Social Security Income Archives | Grady H. Williams, Jr. LL.M, Attorneys at Law

Category archives: Social Security Income

A Modest Social Security Increase for 2021
9 months ago
The Social Security Administration has announced a 1.3 percent rise in benefits in 2021, an increase even smaller than last year’s. Cost-of-living increases are tied to the consumer price index, and a modest upturn in inflation rates and gas prices means Social Security recipients will get on... [read more]

How Your Stimulus Check Affects Medicaid Eligibility
1 year ago
The coronavirus relief bill includes a direct payment to most Americans, but this has Medicaid recipients wondering how the payment will affect them. Because the payment is not income, it should not count against a Medicaid recipient’s eligibility. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Se... [read more]

Social Security Shutters 'Petri Dish' Offices in Response to Coronavirus Outbreak
1 year ago
To protect its workers and the public during the coronavirus pandemic, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has suspended face-to-face service at its field offices and hearings offices nationwide until further notice. Payments to the nearly 70 million Social Security beneficiaries will not be af... [read more]

How Secure Is Social Security?
1 year ago
For years people have been worried about Social Security’s future, but what is the actual outlook? According to the federal government, unless Congress acts to intervene, Social Security shortfalls are expected beginning in 2035. Social Security retirement benefits are financed primarily thro... [read more]

The 2020 Social Security Increase Will Be Smaller than 2019's
2 years ago
The Social Security Administration has announced a 1.6 percent increase in benefits in 2020, nearly half of last year's change. The small rise has advocates questioning whether the government is using the proper method to calculate the cost of living for older Americans and those with disabilities. ... [read more]

Stormy Daniels Lawyer Michael Avenatti Charged with Embezzling $4 Million Intended for Special Needs Trust
2 years ago
California attorney Michael Avenatti, who came to national attention for his representation of adult film actress Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against President Trump, was recently charged in federal court with 36 counts of tax fraud, bankruptcy fraud and stealing from the settlements of clients. A... [read more]

Some Non-English Speakers Would Lose Disability Benefits Under SSA Proposal
2 years ago
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is proposing to make it more difficult for people who don’t speak English to qualify for disability benefits. Under planned regulations released February 01, 2019, the SSA would no longer consider a person’s “inability to communicate in English” when revie... [read more]

What Is an ABLE Account? An Introduction
2 years ago
Since the passage of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act in 2014, tens of thousands of people with disabilities have opened up new, special tax-free savings accounts to save for disability-related expenses. These accounts, popularly known as ABLE accounts, allow many people with disabi... [read more]

Pooled Trusts: Should You Consider Taking a Dip?
2 years ago
Most special needs trusts (SNTs) are set up to benefit one individual. But it’s possible to contribute to a trust where the funds of many people with special needs are “pooled.” This kind of trust, called a pooled or (d)(4)(C) trust, may be a better option for some people than the conventional SN... [read more]

Social Security Payments, Medicare Premiums and Deductibles, to Rise in 2019
3 years ago
Social Security payments are set to grow next year, although for some recipients the extra income will be slightly offset by an increase in Medicare premiums and deductibles. Announced by the Social Security Administration (SSA) on October 11, 2018, and effective December 31, Social Security pay... [read more]

Are 529 Plans the Best Way to Save for SSI Beneficiaries’ Education Expenses?
3 years ago
For many families, Section 529 College Savings Plans are an excellent investment tool when saving money for their child’s educational expenses. But if the child obtains Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, families should be cautious in using a Section 529 plan. 529 plans, named for a pro... [read more]

SSA Gives Guidance on the Use of Prepaid Debit Cards by Special Needs Trust Beneficiaries
3 years ago
Trustees of special needs trusts are increasingly relying on “administrator-managed prepaid debit cards,” such as True Link cards, when disbursing funds to beneficiaries. These cards offer trust beneficiaries greater independence and the ability to get what they need more quickly. But such cards e... [read more]