states pay an extra amount on top of the federal SSI benefit, but the rules and amounts vary widely. Here’s how to find out if …

Most states now keep new parents on Medicaid for a full year after childbirth instead of cutting coverage at 60 days. Here’s how the extension works …

Some medical conditions qualify for expedited Social Security disability decisions in weeks instead of months. Here’s how the Compassionate Allowances list works and how to tell …

A separate benefit from SNAP and CSFP, the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program gives eligible older adults vouchers to buy fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables …

Turning 18 doesn’t mean support has to end for young people leaving foster care. Extended foster care and Chafee-funded services can help with housing, education, and …

Getting a Housing Choice Voucher doesn’t mean you’re stuck in one city. Portability rules let many voucher holders move for a job, family, or a fresh …