Public Benefits

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To help reduce poverty and provide better access to health care for those who need it, the government has assistance programs known as “public benefits.” These programs include  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP, also known as “food stamps”), Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare. 

Public benefits fall into two categories — some programs provide assistance no matter how much income you have, like Medicare, while others are only available to people with low to moderate income. The benefits that depend on how much money you make are called “means-tested” benefits and include programs like SNAP and Supplemental Security Income.  Means-tested benefits exist to help lighten the burden for people who live in poverty.

The Public Benefits Unit at CLSMF assists clients who have been denied or who have had these benefits cut off or reduced. We also assist in cases where a person has been charged with an overpayment or other types of penalties related to public benefits. If you need help with any of these issues contact CLSMF, and continue reading below for more information on Public Benefits.