Building Assets and Promoting Choice for Individuals with Disabilities

Chaz Nickolaus,

Program Specialist, Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council Jefferson City, MO

What Can you Expect from this Session?

The purpose of this session is to help you understand the tools and strategies that will help you support others in making good decisions about working, saving and building assets

Setting a framework for Asset Development Strategies • Passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 brought new hope and expectations about the possibilities of full participation in the workplace and community life for millions of individuals with disabilities and their families • The ADA law clearly states the nation’s goals regarding individuals with disabilities are to assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency for all Americans with disabilities

Setting a framework for Asset Development Strategies • 25 years later, great efforts have been made to advance opportunities related to employment and independent living.

• However we have not really focused on economic self sufficiency

What does the term Economic self-sufficiency mean to you?

Economic Self-Sufficiency

• • • Economic Self-Sufficiency is about making good decisions about working, saving and managing a budget Its about setting goals to advance employment and economic status Its about building assets

Changing Expectations

three myths Individuals with disabilities: • • •

Are unable to work:

work produces income which is the first step towards saving and building assets.

Have all their needs met by their special programs:

independence.

People with disabilities want to reduce their reliance on government benefits and have more freedom and

Can’t be expected to save and build assets:

People with disabilities want a better economic future. They are starting businesses and becoming home owners

Why don’t we do a better job supporting people in issues like money and finances ?

Paradigm Shift

The end goal is not simply employment. The end goal is financial stability for people with disabilities.

It’s time to stop limiting people with disabilities to existing on public benefits and support them to move out of poverty.

Benefit Questions

• Will I lose my benefits?

– – Cash payments Health care • How do I get the skills and experience I need?

• What if I have to stop working?

How many other public benefit programs can you name?

How Does Employment Affect Medicare and Medicaid?

The Social Security Administration recognizes that one of the primary concerns of someone with a disability is being able to maintain healthcare. SSA had made provisions for healthcare and employment with various work incentives such as the Continuation of Medicare Coverage , Extended Medicaid 1619(b) and the Ticket to Work Health Assurance Program.

Where can I find answers?

If you get benefits from SSA like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or EST.

Social Security Disability Insurance answers to your questions and guidance specific to your situation by calling the Ticket to Work Help Line (SSDI), you can get at 1-866-968-7842 (1-866 833-2967 TTY/TDD) Monday through Friday from 8:00AM - 8:00PM If you get benefits from FSD like MO HealthNet , Food Stamps , or Temporary Assistance , you can get help by calling the FSD Information Center toll-free at 1-855-FSD-INFO (1-855-373-4636).

Work Incentive Advantages

•

Provide peace of mind to:

– Try different jobs – Be trained – Build skills – Gain confidence – Start a new career

SSI

Work Incentives

•General and Earned Income Exclusion •Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) •Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS) •Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE) •Blind Work Expense (BWE) •Extended Medicaid 1619 (b)

SSDI

Work Incentives

• Trial Work Period (TWP) • Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) • Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) • Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE) • Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS)

Benefits Planning

Putting the benefit pieces together

Missouri DB 101

• http://mo.db101.org/ • Free, on-line, state specific, maintained, • • • • anonymous Benefits and Work Calculator School and Work Content pages Glossary DB 101 does not replace the need to talk with a benefits counselor

Free Benefits Planning

• Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) is a federally-funded program which provides information about work incentives to individuals who are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) so they can make informed choices about work.

Free Benefits Planning

MO P&A and Paraquad have trained Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs) who provide information and referral, problem solving and advocacy, benefits analysis, work planning information, and benefits management.

Contact information for WIPA

• • Missouri Protection and Advocacy: 800-392-8667 • Paraquad: 314-289-4200

Reasons to Work

• • • • More income Independence Learn New Skills Meet New People

Build the Employment Team

• MO DD Council • Vocational Rehabilitation • One Stop Career Center • Employment Networks (EN) • MO Protection & Advocacy • Mo Dept. Of Mental Health • Centers for Independent Living • County Boards for DD services

www.moddcouncil.org

• Employment • DB 101 • Guide to Career Discovery • Small Business training • Empowermo training • Asset Development

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

VR offers a wide range of services that are individualized for your needs. You and your counselor decide which services will help you become employed. Some of the services that may be available are:  Guidance and Counseling  Job-Seeking Skills and Job Placement  Vocational Training For more information or to apply for services, contact one of VR’s 25 district offices in Missouri. For contact information, call 1-877-222-8963 toll free to find the office in your area.

DIVISION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (DWD)

Department of Economic Development , helps job seekers find gainful employment by providing a variety of core services at it’s various Career Centers www.jobs.mo.gov

One Stop Career Center

• • • • • Evaluate Skills National Career readiness Resume Writing Job Search Training Assistance The One Stop Career Centers and Vocational Rehabilitation both utilize Missouri Connections.

Find your nearest Career Center at: Jobs.MO. GOV

Centers for Independent Living

• • • •

4 Core Services

Independent Living Skills Training Peer Support Advocacy Information and referral • • • • •

Other Possible Services

Transportation Prescription Assistance Ramps & Home Modifications Adaptive Telephone Equipment Deinstitutionalization

Find your nearest CIL at:

www.mosilc.org

or call 1-800-667-2117

Earned Income tax credit

 The EITC is based on your income, even when you have no tax liability, you will receive a tax refund  An individual with no tax liability must file a tax return, without filing you cannot receive an EITC tax refund

Earned Income tax credit

 EITC does not count as earned income and does not impact eligibility for SSI benefits  EITC does not count as earned income to determine eligibility for Medicaid

    Must have earned income Must be at least 25 and under 65 Must have earned no more than $14,340 in 2013 if you are single First time filers can go back 3 years

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/EITC%2c-Earned Income-Tax-Credit%2c-Questions-and-Answers

Free Tax Return Preparation for Qualifying Taxpayers

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to persons with disabilities who generally make $52,000 or less,

Find a VITA Site Near You

VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls and other convenient locations across the country. To locate the nearest VITA site near you, use

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparation for-You-by-Volunteers

or call 800-906-9887.

Resources for Free Tax Preparation

http://extension.missouri.edu/hes/taxed/vitasites.htm

http://dor.mo.gov/contact/assistance.php

Financial Education

Tons of free stuff on the web!

• • • http://www.monetta.com/game-13.htm

http://dfi.wa.gov/financial-education/resources games.htm

http://www.themint.org/index.html

Money Smart - A Financial Education Program

Money Smart Computer-Based Instruction (CBI) is an easy-to-use tool to learn more about basic personal financial management. The CBI features a game-based learning design and separate learning tracks for adults, young adults and children.

Saving Plans/Asset Development

• • • • • • • Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS) Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Property Essential to Self Support (PESS) Independent Development Living Account (IDLA) Family Self Sufficiency program (FSS) HUD Earned Income Disregard

Individual Development Accounts

• • Saving money from month to month is hard There are programs that will match dollar for dollar money you set aside • • • Buying a house Starting a business Continuing an education

Assets for Independence (AFI) Program

Assets for Independence (AFI) is a community based approach for giving low-income families a hand up out of poverty. Utilizing existing individual and community assets, AFI strengthens communities from within through the use of matched savings accounts called Individual Development Accounts (IDAs).

Family Development Account

 promotes self-sufficiency for low-income Missourians through a matched savings program.  Statewide Education at an accredited institution of higher learning; Purchase of a primary residence; Major repairs or improvements to a primary residence; or Start-up capitalization of a small business

Why is it important?

• Increase Independence • Promotes Job Retention • Improves Personal Health • Move Out of Poverty •

The link between financial health and personal health!

Where to start?

Get information about how work income will affect public benefits and what work incentives are applicable. Connect with your employment team –EN or State VR , your local career center, MO DD Council, etc.

Stay positive; look for opportunities

What can you do to help?

 Learn more  Share knowledge  Advocate  Join others

www.moddcouncil.org

Charles “Chaz” Nickolaus

Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council 1706 E. Elm St.

Jefferson City, MO 65102 1-800-500-7878 [email protected]

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