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Compassionate Allowances (CAL) is SSA's system for fast-tracking disability claims for conditions severe enough that they clearly meet SSA's disability standard. It currently covers over 300 conditions, mostly aggressive cancers, adult brain disorders, and rare diseases that primarily affect children.
By BenefitKarma Team
Discover how to get paid as a family caregiver through Medicaid. Learn eligibility, application steps, and programs to receive compensation for your care services. Start getting paid today!
By BenefitKarma Team
SSDI can lead to Medicare, but usually only after a 24-month wait (exceptions: ALS and ESRD). SSI often leads to Medicaid, usually automatically depending on your state. You can qualify for both. And returning to work doesn't automatically end coverage. Plan ahead for the Medicare wait.
By BenefitKarma Team
Bipolar disorder is evaluated under Blue Book Listing 12.04. You can qualify by meeting that listing, or through SSA's Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment instead.
By BenefitKarma Team
A VA-accredited attorney requests your full C-File, we review it, and you get a plain-language summary with possible next steps, usually in 2–4 weeks.
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Veterans, discover how VA Health Chat simplifies care. Refill prescriptions, schedule appointments, and manage health virtually, eliminating clinic visits.
By M.S. Lawrence
Discover why nearly 75% of enrolled veterans don't qualify for VA dental care benefits. Understand eligibility criteria and find out if you're covered.
By M.S. Lawrence
VA disability compensation is paid on the first business day of the month, covering the previous month's benefits. If the 1st falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the VA pays you on the last business day before it instead.
By BenefitKarma Team
The good news: most VA benefits are not taxable. The less-good news: a few related rules and programs can still affect your overall financial picture if you don’t understand how they fit together.
By BenefitKarma Team
See how work and income can affect SSDI before you take the shift or the raise.
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By M.S. Lawrence
The Premium Tax Credit helps you pay for health insurance bought on the Health Insurance Marketplace. Learn how this credit works and if you can get it to save money every month.
By BenefitKarma Team
A bill in Congress would raise Social Security checks by about $200 a month. It has not passed, so no one can claim the extra money yet. Here is what it would do.
By BenefitKarma Team
The government has a program called WIOA that can help you pay for job training. This can lead to a better job and a brighter future for you and your family.
By BenefitKarma Team
Find out which benefits your household may qualify for — food, health, housing, and more.
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Discover if getting married affects your government benefits. Understand the 'marriage penalty' and its financial implications. Here's how marriage impacts aid.
By M.S. Lawrence
The AmeriCorps Education Award helps people pay for college or trade school after they serve their community. Learn how this award can make your education more affordable.
By BenefitKarma Team
Federal TRIO programs help students from low-income families or whose parents didn’t attend college get ready for higher education with free tutoring, advising, and academic support.
By BenefitKarma Team
Get a ballpark estimate of your monthly SSDI payment based on your work history.
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Medicare Savings Programs can help you pay for your Medicare costs. Find out what these programs are, who can get them, and how they can help you.
By BenefitKarma Team
Thinking about Social Security spousal benefits? Learn how these payments work, who can get them, and how to apply for extra money based on your spouse's record.
By BenefitKarma Team
The PACE program helps seniors get medical care and support to live at home. Learn who can join, what services they get, and how it can help save money.
By BenefitKarma Team
Plain-English updates on SNAP, Medicaid, VA and Social Security — one email a week.
What BenefitKarma is
BenefitKarma is a free benefits newsroom and tool library for people in the United States who are trying to figure out what help they can get. We cover food assistance (SNAP and EBT), Medicaid and Medicare, Social Security retirement and disability, and VA benefits for Veterans and their families.
Our free tools let you check what you may qualify for, estimate a VA disability rating, see what a claim could pay, and request your VA C-File records.
We are not a government agency and we do not decide, approve, or pay benefits. We explain the rules in plain language, link to the official source for every figure, and tell you where to apply.
A few of the questions people ask us most often. If yours isn't here, you can always reach out.
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