Plan for Settlement
Benefits information
Select any benefit below to see how a legal settlement may affect it. Select it again to close it.
Reviewed October 26, 2026. Dollar limits are labeled by year and may change. This is general information, not an eligibility determination; confirm your settlement’s treatment with each benefit agency and qualified counsel.
Needs-based benefits
These benefits look at your income and assets, so a settlement may affect them.
Benefits not based on financial need
These benefits are usually not affected by a settlement, but always confirm with your agency.
Other benefits
The following programs use income-based eligibility rules, but definitions of income and other eligibility requirements vary:
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Weatherization Assistance Program
- Head Start
- School Breakfast and Lunch Program
- Special Milk Program
- Summer Food Service
- Family Employment Program
A settlement is not automatically excluded from income for every program. Taxable and nontaxable payments may be treated differently, and some programs have separate lump-sum rules. Ask each program’s caseworker how your settlement affects eligibility and what you must report before assuming your benefits will continue unchanged.
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