If you are collecting SSI, you don't receive that for months when you have over $2000 (if you are single) in assets.

If the $10,000 is for pain and suffering or replacing the funds you spent on medical treatment for an injury that is all and said and done with now, then it is now your cash and would affect SSI and foodstamps.

If the settlement is for FUTURE medical expenses related to that injury, you could ask your lawyer to set up a medical trust that would not affect SSI.

Are you on SSI and SSDI ? I thought I remembered SSDI questions in your past posts.