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.

Consumer controlled, community based, cross disability, nonresidential agencies designed and operated within a local community by individuals with disabilities that provide an array of independent living services. All CILs provide five core services: information and referral, independent living skills training, peer counseling, individual and systems advocacy and transition. In addition, many CILs also offer transportation services, mobility training, personal assistance, housing and home modifications, recreation services, vocational programs, assistance in obtaining assistive technology equipment and other individualized services designed to increase and maintain independence.

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 and/or families who are currently staying in a temporary shelter for people who have no permanent housing.

People who are currently residing in facilities that provide extended shelter and supportive services for homeless individuals and/or families with the goal of helping them live independently and transition into permanent housing. Included are people who have graduated from a domestic violence shelter and are currently living in affordable housing complexes on a temporary, transitional basis until they have the resources to return to eventual independent living.

Organizations and individual practitioners who offer maximum choice and control (including the ability to select, manage and dismiss their workers) to people who use services or other supports to help with daily activities.

Unaccompanied adults who have been continuously homeless for a year or more or have had at least four episodes of homelessness in a three year period and suffer from one or more disabling condition(s) including a diagnosable substance abuse disorder, serious mental illness, developmental disability or chronic physical illness or disability, which limit their ability to perform activities of daily living.

People who have a significant degree of mental or emotional disturbance and are residing temporarily with relatives or friends or who live on the street, in emergency or transitional shelters, in a hotel or motel paid for with a shelter voucher, in seriously substandard housing or in an abandoned building, place of business, car or other vehicle, or other public or private place that is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for people.

Programs that provide information and/or services that deal with the topic of Social Security.