Quick Answers to SSI vs. SSDI and How Much SSI

Q. What is the difference between Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI ) disability ?

A. The Social Security Administration is responsible for two major programs that provide benefits based on disabilities. They are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI ), which is based on prior work under Social Security, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI ), which is based on need. SSDI is financed with Social Security taxes paid by workers, employers and self-employed people. SSI payments are paid from general revenues.

Q. How much will I receive in Supplemental Security Income (SSI ) benefits ?

A: The amount of your SSI benefit depends, in part, on where you live. The basic SSI check is the same nationwide. However, many states add money to the basic check and some offer other supplements. For 2008, the maximum federal SSI payment is $ 637 per month for an individual and $ 956 for a couple. Because SSI is a needsbased program, this amount may be reduced due to other income. If you get SSI, you also may be able to get other help from your state or county. For example, you may be able to get Medicaid, food stamps or some other social services.

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New Adoption Incentive for Children with Disabilities

The House passed H.R. 6893 on September 17, a bill to expand federal funding for the adoption of special needs children when states increase the adoption rates of such children. Under the bill, adoption support would double from $2,000 to $4,000 (from $4,000 to $8,000 for children over age 9). Relatives who adopt a child would receive the same funding supports as non relatives. New Family Connection Grants would be established to spur foster placements with blood relatives.

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SSI - Elderly and Disabled Refugee Act

The SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act, H.R. 2608 , cleared the House on September 17 by a voice vote. The next step is signature by the President. The House had originally passed the bill in July 2007, but the Senate passed an amended bill August 1, 2008.The House acted last week to pass the Senate version, clearing it for final enactment. The bill would temporarily extend the 7-year SSI eligibility period for refugees, asylees, and certain other humanitarian immigrants (including victims of human trafficking) to 9 years for the period October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2011. In order to qualify for the extension, certain noncitizens would be required to sign a declaration indicating that they have made a good faith effort to pursue U. S. citizenship. The 2-year extension would also apply retroactively to those noncitizens whose SSI had previously ceased due to the expiration of the 7-year period. The legislation would be effective October 1, 2008, with the 9-year eligibility period reverting back to a 7-year period after September 30, 2011. A more detailed summary of the bill is available on the Social Security Administration’s website:
http://www.ssa.gov/legislation/legis_bulletin_080108.html

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Housing Legislation

By voice vote, under suspension of the rules, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2008 (H.R. 5772) . This legislation would reform the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program. A Senate companion bill is expected to be introduced shortly.

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ADA Amendments Act PASSES!

On Wednesday, September 17, the U. S. House of Representatives passed the the ADA Amendments Act (S.3406) by voice vote under a unanimous consent procedure. The House passed bill is identical to the bill passed unanimously in the Senate the previous week. The measure now goes to the White House where it is expected to be signed into law soon by President Bush. This bill is intended to restore lost protections within the ADA stemming from decisions by several federal courts which narrowed disability discrimination coverage.

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Getting Things Started! The BPQY

Ok - there is an important document that us CWIC's like to use. It's called a BPQY and is generated by Social Security and includes some IRS data as well. Very handy. But we need a release to get it - go to the 2 links below, print them off, fill them out and mail them to me!

Rehab Services, Inc.
Attn: Terry Peterson
112 2nd Ave SW
Minot, ND 58701

http://www.ndcpd.org/benefits/pdfs/Earnings.pdf

http://www.ndcpd.org/benefits/pdfs/Release.pdf

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ADAPT Challenges HUD, Democrats, McCain on Disability/Housing Economic Crisis

WASHINGTON, Sept 16, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- ADAPT wasted no time challenging Policymakers on the housing crisis for persons with disabilities with low incomes. After setting up a tent city at HUD headquarters, ADAPT sent 100 activists to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) offices in Washington, D.C., and another hundred to a Sen. John McCain campaign office in Arlington, VA. ADAPT presented a platform for affordable, accessible housing.

"The DNC was cordial, and accepted our housing platform, and invitation to visit 'DUH City,' which is HUD spelled backwards," said Barb Toomer, Utah ADAPT. HUD told us they had no authority to make decisions. We have to wait for the administrative appointees to make any decisions. Sen. John McCain's campaign staff not only refused to even look at our housing platform, they had eleven of us arrested."

ADAPT's housing platform points to America's growing crisis in the availability of affordable, accessible integrated housing. Many people with disabilities live on benefits that are a full 25% below the poverty level and less than the national average rent for a studio/efficiency apartment.

"The federal government is sending stimulus payments to middle class workers, and providing economic relief for the mortgage crisis, and maybe even the banks," said Dawn Russell, Denver ADAPT. "What about us who live on fixed incomes? If we can't afford housing, we'll end up on the street or forced into institutions. What are the federal government, Congress, and the presidential candidates going to do to help us with our housing crisis?"

ADAPT is asking for:
* 5000 new housing vouchers per year for 10 years, targeted to people
transitioning out of nursing homes and other institutions;
* Twice as much funding for the construction of new housing stock that is
affordable, accessible and integrated;
* Policies and procedures to track the vouchers to assure targeting to
people with disabilities when the original user becomes ineligible;
* People with disabilities who reside in institutional settings to be
recognized as "homeless."


ADAPT's DUH City will remain in operation twenty four hours a day until Thursday, September 18. The DUH City Times will be delivered daily to every member of Congress, and there will be daily DUH TV coverage on YouTube. Background information, real stories of real people and photos can all be accessed at http://www.duhcity.org.
Contacts: Randy Alexander (901)359-4982 Marsha Katz (406)544-9504
SOURCE ADAPT


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Congress Holds Hearing Today on Backlog of Social Security Disability Cases

The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security will hold a hearing Tuesday morning to look at what is -- and isn't being done -- to reduce the incredibly backlog of Social Security disability cases. Testifying before the committee will be Judge Ronald Bernoski, an administrative law judge and president of the AALJ. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. in B-318 Rayburn House Office Building.
Currently the nation's Social Security disability insurance program is struggling under a severe case backlog. In some parts of the country, claimants can wait more than two years for a hearing. According to the Government Accountability Office, the backlog results primarily from increased applications, staffing shortages and management weaknesses.
The Association of Administrative Law Judges (AALJ) represents the 1,200 federal administrative law judges employed by the Social Security Administration.

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

U.S. Department of Labor and Major League Baseball launch ‘PITCH’ campaign to encourage businesses to hire people with disabilities

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), in cooperation with Major League Baseball, today announced the launch of the PITCH (Proving Individuals with Talent Can Help) campaign to encourage businesses to hire individuals with disabilities.

Former Major League pitcher Jim Abbott will serve as the campaign's spokesman. The campaign will include radio public service announcements, media awareness activities and appearances at the Little League World Series as well as Major League ballparks during September and October.

Abbott, born without a right hand, was an Olympic Gold Medalist in 1988. In 1993, while pitching for the New York Yankees, he tossed a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians. He pitched 10 seasons in the major leagues with the California Angels, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers.

Neil Romano, assistant secretary of labor for ODEP, said, "We are thrilled to have the support of Major League Baseball for this significant campaign. Having Jim Abbott as our spokesman demonstrates that given the opportunity people with disabilities can make substantial contributions to any business. Jim succeeded based on his talent. The goal of this campaign and of our office is to have all businesses consider the great talent that people with disabilities can bring to their organizations."

Abbott added, "This is something that is very important to me. I am honored to be working with the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy. I will do all that I can to bring attention to this issue and encourage businesses to look towards people with disabilities when they are hiring for their team."

According to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, in 2006, the employment rate for people with disabilities was 37.7 percent, compared to an employment rate of 79.7 percent for people without disabilities, a 42 percent difference. People with disabilities represent a severely underutilized talent pool.

For more information about the PITCH campaign, visit www.ability.dol.gov.
The Office of Disability Employment Policy provides national leadership on disability employment policy by developing and influencing the use of evidence-based disability employment policies and practices, building collaborative partnerships, and delivering authoritative and credible data on employment of people with disabilities. More information is available at www.dol.gov/odep.

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

WIPA Eligibility

According to the WIPA manual, there are only three eligibility criteria for WIPA services. These are:

1. At least age 14, but less than the person’s full age of retirement;
2. The person experiences a disability per SSA’s definition; and
3. Currently receiving Social Security benefits based on disability (Title XVI or Title II disability related benefits)

And yes - it is FREE!

Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com

New money to be designed with blind in mind

U.S. District Judge James Robertson said he would not allow the Treasury Department to go at its own pace as it complies with a May ruling that U.S. paper money discriminates against the blind.


(09-05) 04:00 PDT Washington -- When the next generations of $5, $10, $20 and $50 bills roll off the presses, there should be some way for blind people to tell them apart, a federal judge said Thursday.Treasury officials have hired a contractor to investigate ways to help the blind differentiate between bills, perhaps by printing different sizes or including raised numbers. Government attorneys urged the judge to let that process play out and not interfere with anti-counterfeiting redesigns that are already in process.

Robertson was not persuaded.

"The Treasury Department is not going to just conduct this on its own schedule and its own terms. Let that be clear," he said.

Robertson ordered attorneys for the government to meet with the American Council of the Blind, which brought the lawsuit, and come up with a schedule that requires changes in the next generation of bills.

The next $100 design could be printed as early as autumn and Robertson said those bills won't be affected. But subsequent designs should be able to solve the problem, the judge said.

Government lawyers said they plan to argue that Robertson does not have the authority to interfere with the Treasury's printing responsibilities.

The judge said he'd consider the argument but quipped that, if he didn't have authority to require changes, how was he supposed to enforce the ruling? What would the court order say, he asked, "Go out and have a good time? We'll see you when it's all over?"

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/05/BU0M12O759.DTL

This article appeared on page C - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle



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