The State of the Union: Public Interest Edition 2026

Co-produced with the Public Interest Law Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin

Reality check

Does it seem like advice on public benefits is getting harder to give and easier to get wrong? Questions about Medicare eligibility, housing, immigration, and health coverage options are colliding with administrative demands, legislative action, and evolving implementation requirements. For attorneys advising low-income and vulnerable clients, staying current has become less about black-letter law and more about understanding how these systems are operating right now.

Go beyond the buzz

Recent developments affecting public benefits have changed the questions clients are asking and the answers attorneys are expected to give in 2026. The State of the Union: Public Interest Edition cuts through the noise by grounding current policy debates in practical realities.

You’ll examine:

• How Medicare fits into the health coverage decisions and constraints now confronting middle- and low-income clients
• Delays and service barriers clients face when interacting with the Social Security Administration and how they affect access to benefits
• Key policy developments tied to recent federal legislation and administrative actions impacting health coverage options
• Approaches to assisting low-income individuals seeking health insurance coverage
• Strategies for minimizing the impact of evictions on housing assistance

Status changes the analysis

When immigration status enters the picture, questions about public benefits become more complex. Gain clarity on how immigration status and visa type affect eligibility, risk, and access to benefit programs so you can provide clear guidance to immigrant clients.

The State of the Union: Public Interest Edition brings crucial clarity to the public benefits changes, health care uncertainties, and policy shifts affecting essential services today.