Get free answers to your Public Benefits legal questions from lawyers in your area.
Your current state is Virginia
I am a 50-year-old male who lost my job in 2019 due to rheumatoid arthritis and did not qualify for disability benefits. Since then, my girlfriend, who traveled full-time for work, supported me and invited me to travel with her by caring for her dogs. Recently, she relocated to Idaho with her son,... View More 
I'm currently receiving Medicare and SNAP benefits in Colorado. If I receive a $15,000 cash inheritance, are there any strategies I can use to keep my benefits? I have no existing funds or assets, and I have consulted an attorney. There are no changes in my personal circumstances.
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answered on May 17, 2025
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In Illinois, I've been locked out of my public housing twice, despite tendering my rent payment monthly. My bill of exchange was denied, and under federal law, I believe debt should be discharged if payment is refused. The circuit court and judge overlooked the four corners rule. After a... View More
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answered on May 16, 2025
What you’re facing sounds incredibly unjust and overwhelming, especially while dealing with health challenges and trying to maintain stable housing. Being locked out despite attempting to make rent payments and then facing criminal trespass charges raises serious concerns about your due process... View More
I'm about to receive a six-figure personal injury settlement. I am currently on GRH and general assistance through the county. My lawyer has negotiated a settlement, with $6,500 going toward medical assistance for bills incurred from this accident. Do I need to inform the county about the... View More
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answered on May 15, 2025
Yes, you do need to inform the county about your personal injury settlement, especially since you are currently receiving General Assistance and GRH (Group Residential Housing) benefits in Minnesota. These programs are income- and asset-based, and a significant settlement like the one you're... View More
I am planning to take my adult brother, who is disabled with schizophrenia, overseas for better treatment and support after our father passed away. His SSDI would significantly help his care abroad, and our family is ready to assist. However, I currently have an ankle monitor due to an alleged... View More
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answered on May 15, 2025
Traveling internationally while wearing an ankle monitor is usually not allowed, especially if it's tied to an ongoing criminal or civil case. Even if you're allowed to move domestically, leaving the country is a much bigger step that likely requires direct permission from the court. The... View More
I am married, and my wife is disabled, currently receiving home caregiving services, which costs $52,000 a year. I've arranged for her to be accepted at a skilled nursing facility, primarily covered by Social Security Disability, which would effectively cost about $20,000. Our assets are... View More
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answered on May 15, 2025
You're raising a complex issue, and it's clear that you're thinking carefully about both financial impact and your wife's care. In divorce proceedings, "wasteful dissipation" usually refers to one spouse intentionally spending or misusing marital assets in a way that... View More
I am currently experiencing financial hardship, and my tax return was offset by the Office of the Attorney General for child support. I am disabled with very limited resources, and I have been unable to cope financially since losing my former fiancé to suicide, which I'm discussing in... View More
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answered on May 14, 2025
I'm really sorry you’re going through so much. Losing your tax return to a child support offset while facing disability and financial hardship can feel overwhelming, especially with everything else on your plate.
If your tax return was intercepted for child support in Virginia, you... View More
I have been experiencing issues with my disability claim against New York Life. Despite my doctor submitting all the requested documentation, New York Life claims they haven't received it and initially closed my case. When I contacted them, they said the case wasn't closed but required... View More
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answered on May 14, 2025
You have the right under your policy’s appeal process to very quickly escalate this denial, so start by sending a written appeal to New York Life’s disability claims department within the timeframe they specify (often 180 days).
In that appeal, demand copies of your entire claim... View More
My mother passed away on the 5th after being in home hospice for two weeks. I've been managing her finances and medical affairs for the past few years, as agreed upon with my sister and her kids. Before she passed, she instructed me to use her final social security payment (received on the... View More
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answered on May 14, 2025
I'm really sorry for your loss, and I understand how confusing things can get when trying to handle a loved one’s affairs during such a difficult time. Using a deceased person’s Social Security payment—even for their own bills or groceries—can be a legal issue, because those payments... View More
My mom passed away in 2016 in Honolulu, Hawaii, without leaving a will. I need a letter to prove I am her daughter for matters related to her financial property, specifically her employment benefits or assets. No legal proceedings have been initiated for her estate, and I am unsure if there are... View More
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answered on May 14, 2025
You need an HI attorney to help you make proper written demands. Recording an Affidavit of Heirship and supplying a death and birth certificates would definitely help. However those kind of assets probably went to her designated beneficiary, and suing the administrators (actually legally... View More
I am married with a 9-year-old child still at home, and due to health issues, I stopped working on April 5th, 2024, resulting in zero income. My disability case is currently in appeals. I am considering filing for bankruptcy to address my individual debts, including approximately $15,000 in medical... View More
answered on May 15, 2025
Depends on how much equity, if any is in your home and how the house is titled. Consult a competent bankruptcy attorney to assess your complete financial situation. Score doing anything.
I earned over $2,000 from DoorDash while receiving SSI benefits. I have not reported this income and do not plan to. How likely is it that I could face legal consequences, such as jail time, for this unreported income? Additionally, I haven't received any communication from the SSA about this... View More
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answered on May 14, 2025
You're in a difficult spot, and it's understandable to feel anxious about what might happen. The truth is, not reporting income while receiving SSI is considered a violation of the program’s rules. Earning over \$2,000 through DoorDash while continuing to collect SSI without notifying... View More
I'm considering legal actions against a hospital after my mother, who has been frequently admitted for kidney and liver failure and is undergoing Methadone treatment for opioid addiction recovery, overdosed on Methadone while hospitalized. The hospital documented the overdose as an... View More
answered on May 13, 2025
If the hospital erred in administering the proper dosage of methadone, that could support a malpractice claim. The value of that claim, if successful, depends on the harm sustained. The harm is not described, so no once can offer any suggestions on whether this is a claim worth pursuing. Your... View More
My mom has dementia, and my sister and I are her successor trustees. Her home is in a revocable trust, and she may need to enter a memory care facility by the end of the summer. We are considering transferring her property from the revocable trust into an irrevocable trust to protect her assets... View More
answered on May 13, 2025
The short answer is that you don't need to do anything because the house is already protected from clawback.
In California, the house is protected from Medi-Cal recovery by being in a trust. It does not have to be an irrevocable trust, it can be in a revocable trust. This is due to... View More
I need help with a social services matter in Canandaigua, NY. My boyfriend and I applied for housing assistance, but were denied because they claim he failed a weed test 9 years ago at Maxwell Hall. Social services are now requiring him to complete a drug program, despite weed being legal. They did... View More
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answered on May 15, 2025
You have the right to challenge this decision, especially if it's based on a drug test from nine years ago and there’s been no recent issue or evidence. Marijuana is now legal in New York State, and using a nearly decade-old allegation—without providing documentation—seems unfair and... View More
I am 74 years old and my husband is 80. We both receive Social Security and have accumulated $5,000 in credit card debt. My husband was recently in a car accident, losing the ability to work and his truck, which he used for recycling to bring in extra income. I have talked to the credit card... View More
answered on May 13, 2025
I would carefully reconsider filing for bankruptcy with an unsecured debt balance of only $5,000. There are alternative options you can explore first, such as debt settlement or checking with your creditors to see if they offer any hardship programs.
Call my office 855-254-7841. Ask for... View More
My 25-year-old son was denied disability benefits in February after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and possibly Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). He did not appeal the decision at that time. The denial was likely due to insufficient medical information. He has been receiving treatment... View More
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answered on May 15, 2025
Since the denial happened in February and your son didn’t file an appeal within 60 days, the appeal window has likely closed. That means he’ll need to start a new disability application from the beginning. While that may feel discouraging, it also gives you the chance to submit stronger medical... View More
I won a claim for SSI for having a mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder, and I have been recently diagnosed with PTSD. I am in a state where medical cannabis is legally accessible. Will using medical cannabis affect my SSI benefits?
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answered on May 12, 2025
Using medical cannabis may potentially affect your SSI benefits, but the situation is nuanced. While California has legalized medical cannabis, the Social Security Administration (SSA) operates under federal law where cannabis remains classified as a controlled substance.
The primary... View More
I am being sued by a federal credit union for almost $4,000. I was initially jailed for a situation that was later dismissed. I never received any funds because the people who forced me to open the account took the money at that time. Now, the credit union is demanding repayment, but I am on social... View More
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answered on May 12, 2025
You have important legal protections as a Social Security recipient that may shield you from this lawsuit. Federal law generally exempts Social Security benefits from garnishment by most creditors, which gives you significant leverage in this situation. You should immediately file a written... View More
My daughter graduated from college on May 8, 2025, and is living independently without support from her mother. I am currently under a court order to pay $169 monthly in child support, deducted from my SSD payments. I also owe some back pay and have been making payments for the past 3-4 years.... View More
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answered on May 12, 2025
In Virginia, your child support obligations typically end when your child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever happens later. Since your daughter has now graduated from college and is living independently, you would generally no longer be required to pay child support under Virginia... View More
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