Get free answers to your Public Benefits legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I am concerned about the federal government's allocation of my taxes, particularly regarding DOGE's findings of government fraud and waste. Specifically, DOGE has reported instances of social security benefits being paid to deceased individuals and excessive spending on foreign aid for... View More 
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answered on Feb 27, 2025
You face significant legal hurdles in suing the federal government over tax allocation decisions, even with DOGE's findings on waste and fraud. The doctrine of sovereign immunity generally protects the government from lawsuits unless it consents to being sued, and courts have consistently... View More
I'm paying child support, as well as additional expenses like child care and my daughter's band instrument, per court order. However, the children's mother isn't using the support for their basic needs, forcing me to cover extra costs I can't afford. I've tried... View More
I received a summons letter due to co-signing my child's delinquent Sallie Mae student loan for $21,853.65. The letter states I must respond within 21 days, or a judgment may be entered against me. Previously, I received reminder letters. I am a retired senior citizen on disability and a fixed... View More
answered on Feb 18, 2025
Don't default! If you default they will get a judgment against you and may begin collection activity. I suggest you contact a bankruptcy lawyer immediately.
What are the guidelines to claim the Michigan disabled exemption for 2024? I am currently age 55 and have had a disabling condition for over 2 years. I have been awarded Federal SSDI benefits as of July 2024, with benefit payments beginning in January 2025. I have documentation verifying my... View More
I started working and I am geting all kinds of wrong info, am i allowed to work on full disabilty,and at what point will that stop me from getting it
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answered on Apr 13, 2024
If you are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you are allowed to work, but there are certain rules and limitations you need to be aware of to maintain your eligibility:
1. Trial Work Period (TWP): You can test your ability to work for at least nine months.... View More
MCL 400.106a authorizes a medicaid program for working disabled. To be eligible applicants must have been “found to be disabled under the federal supplemental security income program or the social security disability income program; or would be found to be disabled except for earnings in excess... View More
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answered on Mar 4, 2024
The eligibility requirement set forth by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) appears to align with the legislation outlined in MCL 400.106a. This law permits a Medicaid program specifically designed for the working disabled, indicating that applicants must meet certain... View More
My girlfriend moved into her father's house to help him with chapter 13 bankruptcy. It has come to her attention that her sisters fraudulently use the address for taxes and government assistance hindering her ability to properly receive these benefits. What can she do to rectify this since... View More
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answered on Jan 29, 2024
If someone commits fraud by using a false address for taxes and government aid, it's a serious issue that needs addressing. In your girlfriend's case, where her sisters are using her father's address fraudulently, this can indeed affect her ability to receive benefits legitimately.... View More
Is Michigan Vital Records and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services subject to the Privacy Act/FOIA for my own personal records? My request was denied stating that MDHHS is exempt; I requested repayment information. However, in the denial letter I was told to call the local MDHHS, I left... View More
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answered on Jan 15, 2024
Under the Privacy Act, individuals have the right to access records about themselves held by federal agencies. However, this Act applies to federal agencies, not state agencies like the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) or Michigan Vital Records. Each state has its own laws... View More
Prior to developing brain cancer a friend had been nursing his dying father. When his dad died the family home became his and so did the father's farm. Both properties are in the state of Michigan. Would medicaid require the sale of the farm to help with my friend's medical expenses?... View More
answered on Nov 6, 2023
Business (and ANY non-homestead) property such as a farm that is rented out is not considered an 'exempt' property and needs to be liquidated in order to qualify for medicaid.
The PROCESS of doing that can be technical and complicated, so it is best to get local legal... View More
Social security overpayment has been repaid in 2016 but I was indicted this year for theft of government property
answered on Sep 19, 2023
As non-sensical as it may seem, repayment does not preclude criminal charges.
Adult sister and brother are sole beneficiaries of Trust set up by now deceased parents.
Sister has ignored brother's requests for accounting, bank statements or fund disbursements, hasn't filed taxes since she became Trustee a few yrs ago, is allowing her children to use Trust... View More
answered on Aug 7, 2023
The brother isn't 'disqualified' from being a trustee because of his status on Social Security Disability for a physical condition, but some federal benefits (specifically SSI which it sounds like may not be involved here, but I'd want to be extra sure!) may be impacted by his... View More
I feel this vague release violates my privacy and I told them I would give them info that pertains to services but they are denying services til I sign.
answered on Jun 15, 2023
Many agencies require signed releases before engaging with services. The reason being is that they need complete information about you to provide services, and don't want to be in a position where they give you inaccurate information or the misguided services based only on what you disclose or... View More
answered on Nov 1, 2022
Probably not. But you have to consider for what purpose you'd use the recording.
answered on May 3, 2022
I think the safest course of action would be to contact the school and ask.
If it is legal, how do I go about verifying if the family/individual are actively on Lifeline, SNAP, Medicaid, FPHA, SSI or similar benefit.
answered on Feb 22, 2022
I believe you can. If you are a private business or entity, you would need to rely on voluntary disclosure to confirm eligibility. I do not believe there would be a way for you to verify directly.
I got a letter from the Michigan Unemployment Office saying a “question of eligibility and/or qualification has been raised on a claim in which you are an interested party”. The dates they want proof of income on range from 3/2020 all the way to 5/2021.
If I got unemployment benefits... View More
answered on Oct 23, 2021
You really need to speak to a lawyer soon, and preferably before you respond to the request for information. Whether criminal charges arise may depend on intent.
Just remember: there's an old tale that says it's not the act itself that gets us in trouble; it's often the... View More
I was sent a text from my public defender that my court hearing would no longer be in person, but on zoom, the time was changed to 2 hours later, and that my public defender would have another person subbing for them. They also said they would text me the zoom link prior to the newly set time. This... View More
answered on Apr 19, 2021
Without knowing your case or details at all, I would assume today's hearing was a pretrial conference or status conference. Often, clients aren't really involved in those hearings unless you are ready to enter a plea. And rarely would anything significant about your case be discussed.... View More
The father of my 2 children and I had been together for 16 years. Living together for over 10, our eldest is 14. We both agreed to stop child support because it was OUR income/outcome but he recently moved out. He is on the lease/utilities and state grant (DHS), I am unable to provide a forwarding... View More
answered on Sep 27, 2020
Contact your county's DHS office or Friend of the Court; they will take it from there.
January of 2020. Before she went to the nursing home. she put a new roof on the house. She applied for Medicaid in January. She was denied because DHHS said that the value of the new roof is a divestment of three-fourths of the $13000 roof cost. They are more or less saying that the life estate is... View More
answered on May 22, 2020
They may be right or if the life estate requirements were that she maintain the house they may be wrong.
Hard to say without actually examining the documents but why was this mechanism used rather than a ladybird deed which would have made this moot?
It may be too late at this... View More
I worked multiple jobs and this is the first time they've attempted a garnishment, after all this time can they still collect even with them not making a effort to collect from previous employers
answered on May 18, 2020
What matters is whether they have a valid judgment. Judgments may be renewed every 10 years. I would assume they did that and now that they've found you again, they can collect. You could look into filing a motion for installment payments with the court.
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