2015 Work Incentive Fact Sheets Available Online

The Institute’s Center on Community Living and Careers’ website features a series of fact sheets on many of the Social Security Administration’s work incentive programs.

The 19 fact sheets are brief explanations of work incentive programs available to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) beneficiaries, such as:

• Impairment-Related Work Expenses
• Trial Work Period
• Extended Period of Eligibility
• Substantial Gainful Employment for 2015

Also included on the CCLC Benefits Information and Planning webpage are resources for people with disabilities and their families or providers who may need information on housing subsidies, special savings accounts that won’t impact benefits, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

To see the entire list of fact sheets, please visit:
http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=3692

To view the Benefits Information and Planning page, visit:
http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=70

2 day workshop on benefits

Looking for information on Social Security and other State and Federal Benefits? The Center on Community Living and Careers is offering a two-day workshop for Indiana Social Service Professionals who work with family members and people with disabilities. Find out information on:
The Basics of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

• SSI and SSDI Eligibility, Application, Appeals, and Overpayments 
• The Ticket to Work Program 
• HUD, Food Stamps, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) 
• Medicaid Eligibility and Work Incentives 
• Work Incentives for SSDI, SSI and Other State and Federal Benefit Programs

For more information and to register, please visit: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/styles/iidc/defiles/CCLC/2013_2_day_SS_workshop_flyer_deadline_extended.pdf

Social Security and Other Benefits Explained

Registration is now open for this fall’s Learning the Basics: Social Security and Other Federal and State Benefits, a two-day informational workshop from the Institute’s Center on Community Living and Careers, for VR counselors, mental health professionals, service coordinators, employment specialists, and case managers.

Training dates and location:
     October 15 and 16
     8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time)
     Fort Harrison State Park Inn
     Indianapolis, IN

Participants will learn more about:

• The Basics of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI);
• SSI and SSDI Eligibility, Application, Appeals, and Overpayments;
• Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program;
• HUD, Food Stamps, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF);
• Medicaid Eligibility and Work Incentives; and
• Work Incentives for SSDI, SSI and Other State and Federal Benefit Programs.

Registration cost is $110, but there is no charge for VR personnel, who are sponsored by Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Deadline for registration is October 1. For more information about the workshop and a registration link,visit: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/styles/iidc/defiles/CCLC/BIN/2-day%20training%20brochure%20Ft%20Harrison%202012.pdf

Social Security Benefits

The 2010 edition of Nolo's guide to Social Security Disability: Getting & keeping your benefits is packed with information on this important subject. This 5th edition has new and updated descriptions of SSA regulations governing immune and digestive system disorders, updated information on the "ticket-to-work" program, the latest new SSA forms and instructions, plus updated figures, fees, and contact information.

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu, or try worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

How do they decide?

Ever wondered what criteria the Social Security Administration uses to decide who gets disability benefits? Their website has the answers. Learn all about their five-step process, updated January 2010, that helps the SSA make decisions about benefits. Also find a list of frequently asked questions on the process. To find out more about what you can do online or to locate a Social Security office near you, go to http://www.ssa.gov/onlineservices/.

Keeping Disability Benefits after a Child with Disabilites Becomes an Adult

An SSD attorney in Chicago, Jeffrey A. Rabin & Assoc, released an article clarifying the rules of SSI today. "Many parents may believe that their disabled children will be able to continue receiving Social Security disability or SSI payments once they have reached 18 years old," it begins. "However, this is not necessarily true. The federal government uses a different standard to determine disability status for children than it does for adults. Once disabled children turn 18, they will lose their benefits if they do not meet the adult disability standards."

The authors detail how disability is determined for children and adults, and how parents can prepare for the transition across the 18th birthday. You can read the article here: http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/keeping-disability-benefits-after-a-disabled-child-becomes-an-adult-141078.php

For more information on SSI, look into this title from the CeDIR library: Nolo's guide to Social Security Disability: getting & keeping your benefits. Email us for details on how to check it out.

SSI and Disability: Quick Review Diagnoses

Yesterday, Cathleen Weber of the Community Health Education department at Bloomington Hospital advertised this piece of news:

The Social Security Administration has, for some time, had a list of 50 diagnoses that allowed people to get a "quick review" and immediate social security income or disability benefits (days vs. months or years). As you can imagine, this is imperative for some people with a limited life expectancy, children who need significant medical care, some cancers, etc.

Today the Social Security Administration released the attached news release adding an additional 38 diagnoses to the initial list, including early onset Alzheimer's Disease. This was a huge lobbying effort and a great success and will benefit many families.

The SSA press release is linked below, along with a National Public Radio blog segment about it. For those of you working in areas that help diagnose people (they had added several diseases affecting children) keep these handy and use the list to educate and advocate. Please feel free to share widely.

Link to initial list of 50 diagnoses: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances/conditions.htm

Link to SSA Press release and expansion list of 38 added effective March 1, 2010: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/cal021110-pr.html

NPR Blog segment Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/02/social_security_expands_disabi.html?ft=1&f=103943429

Social Security Benefits

Do you have questions about Social Security Disability Benefits? Concerned about keeping your benefits after returning to work? CeDIR has a copy of the latest edition of Nolo's Guide to Social Security Disability: Getting and Keeping your Benefits. It's filled with the latest information on applying for benefits, how to prove your disability, appealing if your claim is denied, and more!

If you would like to learn more about this book, check it out at CeDIR today or, if you are not an Indiana resident, visit worldcat.org to find it at a library near you.