53 terms, in plain English
Benefits glossary
Plain-English definitions of the words agencies use, so applications and letters make sense.
A
4 terms- ABAWD (able-bodied adult without dependents)
- An adult age 18–49 without children or other dependents who is expected to work or participate in work activities to receive certain benefits.
- SNAPTANFUnemployment
- Adjusted gross income (AGI)
- Your total income from all sources minus certain deductions allowed by the IRS.
- Asset limit
- The maximum amount of money and property you can own and still qualify for a benefit program.
- Extra HelpLIHEAPMedicaid
- Authorized representative
- Someone you legally allow to apply for benefits, get information, or make decisions on your behalf.
- Child Care AidEITCLIHEAP
B
2 terms- Benefit cliff
- A point where earning a little more money causes you to lose so much in benefits that you end up with less money overall.
- ACA SubsidiesChild Tax CreditChild Care Aid
- Broad-based categorical eligibility
- A rule that lets states expand SNAP eligibility beyond the usual income and asset limits by connecting it to other assistance programs.
- LIHEAPMedicaidSNAP
C
3 terms- CHIP
- CHIP (the Children's Health Insurance Program) gives low-cost health coverage to uninsured children in families that earn too much for Medicaid.
- ACA SubsidiesLIHEAPMedicaid
- Categorical eligibility
- A rule that lets you qualify for certain benefits automatically if you already receive another specific benefit.
- Child Care AidLIHEAPMedicaid
- Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)
- A federal program that helps low-income families pay for child care so parents can work, go to school, or get training.
E
4 terms- EBT card
- A debit card that receives your monthly benefits from SNAP, WIC, and other government assistance programs so you can buy food and other allowed items.
- School MealsSNAPWIC
- Earned income
- Money you make from working a job or running a self-employment business.
- Child Tax CreditChild Care AidEITC
- Expedited SNAP
- A faster way to get SNAP benefits within 7 days if you qualify and meet income rules.
- LIHEAPSNAPTANF
- Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy)
- A federal program that helps people with limited income and resources pay for prescription drug coverage under Medicare.
- MedicareMSPSSI
F
5 terms- Fair hearing
- A chance to present your side of the story if a benefit agency denies your application or cuts off your benefits.
- Child Care AidCHIPLIHEAP
- Fair market rent
- The average rent charged for an unfurnished apartment in your area, used to set income limits for housing assistance programs.
- Federal poverty level (FPL)
- The federal poverty level is the minimum yearly income the government uses to decide if you qualify for help programs.
- ACA SubsidiesChild Tax CreditChild Care Aid
- Filing status
- Your filing status is the category you choose on your tax return that describes your household and marital situation.
- Child Tax CreditCHIPEITC
- Five-year bar
- A federal limit that stops most adults from getting TANF cash assistance for more than 60 months (5 years) in their lifetime.
- Child Care AidLIHEAPMedicaid
G
1 term- Gross income
- All the money you earn before taxes and other deductions are taken out.
- ACA SubsidiesChild Tax CreditChild Care Aid
H
3 terms- Head Start
- Head Start is a free federal program that provides early education, health care, nutrition and family support services to low-income children ages 3 to 5.
- Child Care AidMedicaidSchool Meals
- Household size
- The number of people living in your home who depend on income and resources from the same source.
- ACA SubsidiesChild Tax CreditChild Care Aid
- Housing Choice Voucher
- A subsidy from the federal government that helps low-income renters pay their landlord, so they can afford a place to live.
- Child Care AidLIHEAPMedicaid
I
1 term- Income verification
- Proof that you show to a benefit program about how much money you earn or receive.
L
1 term- LIHEAP crisis assistance
- Help from LIHEAP to prevent or fix an energy emergency, like a utility shut-off notice.
- LIHEAPSNAPTANF
M
3 terms- Medicaid renewal (redetermination)
- A check to make sure you still qualify for Medicaid coverage, usually done every 12 months.
- Child Care AidCHIPLIHEAP
- Medicare Part D
- Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage that helps pay for medications.
- Extra HelpMedicareMSP
- Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)
- Your income after certain adjustments, used to check if you qualify for benefits and tax credits.
- ACA SubsidiesChild Tax CreditChild Care Aid
N
2 terms- National Verifier
- A system the federal government uses to check that you meet the income and other rules for benefits programs.
- Child Care AidCHIPLIHEAP
- Notice of Action
- An official letter from a government agency telling you that it has made a decision about your benefits application or existing benefits.
O
1 term- Open enrollment
- A set time period each year when you can sign up for health insurance or make changes to your coverage.
- ACA SubsidiesCHIPMedicaid
P
4 terms- Premium tax credit
- Money from the federal government that lowers what you pay each month for health insurance bought through the ACA Marketplace.
- ACA SubsidiesCHIPMedicaid
- Public charge
- A rule that can affect your ability to get a green card or visa based on whether you use certain public benefits.
- Child Tax CreditCHIPEITC
- Public housing agency (PHA)
- A local government office that runs housing programs in your area, including Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8).
- LIHEAPMedicaidSection 8
Q
4 terms- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)
- A person with Medicare who qualifies for help paying Medicare costs because of limited income and resources.
- Qualified immigrant
- A person whose immigration status allows them to receive certain government benefits and tax credits.
- ACA SubsidiesChild Tax CreditChild Care Aid
- Qualifying Individual (QI)
- A Qualifying Individual (QI) is a person with Medicare who has limited income and resources and qualifies for help paying their Medicare Part B premium through a Medicare Savings Program.
- Extra HelpMedicareMSP
- Qualifying child
- A child who meets specific age, relationship and living requirements that lets you claim them on your taxes or use them to qualify for benefits.
- Child Tax CreditChild Care AidCHIP
R
2 terms- Recertification
- Proving again that you still qualify for a benefit by submitting updated information about your income, family size, or other facts.
- Retroactive coverage
- Health insurance or benefits that cover medical costs or services from a date before you applied or were approved.
S
6 terms- SNAP household
- The people who live together and buy and prepare food as a unit, which determines if you can get SNAP and how much you may receive.
- Child Care AidLIHEAPMedicaid
- Special Enrollment Period
- A limited time when you can apply for or change health insurance outside the usual yearly open enrollment period, usually because of a major life change.
- ACA SubsidiesCHIPMedicaid
- Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)
- SLMB is a Medicare Savings Program that helps people with limited income pay their Medicare Part B premium.
- Extra HelpMedicaidMedicare
- Standard deduction (SNAP)
- A set amount of money subtracted from your income when figuring out if you qualify for SNAP and how much you get.
- LIHEAPMedicaidSNAP
- Substantial gainful activity (SGA)
- Work that earns enough money to be considered significant employment for government benefits purposes.
- SSDISSI
- Summer EBT (SUN Bucks)
- Summer EBT is a program that gives grocery benefits to school-age children when school is out for summer.
T
1 term- TANF time limit
- A federal rule that limits how long adults can receive cash assistance through TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families).
- Child Care AidMedicaidSNAP
U
2 terms- Unclaimed property
- Money or assets that belong to you but that a company or government agency has lost track of.
- ACA SubsidiesChild Tax CreditChild Care Aid
- Unearned income
- Money you receive that is not from a job you work at, such as Social Security, unemployment benefits, or child support.
- Child Care AidLIHEAPMedicaid
V
1 term- VITA
- VITA stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. It's a free tax return preparation program run by the IRS for people who need help filing taxes.
- Child Tax CreditEITCIRS Refund
W
3 terms- WIC nutrition risk
- A health condition that makes you eligible to receive WIC benefits.
- MedicaidSNAPTANF
- Waiting list (housing)
- A list of people waiting for affordable housing to become available, usually managed by housing authorities.
- LIHEAPMedicaidSection 8
- Work requirement
- A rule that you must work or do work-related activities to get or keep certain benefits.
- Child Care AidLIHEAPMedicaid