Legislation We Can All Agree On!

When a person becomes entitled to SSDI, he/she currently has a 2 year waiting period before they would be eligible for Medicare benefits. This waiting period often causes desperate financial situations involving medical expenses and in North Dakota, Recipient Liability.

On a number of occasions I've been asked: "Why is there a 2 year waiting period?". I don't like to be stumped by a question. I lose sleep over questions that take a lot of research to answer. So you could imagine my surprise when, this morning, I found out that there is hope in ending this peculiar rule.

Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Reps. Gene Green (D-TX) and Lee Terry (R-NE) introduced the Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009 (S. 700/H.R. 1708). This bill would phase out Medicare's two-year waiting period for individuals with disabilities under age 65 who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.

Please support this bill in any way possible.

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

Another Great Benefit of WWD -- Extra Help with Medicare Part D

The Workers with Disabilities (WWD) program in North Dakota allows eligible individuals with disabilities who are gainfully employed to “buy into” Medicaid healthcare coverage by paying a monthly premium.

If you have WWD coverage and also receive Medicare benefits, you are automatically eligible for extra help with paying for your Medicare prescription drugs. This extra help is called the low-income subsidy, and it is available to you because WWD is a Medicaid-type program.

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

WWD Income Limits

Workers with Disabilities Coverage

My colleague Mark Mehlhoff wrote a nice synopses regarding calculating income when applying for the WWD. What follows is a condensed version. Please email either Mark or I for the full document complete with examples, alternate thresholds and POMS references.

Terry Peterson

Income Limit for Workers with Disabilities Coverage

Workers with Disabilities (WWD) coverage is a work incentive available in North Dakota for individuals with disabilities. It allows eligible individuals with disabilities who are gainfully employed to “buy into” Medicaid health care coverage by paying a monthly premium.

To be financially eligible for WWD, the income of an individual and of his/her family must be less than 225 percent of the federal poverty level. This converts to a current income level of $1,914 per month for a unit of one person. The income level will be $1,950 per month for a one-person unit effective April 1, 2008.

Certain disregards and deductions are subtracted from gross income to arrive at net income for WWD purposes. The income deductions that are allowed in determining eligibility for WWD include the following:

A deduction of $20 per month subtracted from any income, but first from unearned income.
Deductions of $65, plus one-half of the remaining monthly earned income, both subtracted from gross earned income.

Example

Earl is a single person, and he resides alone in his house. He receives Social Security Disability Insurance benefits in the amount of $1,100 per month. Earl is currently employed and earns $935 per month. His gross income is therefore $2,035 per month. After applying the income deductions, his net income is just $1,515 per month, and he is therefore eligible for WWD.

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

Workers With Disabilities Coverage....KNOW IT!!

Workers With Disabilities (WWD) coverage (also referred to as the Medicaid Buy-In) could be the most powerful work incentive for people with disabilities in the state.

This work incentive - for individuals - could mean access to hundreds of dollars per month and Medicaid coverage.

For professionals that work with individuals with disabilities that may qualify for this program - not being familiar with it and its impact is a significant and detrimental oversight both professionally and ethically.

In short, WWD allows workers with disabilities who currently pay a Recipient Liability, an option of buying into the Medicaid system at a fraction of the cost.

Here is some more detailed info: WWD

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

The Often Overlooked HUD Work Incentive - Be Sure to Request It!

HUD Work Incentive: Earned Income Disregard (EID)

If you are involved with one of the following HUD programs; HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, Supportive Housing Program, Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), or Public Housing - you may qualify for a powerful work incentive that could save you hundreds of dollars per month.

If you are a person with a disability and are benefiting from one of the aforementioned HUD programs...you may qualify for EARNED INCOME DISALLOWANCE when you become employed.

Under this HUD work incentive, 100% of increased employment income will not be counted when determining rent for a period of 12 months following employment. During the second year of employment, only 50% of employment earnings will be used for calculating rent.

An alternative to the EID as a result of employment is INDIVIDUAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS for those who pay income-based rent in public housing. Under this program, the increase in employment income does not have to be from an individual with a disability in the household, it can be from any household member. The housing authority must deposit in a savings account the total amount that would have been included in tenant rent payable as a result of increased income that is disallowed under EID for families. The tenant may only withdraw monies deposited in the account for; purchasing a home, paying education costs of family members, moving out of public or assisted housing, or paying any other expenses authorized by the housing authority that promote economic self-sufficiency.

Ask your local housing authority if you qualify.

If your HUD counselor is unfamiliar with this work incentive, the rules about this can be found in Title 24, Volume 1 of the Code of Federal Regulation http://www.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/cfrassemble.cgi?title=200624 . Search “earned income disregard”, hit 24CFR5- Subpart F, find 5.617 (waivers - EID). Also, hit 24CFR960- Subpart C, find 960.255 (public housing EID/savings account).

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