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 provide information and guidance regarding available managed health care options with the objective of helping people become more knowledgeable health care consumers. Managed health care deals with the variety of methods for financing and organizing the delivery of health services in which costs are contained by controlling the provision of services.

State or locally administered programs that are responsible for hearing appeals and resolving complaints that have been filed by people who have applied for or are receiving state/local health care insurance and believe that they have been discriminated against, that their rights have been violated or that the health insurance program has failed to take appropriate action with respect to their application or benefits.

Individuals who are generally between the ages of 18 and 25 depending on the ages that specific programs use for qualification.