Scholarships for People with Disabilities

REFERENCE POINTS Financial Aid Resources

2010 J

OSHUA O'NEILL & ZESHAN TABANI ENRICHMENT FUND

This fund offers financial assistance to young adults with Down syndrome who want to enroll in postsecondary programs or take classes that will help them with employment, independent living and life skills. To date, over thirty students have receive

d grants from the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to help cover the costs of pursuing their postsecondary education and enrichment goals. More information is available at http://www.ndss.org/

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JULY 16, 2010

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

The American Psychological Foundation (APF) is now accepting applications for the 2010 Violet and Cyril Frank Scholarship, which supports a graduate level project to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. For more information go to http://www.apa.org/apf/funding/franks.aspx

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: May 15, 2010.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS FOR LATINO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The World Institute on Disability (WID) has a five-year grant to establish the National Technical Assistance Center for Latinos with Disabilities living in the United States, through Proyecto Vision. Proyecto Vision's website has a list of scholarship opportunties for college students who are Latino and who are living with disability, http://www.proyectovision.net/english/opportunities/scholarships.html

COLLEGE FUNDING FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

From DOIT, this guide to funding a college education includes a list of disability-related scholarships and awards. http://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/financial-aid.html

FEDERAL STUDENT AID - GRANT PROGRAM

From Disability.gov, this fact sheet provides an overview of the major federal student aid grant programs. The federal government provides grant funds for students attending colleges, including career colleges and universities. Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid. To access the fact sheet in English go to http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/Grant_Programs_Fact_Sheet_04_2009.pdf A Spanish version is available at http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/spanish/Grant_Programs_Fact_Sheet_04_2009%28es%29.pdf

DISABOOM SCHOLARSHIP DIRECTORY

Disaboom recently launched a scholarship directory for students with disabilities. The directory includes over 125 scholarships. The list can be found at http://www.disaboom.com/scholarships/

ON LINE COMPILATIONS OF SCHOLARSHIPS SPECIFICALLY FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

From Michigan State University

http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3disable.htm

FUNDING EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL - FEDERAL STUDENT AID AT A GLANCE

A quick reference guide and Federal Student Aid Summary Chart that describes various federal student aid programs, who may be eligible and how to apply. http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/2009-2010/english/glance.htm

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Pathfinder Conference - Links on Special Needs Trusts

Met Life

Special Needs Planners

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2010 Mecicare Part B Premium Costs

Medicare Part B Premium Fact Sheet

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The National Beneficiary Survey (NBS)

The National Beneficiary Survey is part of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) evaluation of the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program (TTW). The NBS collects data on knowledge of TTW, participation in TTW, program experiences of beneficiaries who use their Tickets, and perceptions about TTW and other SSA programs designed to help beneficiaries with disabilities find and keep jobs. Though some sections of the NBS ask about beneficiary activity directly related to TTW, most of the survey captures more general information on SSA beneficiaries, including their disabilities, interest in work, employment, barriers to work, and use of services. In an effort to ensure that the survey represents the full range of beneficiary perspectives, the survey is fielded using procedures that accommodate the needs of respondents with all kinds of disabilities. The first three rounds of the NBS were conducted in 2004, 2005, and 2006. The fourth round of the NBS is being conducted in 2010.

For more information, continue to the NBS page.

NEW If you have been asked to respond to the NBS, see answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

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Chairman Pomeroy's Opening Statement at Yesterdays House Social Security Subcommittee Hearing

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COBRA FAQ's

In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, also called the Stimulus Act) provided a 65% reduction in monthly COBRA premiums for individuals who met the qualifications.

Below you'll find some helpful facts on this Health Insurance coverage option.

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Question:
I was recently laid off of my job. I was told that I may be able to get a reduction in my COBRA premiums? Is this true?

Answer:
The answer to this question depends on when you were laid off and under what circumstances. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides for a 65% reduction of COBRA premiums in some cases. You can pay only 35% of the full COBRA premium for up to 15 months if you are eligible for the premium assistance. To qualify, you must have involuntarily lost your job between September 1, 2008 and February 28, 2010. If your job ended on or after March 1, 2010 you will not be eligible for the premium assistance. You will also not be eligible for premium assistance if you quit your job – but you can still use COBRA to continue your employer-sponsored group health coverage.

Here are two examples. In the first case, my job ended on February 7, 2010. I did not quit but was laid off. My health coverage from my job will end at the end of February. Under COBRA, I can choose to continue the group health coverage for myself and for any dependents after February. I will have to pay a monthly premium to keep this coverage. Because my job ended before March 1, 2010 I am eligible to pay a reduced monthly premium (only 35% of the full premium) for up to 15 months. After 15 months, if I still need the coverage, I will have to pay the full premium amount each month.

In a second example, I am laid off on March 4, 2010. I am not eligible for premium assistance under ARRA because my job ended after February 28, 2010. I can still use COBRA however to continue the health coverage for myself and any dependents. I can continue my health coverage for up to 18 months (or 29 months if I have been determined disabled by Social Security).

What Is COBRA Continuation Coverage?

COBRA law was enacted in 1985 under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). COBRA allows an employee to choose to continue employer-sponsored group health coverage after the employee stops working. The employee can choose to pay a monthly premium and continue the health coverage for themselves and any dependents who were covered by the plan. To qualify for continuation coverage under COBRA, an employee must have lost group health coverage because of: 1) voluntary or involuntary termination of employment, for reasons other than gross misconduct, or 2) a reduction in the hours they work. There are other events (such as the death of a covered employee, divorce, or a child's loss of dependent status) that can provide someone with an opportunity to continue health coverage under COBRA. The employee can continue health coverage for up to 18 months, or up to 29 months if they are found disabled according to Social Security rules.

When a beneficiary is considering using to use COBRA, it is important that they consider all other possible health coverage options, such as Medicaid. COBRA premiums can be very expensive for many of the beneficiaries we work with. The ARRA premium assistance program has made COBRA premiums more affordable, but this program will not be available to workers whose jobs end after February 28, 2010. Often individuals will use up all of their savings paying COBRA premiums, when there are other less expensive alternatives that can provide them with health coverage.

Employers with 20 or more employees are subject to federal COBRA rules. In your state, additional employers may be required to offer continuation coverage. 40 states have laws that expand the federal COBRA laws. You can find information on your state COBRA laws at:

http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparetable.jsp?cat=7&ind=357&typ=5&gsa=1

Full information on COBRA, including how to enroll in COBRA continuation coverage, can be found at the U.S. Department of Labor website:

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html

This website provides a Fact Sheet on COBRA Premium Reduction under the ARRA:

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/fsCOBRApremiumreduction.html

There is also “An Employee's Guide to Health Benefits Under COBRA” will at:

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/cobraemployee.html

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Bill Proposed to Raise SSI Asset Limit

On March 24th, Congresswoman Tsongas (D-MA), along with Congressman Petri (R-WI), introduced the SSI Savers Act of 2010 (H.R. 4937) proposing to reform the asset test in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, the primary provider of subsistence cash to extremely low-income individuals, seniors, and people with disabilities.

In general, eligibility for SSI is limited to those who have assets of $2,000 or less for an individual and $3,000 or less for a couple. The SSI test generally counts all resources deemed accessible to an individual, including defined-contribution retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s and IRAs, under the asset limit.

H.R. 4937 proposes to remove savings disincentives in SSI by:

• Raising the asset limit to $5,000 for single and $7,500 for joint tax filers and indexing these limits for inflation;
• Excluding retirement savings from inclusion in the asset test for noninstitutionalized individuals under the age of 65;
• Excluding savings in qualified retirement accounts below a specified ceiling of (indexed for inflation) $10,000 for an individual and $15,000 for a couple or household for noninstitutionalized individuals age 65 or older;
• Disregarding one third of the funds drawn down from retirement accounts when calculating household income for noninstitutionalized individuals age 65 or older;
• Removing the requirement that SSI recipients, if eligible, must apply for periodic payments from their retirement savings, and;
• Excluding Education Savings Accounts and Individual Development Accounts funded all or in part with federal dollars or defined in federal programs for those under age 65.

For more information go to http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_4937.html

Source: Justice for All http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/current_affairs/

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