Programs that provide assistance for prospective or current public financial assistance recipients who are having difficulty understanding and/or obtaining the full benefits to which they are entitled by law under various income support entitlement programs. The programs may help people understand the eligibility criteria for benefits, how much they can work without affecting their benefits (for some programs), the benefits provided by the program, the payment process and the rights of beneficiaries; provide consultation and advice; help them complete benefits application forms; negotiate on their behalf with public assistance benefits staff; and/or represent them in administrative hearings or judicial litigation. Included are welfare rights organizations that offer a range of advocacy services as well as legal aid programs that offer more formalized legal assistance. Entitlement programs include (but are not limited to) General Relief (GR), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Food Stamps/SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Programs that help people obtain, complete and/or file official forms, certificates, documents, applications or other paperwork that is required to apply for benefits or services, initiate or respond to legal action or to officially handle or document the occurrence of a transaction; that help people acquire copies of official documents on file elsewhere; or that review legal documentation an individual has received to help explain its meaning.

A federal income maintenance program administered by the Social Security Administration that provides basic financial assistance in the form of monthly checks for people who are age 65 and older, blind or have a disability and who have little or no income and resources. Some states supplement SSI checks for certain categories of recipients. If the state's supplemental payment is federally administered, individuals are automatically assessed for SSP eligibility when they apply for SSI and the supplemental payment is included in their SSI check. If a state administers its own supplemental payments, individuals must apply separately at the state agency.

Programs that are responsible for hearing appeals and resolving complaints that have been filed by people who have applied for or who are receiving assistance through SSI and believe that they have been discriminated against, that their rights have been violated or that the Social Security Administration has failed to take appropriate action with respect to their application or benefits.

Social Security offices that accept applications and determine eligibility for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program; and reinstate individuals who have lost their SSI benefits due to incarceration, institutionalization, noncompliance or other reasons. Also included are other programs that help people prepare and file SSI applications and/or are authorized to do eligibility determinations for the program.

A federal program administered by the Social Security Administration that provides monthly cash benefits for disabled workers who are fully insured under the program, who are not capable of substantial gainful work and who have completed a five month waiting period.

Individuals who are presumed to be eligible for public benefits based on their income and assets or whose eligibility has been established but who are not yet receiving their benefits.

Individuals who are receiving cash grants and emergency assistance through the General Relief program, an income maintenance program that is funded entirely by the county for indigent people, usually adults who have no minor children, who are ineligible for any of the federally-funded cash grant programs.

Individuals and families whose use of public assistance benefits as a primary source of support can be characterized as long-term or recurrent.

Low-income individuals who are receiving comprehensive medical benefits through the federal Medicaid program administered by the county or the state.

Refugees and eligible entrants who are receiving time-limited cash assistance while they are in the process of resettling in the United States.

Individuals who are receiving cash grants through the TANF program, a state program with matching federal block grant funds administered by the county or the state under state guidelines that provides time-limited cash assistance for needy families with (or expecting) children as well as job preparation, work opportunities and access to supportive services such as child care which enable parents receiving assistance to leave the program and become self-sufficient.

Individuals who have physical, sensory, developmental, cognitive, mental or emotional limitations, illnesses or injuries that affect their ability to engage in one or more major life activities. Disabilities and health conditions may be temporary or permanent, may be present at birth or occur at any point in a person's lifetime, and can be of different levels of severity.