Podcasts about ssdi

In this episode of *McNamara on Money*, Joan McGrath, CEO of Plan of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, joins the program for a practical conversation about financial planning for individuals with disabilities and the families who support them. Joan explains the important differences between SSI and SSDI and why eligibility rules can make financial planning particularly complicated. The discussion explores how first-party and third-party special needs trusts can help preserve access to certain government benefits while allowing additional resources to be used to improve a beneficiary's quality of life. The conversation also covers ABLE accounts, pooled trusts, and options available to families who may not have a large estate. Joan explains how her organization combines trust administration with the involvement of licensed social workers who provide advocacy, guidance, and ongoing life care planning. It's an accessible introduction to a complicated area of planning, with useful information for families thinking about how to provide financial support, preserve benefits, and create greater long-term security for a loved one with special needs.

https://diamondsofdisability.com/articles/why-where-you-live-dramatically-changes-your-disability-supportWhy do two people on the same federal disability benefits get wildly different support? We break down the state-level decisions that shape in-home care, housing, transportation, and employment access for disabled adults, plus the federal funding shift changing everything. Diamonds of Disability City: Orem Address: 260 South 1200 West Website: https://diamondsofdisability.com

Tom Foley began 2021 as the new Executive Director of National Disability Institute (NDI).The global economic cost of excluding disabled individuals from the labor force, which includes barriers to entrepreneurship, ranges between 3% and 7% of global gross domestic product (GDP). many people globally are turning to business ownership for flexible work hours & less of a stressful or hostile work environment. Tom trained as a tax lawyer and financial planner, Tom has more than 30 years of experience in the disability community. As a person who is blind, he has been an advocate and dedicated his career to partnering with other thought leaders to address the complex drivers of economic inequality and create pathways to employment and financial security for the most vulnerable communities. In addition, Tom has been instrumental in developing and influencing federal and state legislation to encourage employment and increase participation of people with disabilities in employment and wealth-building programs. He most recently held the position of Managing Director at the World Institute on Disability.Tom says: I think financial institutions, educators and banks each have to recognize the disability community as a specific market segment of the population that have been traditionally underserved and have a demonstrated need for access to financial tools and services. Once they make the decision to work with the disability community, they need to partner with organizations who are particularly well-positioned to provide industry technical assistance to reach the disability community and further the financial industry's inclusion goals – like National Disability Institute. For example, NDI reaches two million people per year and has been doing this for 15 years. We are particularly well situated, through our research, policy and practice, to reach this community.In addition, it's important for banks and financial institutions to target people with disabilities through their CRA activities. NDI's Center for Disability-Inclusive Community Development (CDICD) works to improve the usage of the opportunities and resources available under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). This is really important as millions of dollars, that could help people with disabilities in LMI communities, goes unspent every year. Through NDI's research, we've identified that Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities with disability are the most underserved. How do we change this? Financial institutions, in particular, need to make a concerted effort to work with and support this segment of the community. In addition, we, the disability community, need to be intentional in our own efforts to better address these issues.© 2026 All Rights Reserved© 2026 Building Abundant Success!!Join Me on ~ iHeart Media @ https://tinyurl.com/iHeartBASSpot Me on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yxuy23baAmazon ~ https://tinyurl.com/AmzBASAudacy:  https://tinyurl.com/BASAud

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What if VR looked beyond traditional employment pathways? In this episode of Manager Minute, Carol Pankow sits down with Kristy Schenderlein, Vice President of Operations at the Blind Institute of Technology (BIT), to discuss how an RSA Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) demonstration grant is redefining career opportunities for people with disabilities. Learn how BIT combines accessible technical training, industry-recognized certifications, registered apprenticeships, and employer partnerships to prepare participants for careers in Salesforce, digital accessibility, AI, and project management. With participants earning family-sustaining wages and advancing into six-figure careers, this conversation challenges VR professionals to think differently about workforce development and the future of competitive integrated employment. Listen Here   Full Transcript: {Music} Kristy: Organizations are unfortunately trying to fit our community into a little box. What they think we can do, not what we know that we're capable of. You guys are really forging ahead with something that's never been done before. And so how do we get the VR groups, the VR counselors and teams to break out of what their traditional mold has been? Our participants earn an average of 75,000, and within three years of employment, the majority have been promoted and are making over six figures. Intro voice: Manager minute, brought to you by the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center. Conversations powered by VR. One manager at a time, one minute at a time. Here is your host, Carol Pankow. Carol: Welcome to the Manager Minute. Joining me in the studio today is Kristy Schenderlein, VP of operations at the Blind Institute of Technology. So Kristy, how are things going for you? Kristy: Very good. Ready for summer to start. Carol: Yes. It's starting here in a big way, let me tell you. We've got heat wave going on in Minnesota. So today we're going to talk about a Disability Innovation Fund project focused on expanding access to careers and technology for individuals with disabilities. And this is a space getting a lot of attention right now. But what does it actually look like to build something that works in practice? So let's dig in. So Kristy, let's start with your journey. How did you get connected to this work and to BIT? Kristy: Yeah, absolutely. So I myself am a member of the Blind and visually impaired community. I have Stargardt's disease, which is a juvenile form of macular degeneration. So I navigated through the education space as a visually impaired student, got my degree from University of Wyoming and Communications a long time ago. We don't want to talk about how long ago that was, but then I moved into a career as a litigation paralegal for about 15 years. And my husband and I opened our own hardware store, where, in addition to being a small business owner and doing whatever was needed of me that day, I also oversaw all of the operations there as well. And when we closed our store, I kind of was at a crossroads. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do, except for the fact that I really wanted to look into the potential of working with employment in my community. Through my years, I had met with apprehension. Can I do the job? Shock? You know, some people would see, you know, especially when we were at the hardware store and I began using a cane in the middle of us owning the store. So, you know, people would walk in and I'd be standing there with my cane. And if I asked them, you know what I can help them with? Or if they'd see me, you know, talking to employees found out I was one of the owners. You know, I was just met with disbelief that I could actually be doing this job. You know, sometimes it was just blatant. No, you can't met with a I don't see how this can be done. So I'm not going to open my mind to even consider this. So I know that navigating those waters of employment for not only people within the blind and visually impaired community, but pan disability community as well, is difficult. And I know that it is not the lack of ability, it's the lack of opportunity. And so what could I do to help my community? And an acquaintance introduced me to Mike Hess, our executive director. Mike and I met. He told me about BIT, BIT's mission, his vision, and I jumped on board seven years ago. When I jumped on the ride, there was five of us, now there's almost over 50 of us, the majority of which identify with some form of disability, including in leadership. So we're really proud of that. It's been a wild ride for sure. Carol: I think it's really cool. I was looking a lot. I was looking you up. Of course, you know, I got to check out your story on LinkedIn and all the things as well. And then just perusing the BIT website and such. And I just think you have a really amazing cast of folks that are working there. Kristy: We do. Carol: And I really like what you're doing. Kristy: Thank you. Carol: And I could not believe, actually, since I found out about you, I had contacted like my folks back at State services for the Blind in Minnesota. I'm like, do you guys know about them? Like, because I sure didn't know about you when I was there. And I just think getting the word out more is super important. So I know you and I had spoken earlier and we were talking about your DEF grant application and that you guys actually had a model that you had built. And so you were basing this application on that. Can you talk a little bit about the different process and what problem you were trying to solve with your application for the project? Kristy: Yeah, absolutely. We know the numbers and how ugly they are that, you know, 70% of people with disabilities are either un or underemployed for the BVI community. It's even higher. It's at 80. I think those numbers have changed a little bit, but unfortunately that needle hasn't moved much in years. There's a lot of organizations out there that are saying that they're focusing on employment. But unfortunately, I mean, the numbers don't lie. You know, we're still where we're at. And what we found is no one is focusing on workforce development for higher level professional careers. And no one's really focusing, again on the professional or corporate America. Organizations are unfortunately, trying to fit our community into a little box, what they think we can do, not what we know that we're capable of. And so we really, truly believe that the answer to this, and I'm going to call it, you know, an epidemic, if you will, the unemployment of people with disabilities really has to do with workforce development and making sure that those people who, again, have the ability to do the job also have the opportunity. So we actually began offering Salesforce administration courses, gosh, back o late 2000 teens, we successfully put through eight blind or visually impaired professionals through a Salesforce Administration Certification prep course, and we choose Salesforce specifically because of the accessibility of their platform. And not that it is a B2C accessibility, but it's a B2B. So people within my community and those of us in the Blind and visually impaired community who are the hardest to serve because of the fact that we have to use assistive technology in order to do our jobs. It's allowing that community to get these certifications, get good, long lasting, sustainable careers. You know that they can actually be, you know, climbing up that corporate ladder, not being stuck down at the bottom. So we began our courses in 2020. We actually became the only training provider approved by Salesforce for people with disabilities globally. And that really came about because of our focus on two things. Number one, our courses being virtual, we are meeting. This was even before the pandemic, even before, you know, virtual courses were the thing. We were doing it virtually. We were meeting our community where they were at. We were also focused on employment. Our end goal at BIT is always employment. That's always where we keep our eye on employment. So, you know, we'd already started these courses. We began a Salesforce system integration service within BIT. We also began an accessibility consulting service and began using our students as at that time, interns, we met up with an intermediary, an apprenticeship intermediary called Safal Partners, who looked at our program and said, gosh, you guys already have an apprenticeship program. Kristy: What would be considered a wrap or a registered apprenticeship program through the Department of Labor? So they helped us get registered with the Department of Labor, and we became and still are the only organization, the only registered apprenticeships to include the Pan disability community to include the BVI community. And we're proud of that. And we're also saddened by that because we are the only ones that are doing it this way. The problem was we were only able to do it more of in a project based format, you know? So whenever we had projects, the apprentices worked well. Our apprenticeship program is a competency based program. There have been which now have been lifted, but requirements of 2000 hours really difficult to get those 2000 hours in a reasonable amount of time when it's just ebbs and flows of projects. So we really need to find a way to move into a more structured apprenticeship program. We added a, you know, the digital accessibility space a couple of years after we did the Salesforce admin apprenticeship and fortunately found the DIF grant to help us expand on what we already had running. Carol: So what did this when you get the DIF grant, what it allow you to do differently, moving from that more kind of pilot project kind of format into this structured model? Kristy: Mhm. Well, it allowed us to do essentially that. Number one is add structure. So as I mentioned, for our apprenticeship program, first we were able to add an apprenticeship program manager, which is huge for somebody to actually be able to focus all of their time on overseeing the program. We were able to move it into a more structured program. So we're not only looking now at project based. Our apprentices, you know, are working on regular schedules. Most are completing their apprenticeships between 1 and 2 years. They're able to not only work on those projects and gain competencies through projects, but also work on hypothetical situations we created for those competencies they need to accomplish without the projects we're working on professional development. So it was able to really add, again that structure to make it just a more robust program. In addition to that, we were able to expand on the academy courses that we were able to offer. So what we're learning with the Salesforce ecosystem is essentially the sweet spot is five certifications. It's not enough just to have that foundational cert. So with the DIF grant, we were able to say, okay, we want to get our team to that five certs. Any student that goes through our course, they have the option of getting to those five certifications. You earn two. Just in our foundational course alone. And then we added three higher level courses. In addition to that, we're also able to add a third track. So we have our Salesforce Administration track. We have our digital accessibility track, and now we're going to be able to add an Agile Scrum Master certification or project management track. So it pairs really nicely with the other two tracks in that, you know, all of these projects, they need scrum masters or project managers to run these projects. So now we're able to kind of create that full loop where we're able to have our admins working on their projects. Same with digital accessibility. And then we're able to add, again, these scrum masters and project managers to work on those same projects to build up and gain their experience. So able to expand the Academy. We were also able to add an academy director and an administrative assistant, you know. So again, providing more structure and guidance there. And then additionally, one of the things that we focused on, one of our goals with the grant was to be placed on 30 state eligible training provider lists. And what this allows us to do is really get a lot of that exposure that you were talking about before. Any person who wanted to participate in the program can go to these ETPLs, is what they're called. See if we're on in their state, get the information. You know, if they are workforce boards, VR counselors. Again, just the average Joe that wants to look into some opportunities for training also gives employers the opportunities to come in and see what we're doing, learn about us, you know, get that more exposure. And I think actually now we're on 35 ETPLs. Again, our friends at Safal Partners helped us within the first year achieve that KPI for our DIF grant. Carol: That is amazing. That is really great. I was gonna ask how many you were on and 35 sounds... Kristy: Mhm. And growing and growing. You know, we're we're we're not stopping. Right. We want to be on all of them. Carol: I'm like, you're going to conquer the world. So walk us  through how it works today. You know, you're talking about the academy. You've got the certification, the apprenticeships, kind of how does the whole flow? Somebody comes in, they're like, I want to do the thing. What happens? Kristy: Absolutely. We have a couple of different options to start. So what we decided to do was add two self-guided courses for our two current tracks, Digital Accessibility and Salesforce Admin. So they're intro courses, they're self-guided. And essentially it's just that giving you an introduction to what Salesforce is. A lot of people have no idea what Salesforce is, even though they're one of the largest tech companies in the world. They're in every industry, all the different fields, you know, they're this humongous organization, but a lot of people just don't know what it is. So it gives people the opportunity to get in there, see what Salesforce is. Is this an interest to me? Same with digital accessibility also gives them an understanding of if you're using assistive technology, what is your level of proficiency need to be? Can you be a beginner? And I'll tell you right now, the answer is no. You can't be a beginner if you're using. You know what? I use a screen reader. You know, you have to be a little more proficient than that. So you get through those courses and you decide, yeah, I really liked this. I completed the course. You sit for a technical assessment, you have to do a hands on assessment and then a technical interview. Kristy: And the reasoning for that is to really, number one, ensure that that person who is taking the course is committed, understands the content was doing it themselves, you know, making sure nobody was, you know, helping them out before they can move into the instructor led courses. So once they pass that you can move into the instructor led either, again, digital accessibility or Salesforce, when we add our agile scrum probably won't have an intro to start, but that'll be getting added the later part of this year. And that'll again be instructor led courses, but pretty much the same format. So once you get into the instructor led courses, digital accessibility I believe is 14 weeks. I think admin is now 17 weeks. Again, with admin, you earn two certifications, multiple hours a week in class and then also in lab. In addition to that, there is a lot of homework. There's a lot of work outside these courses. I never sugarcoat these courses. They are not easy. We're talking high level tech careers. So these are high level courses. There's a lot of work, there's a lot of commitment, but there's a lot of support. All of our classes are taught by a person with a disability. Our TAs are people with disabilities. We have focus on those people that need to use screen readers. You know, we have screen reader instructors. So we're really, you know, meeting every person with a disability, regardless of what that is, understanding what accommodations they may need, working with them on that so that they can feel comfortable and actually concentrate on the content and the subject matter and not, am I going to be able to do this course or not? So they get through the instructor led courses leads to sitting for the certification exams. And, and I want to point out to all of the courses that we offer in our academy all lead to industry recognized certifications. These aren't certifications. We make up and say, well, we'll see if it works for you. These are the same certifications that anyone would be sitting for if they were taking any of these Salesforce courses or the digital accessibility, the Agile Scrum Master, you're going to be sitting for the actual Scrum Master certification. So they sit for the exams, you know, hopefully pass it. We've got really good certification pass rates, so hopefully they'll pass it again. They're difficult, they're not easy, but we provide you with what you need in the courses to pass those certs. Carol: What does your pass rate look like. Kristy: So oh boy you just threw that threw that at me. What's the data I believe I think it varies based on the course. But for example, I know our past cohort for digital accessibility, ten out of 12 have sat for the course. And I think all of them have passed. So 100% there. I think most of our cert rates run as a collective whole, 75 to 95%. Carol: Okay. Kristy: Yeah, really good cert rates. And again, it's really because of the fact that these are intense courses, but we work with you. Carol: When you're wrapping service around all these people. Kristy: Exactly. Carol: Talk about the technical kind of support that the students can get. Kristy: You're exactly right. Yeah. You know, and again, a lot of group sessions, you have a lot of support. Carol: Yeah. Kristy: So yeah. So once you get past those certifications, you then become eligible to interview for an apprenticeship. Not everyone qualifies for an apprenticeship. It really depends how well you do in the class. You know, obviously you need to have your certification to get into their apprenticeship. So if you don't get your cert, there's an issue. What was your professionalism like? You know, our instructors provide our apprenticeship manager with notes and sometimes it's, hey, they just need a little more professional development. They need a little work on this. They need to work on that, which is stuff we can provide. One of the things that came with the different is we added in a professional employment coach. So she works with people, you know, maybe you have ADHD and you're looking for tools to help you get organized and to stay focused. And so we bring her in and have sessions together. Sometimes just professional development. There's a lot of people in our community that need a little bit of that. Unfortunately for some of us, when we get on these Zoom calls, we can't see the social cues. We can't tell if somebody is, you know, getting ready to speak or wrapping up what they're speaking, you know, so how do you handle all that? So we do all of that, you know, we provide all of that. But once the instructors say, yep, I think that they should interview for an apprenticeship program, they have to go through an interview with our apprenticeship program manager and another member of BIT. And then if we have openings, which we do, and we will continue to have them through the different, then they become a part of our apprenticeship. And again, those are all apprenticeships or they're competency based used to be 2000 hours. The Department of Labor has lifted that restriction. But we still feel that that 2000 hours is a good number for our participants to really get a good, strong understanding of what they will be doing in this role in mastering these competencies, Professional development. It gives you that 1 to 2 years experience that, you know, whenever you're looking for an entry level job, what do you see? You need 1 to 2 years' experience. Well, how do you get that if you're entry level? And so we're providing that opportunity to do so. Our apprenticeship program has additional trainings that are offered. You're working right alongside with our sales force professionals, our accessibility professionals who all have experience in the field. And again, I will point out to these are teams that are all disabilities working together. So completely deaf admins working with completely blind admins, just killing it, doing an excellent job. So really a lot of exposure in that apprenticeship program. One of the things the DIF grant also allowed us to do is incorporate employer partners. So if you have an apprenticeship with an employer partner still meeting with our apprenticeship program manager. You're still getting all of the support from BIT we're meeting with the project leads at those employers to make sure that we're supporting them in anything they need. So really, like I said, a well-rounded program. Once you complete those competencies, we do self-evaluations. I mean, we're, you know, where you stand in our apprenticeship and what you need to work on. And, you know, we're selling, obviously, the further you get into the apprenticeship program, the more projects you're handed, the more responsibility. So really just gaining your confidence in the field, and then you're ready to go into the world and work in an organization or a corporation out there. Carol: Are you seeing any impact with AI? You know, people talk about AI usage now, and, you know, the increase of that and how it's changing the landscape of corporate America. Are you seeing any impact from that? Kristy: So you've heard of that little thing called AI? Carol: Yeah. Kristy: The answer is an overwhelming yes. So one of the things that we've done in our courses is try to, we try to make them future proof. You know, we don't want to send our students or our apprentices out into the world behind the eight ball, you know, oh gosh, this is a saturated market. I don't have any of the skills. So one of those higher level Salesforce certifications I told you about is agent for specialist, which is Salesforce AI. And Salesforce has gone all in on agent force and their AI. So our apprentices have the opportunity to become certified in agent force. And then, you know, different projects we're working on. We're now talking to a lot of clients that are looking into how can I incorporate AI into my Salesforce environment? So, you know, giving them people then that opportunity to get those skills so that they can make an immediate impact. Additionally, in the Scrum Master or the project management track scrum Master has just added the AI Scrum Master certification course. So we will be actually including that in our course. So again, you'll come out of that track with if you're looking at Scrum Master, you're looking at two shirts, one of which is AI. We're also adding a higher level AI course, that's AI governance. Most of these companies are looking at this going, okay, we have AI, but when should we be using it? How should we be using it? What is ethical? What is not? What is going overboard with AI, you know? So we're actually going to provide a course. So again, our participants can come out able to make immediate impact on organizations. And the way to do that right now is AI. So we absolutely are incorporating AI. People with disabilities to, you know, again, we say at BIT Technology is the greatest equalizer. It truly is. And people with disabilities are actually leading the charge in AI. In fact, that agent for specialist course I mentioned, out of all of the workforce development orgs within Salesforce, we were the first one to offer that course. So disability community leading the way in AI. So it's exciting. Carol: I love it. Well, you're ahead of the curve, which is super good. And people come in with that. They'll definitely. I mean, you're creating a good niche there with your apprentices being able to do that. Kristy: That's our goal. Carol: That's awesome. So what are you seeing as a career pathways like what's proving to be the most impactful right now? Kristy: So you know, again, Salesforce is just huge. So of course that is, you know, continuing on and that is definitely making a big impact. Digital accessibility is a very hot topic right now. Gosh, a couple years ago, I can't remember what year it was actually implemented. But the Department of Justice has now mandated that title two of the Americans with Disabilities Act incorporate digital accessibility. And they actually laid out deadlines. They just pushed the first deadline. It was supposed to be April of 2026, that all municipalities with over 50,000 individuals had to be digitally accessible. Everything within your state needs to be accessible for people within our community to access. 2027 was supposed to be for those municipalities, less than 50,000. I imagine that'll get pushed back as well. But the bottom line is if your organization, your front facing organization is not accessible, you're going to encounter some issues. And so all of a sudden then all of these corporations and organizations and government and they're going, okay, what is this? What is digital accessibility and how do we get there? So we're really starting to see a lot of impact, a lot of clients coming to us asking, okay, what is digital accessibility? How can you help me? One of the members of Office of Accessibility for Salesforce is actually said that there's two experts in Salesforce accessibility, and one is Salesforce and one is bit. We work very closely with them on accessibility and their accessibility. I think really that impact digital accessibility. We're going to see it more and more and more. Unfortunately, a lot of lawsuits are being filed. And when I say unfortunately, it's that's what's being the precursor for companies to become digitally accessible. You know, I wish they would just because it's better for everyone. An accessible product is just a better product. It's more well thought out, it's more intentional. It's just better presented. I wish that it wasn't that they're being forced to because of litigation. I wish that it was just because that is again, the right thing to do. Plus, this disability community is large across the world. I think it's 1 in 5 now, and more and more people are aging. More and more people are being diagnosed with disabilities. Where before in tech, people were just considered eccentric. When I think a lot of them were actually, you know, on the autism spectrum or neurodiverse, so that, you know, a lot of invisible disabilities, mental health disabilities are now become not so taboo to hide and to talk about. So it's something that, you know, the world's just going to see more and more of, and the demand for making things more accessible to reach your customers, to reach that community is going to become more and more. So I really think that digital accessibility track is getting a lot of focus. Carol: That is very cool. I know employer engagement also is a big piece of all this, and how are you partnering with companies and what are they seeing as value from what you offer? Kristy: So apprenticeships is huge right now. Apprenticeships really provide employers the opportunity to get kind of a jump on the talent pipeline, both this current administration and the former administration, very pro apprenticeship. You know, they have apprenticeship mandates out. I believe it's a million apprentices is what they want to attain. And then there's proven statistics. I'll give you some data here, Carol, for companies that have an apprenticeship program, typically for every dollar that's invested in that apprentice, the company is seeing an ROI of $1.44. So immediately getting impact with having an apprentice, 94% of the apprentices stay where they're at when they become an apprentice within a company. So turnover is really expensive for companies, incredibly expensive. And so not only if you have an apprenticeship, you're looking at a 94% retention rate. But then to add to that, the people with disabilities community, our turnover rate is incredibly low because it has been difficult to find employment. If the person with a disability finds a place where they can be successful and thrive, they're not going anywhere. So you kind of get a double whammy on that. Apprentices typically come out earning 84,000 a year, and they're saying 49% of HR managers are saying that skill based is really kind of the new and compelling look at talent management. One of the things that, again, as I mentioned before, the DIF grant allowed us to do is start reaching out to employer partners, having them bring on apprenticeships, not necessarily being trained within BIT, but actually going into their organizations, working with their Salesforce teams, working with their digital accessibility teams and again, creating this talent pipeline I mentioned earlier, it's not the lack of ability, it's the lack of opportunity. Again, these apprenticeship programs are really providing people within our community the opportunity to go in there and prove themselves, to show these companies. You know, unfortunately for the people with disabilities community, that really is we call it that legal, nebulous bell that we have to ring is the reasonable accommodations. Most people don't understand them. If you get an apprenticeship in there, you're working alongside that apprentice to really determine, okay, how is this person going to be most successful and really getting over that fear of what the reasonable accommodation is. So our impact with employers has been fabulous. It's been phenomenal. A lot of interest, again, in bringing on these apprentices to work on their teams, give them again that opportunity to kind of dip their toe into that pool. I want to mention, too, that we really believe that the disabilities community is the greatest untapped talent in the planet. You have this whole group of resources that are so talented and nobody's touching and working with organizations like BIT. Working with these apprentices really gives you that opportunity to dip into that talent and have this just amazing pipeline, amazing resources to work with instead of going the typical talent route. And we have a tech talent shortage, we really do. So, you know, working with, again, like an apprenticeship program, working with our team really gives people the opportunity to get that jump on that talent. Carol: Well, and they get to work in that company. You know, you're in that company and the company culture. You're all part of it you've done these 2000 hours. You know, you've been there a year or more. Kristy: Exactly. Carol: And so they really get a good flavor of what you bring to the table. It's such a great way. I mean, you see that more and more kids are starting to realize like maybe the four year degree route isn't the way. Kristy: Mhm. Carol: We need to look at these other options for getting into employment and getting in more quickly, because everybody learns differently, and these jobs, I mean, when you're talking, people are coming on average $84,000. This is no joke. Kristy: No it's not. Again, it's a good way to get into, again, your feel to get your foot in the door. Give those companies the opportunity to really get that new and emerging talent, but not expecting them to just hop right in the job because, he said, we all learn differently. There's a lot of nuances to learn about different companies. You know, you're an admin at one company and you go to another. And again, you know, you've got that hill to climb of, you know, what are the nuances of that particular company. But here you built your own army, if you will. You built your own pool. Carol: Yeah. Kristy: One of our apprentices actually in a webinar we did recently, she had said, you know, one of the benefits to employers is you essentially get to mold these apprentices into what type of employees that you're looking for. And it's true, you're almost taking a blank slate and working with it for two years and building your team the way you want. And then like you said, you know, you're done with that 2000 hours. Why would you go anywhere else? You've already invested this time. Again, we've given you the statistics on the ROI in that dollar investment. You're already earning money off the apprentices, so why wouldn't you stick with them? Carol: 100%. Now, I know you had some success with the workforce boards and a few blind service agencies, but you've had less traction with VR. What's been the challenge there and what do you want, like the VR agencies to understand? Because I know we sure miss the whole boat and didn't even realize a thing about BIT and I've been telling everybody ever since I talked to you first, like, hey, you need to go look at this website and you need to talk to these people because I've just been like, wow, why is VR missing the boat on that? Kristy: Well, I think you're kind of hitting the nail on the head there, Carol, in that we are not your normal traditional organization out there. We know we are actually the only organization doing what we're doing. And we know that because not only have we looked, but Salesforce has looked. Our other partner, Ronstadt, has looked, you know, they've looked around for other organizations like us doing what we're doing, the manner in which we're doing it, and there aren't any out there. So I've been thinking about this since you and I spoke last time about, you know, really what is our problem with VR? What is the issue? And I really think it comes down to that fact that we are breaking the mold. Our friends at Safal Partner, you know, talk with us all the time about you guys are really forging ahead with something that's never been done before. And so how do we get the VR groups, the VR counselors and teams to break out of what their traditional mold has been and kind of think out of the box and look at our organization go, oh, wait, because unfortunately, the traditional is not working. I mean, the numbers say it, you know, those numbers haven't moved. And I think the VR counselors, they have to do certain things certain ways. And they have reports that they have to do and they need to meet different criteria. And, you know, our programs aren't short. You know, it's not like somebody can get in and out in a month and then they're employed. You know, we're really investing the time in training people to really be productive employees in a completely different way than ever been done before. So I think if we can get the VR groups to open up their minds to a different way of doing things and to recognize the fact that these traditional ways we've been doing things just really aren't moving the needle. And I think a lot of the, you know, VR counselors, again, they're they have cases they have to close, they have rates that they have to hit. They again, they have all this documentation they have to do. And so I think a lot of times they try to put a square peg in a round hole, and it just doesn't work for people with disabilities community. You have to understand where they're at, you know, Social Security disability, a lot of people are on it. It is not easy to get on. Our goal is to get everyone off of it, not to provide them with a supplement to their SSDI. We want everyone to become tax producers, not tax consumers. So when you get people who are capable, who are software engineers, who have these, you know, the great focuses on tech, this critical thinking mindset that can do so much more than just getting a job. Being able to think outside the box, look at other opportunities that might be out there and go for it. You know, we've been successful, we're showing that this is the way you do this with this group. So that's really the only answer I can come up with, Carol, is why we're not making more traction is just that traditional mindset of this is how we do things. And unfortunately, that traditional mindset is just not helping our community well. Carol: And hopefully we're able to get the word out now through the podcast and advertising that because it is like a no brainer to me. I mean, you're looking at your wants to get people into quality employment outcomes. And I used to always be about like family sustaining wages. And so you're talking about this investment and the people, even though it takes a longer amount of time. But if you've got folks coming out, you know, you've got a big track record, you've worked 2000 hours, you've done this apprenticeship, you've done all this coursework ahead. You have these certifications. You now are geared up for really good employment and long term employment. We're not talking, you know, you're in and out of the fast food place. You want to stay here. You're now engrained in a company. Like what a way to set folks up for success and not needing to come back to you, or to Social Security or any of those other supports. You've really got people launched in such a great way. Kristy: Right? And on that note, so our participants earn an average of, I think, 75,000. And within three years of employment, the majority have been promoted and are making over six figures. So as you said, their family sustaining wages with opportunities of growth. And that's really what our community needs in opportunities, is that the community does not want to be on Social Security disability. They don't they want to be able to put food on their table. You know, with employment comes a lot of dignity. It comes a lot of feeling of worth and being a productive member of society. The community wants that and they know they can do that. We're just lacking the opportunity. Again, lacking that open mindset. I know there's a lot of VR counselors that say, hey, I'm going to put you through college and I'm going to get you this bachelor's degree. And our unemployment rate is still the same, right? We need more than that. You know, you need more of an investment, not just the traditional. I am old enough to remember the days that my parents just said, oh, just get a degree, right. Doesn't matter what it's in. Just go get a degree, you'll get a job. That's not today. You know, today's the day of specialization. As we talked earlier, today is the day of certifications. You know, people want certs. They want experience. They want skills, they want proof. And they're looking at effective employees to, you know, how effective are you an employee? Are you going to be great? You've got this bachelor's degree, but can you be effective in this role? Hiring managers say they can train for those hard skills. You know, they can train somebody to, you know, code in a certain Manner or become an HR professional. You can train a lot of that, but you can't train the effectiveness. You can't train the critical thinking as much as you can when you're in the role. Our program helps to do that though. You know, it really helps people to develop those skills, to become those critical thinkers, those problem solvers that these hiring managers are looking for. Carol: It really is the full package. What you offer. I just I'm still stunned thinking about like that. We've all missed the boat for 20 years or plus you've been around. So it's not too late though for people to get on board. So looking ahead, what does success look like for your project and what should other people be paying attention to? Kristy: Mhm. Of course, the whole goal for this project is competitive integrated employment. And of course, again, that goes right along with our mission from the very beginning. It's employment. You know, that CIE number is again that family sustaining wages that you can have good strong careers in. So when we're looking at our future, the grant has provided us the opportunity to really build our programs again, provide a lot more structure. So of course, sustainability. Our goal is really to grow our own sales force system integration services, our own digital accessibility services. So that number one, we can be a huge employer of people with disabilities and really build these big sales force teams. The other thing is really finding the employers who are interested in investing in this community. You know, who again, are thinking outside that box of, you know what? I have a talent shortage and I need to find a pool that is really going to benefit my company, provide an ROI, you know, be here. So I'm not hiring somebody every six months. So really, again, you know, getting the word out, we want people, of course, to know about our program to look at our program. You know, we're focused on tech. Tech is not the only industry that could benefit with this type of program, not in any way, shape or form. So we really like people to look at our program and say, okay, you know, our focus is X, you know, maybe it's marketing, maybe it's finance, accounting, whatever it is. And really look at our program and say, I think this is the model that we need to follow. You know, it is a very collaborative organization. We are not going to get where we need to be in silos. We need the whole village to work together to provide these opportunities. Again, really trying to show that we really feel this is the path forward for many careers, for many high producing, effective, high compensation careers. We'd really like people to, again, look at our program, look what we're doing in the different, obviously different is a demonstrative grants. That's the whole thing we're doing here is demonstrating that we really feel that our model is the way to go. Really take a look at apprenticeships and apprenticeships for people with disabilities. I really feel apprenticeship just are tailor made to people with disabilities for them to really, again, get really comfortable to build their skills and show that, yeah, I've got the ability. Just give me that opportunity. I've got the ability. Carol: I can totally see why RSA selected you as a grant. Kristy: Oh thank you. We're pretty passionate here at BIT. Carol: You are and it's amazing. So folks wanted more information about BIT, what's the best way to find you or contact? Kristy: Absolutely. So of course the best way is our website. It's just easy. BlindInstituteOftechnology.org. You can also get it by blindIT.org. You'll find all the information there. Otherwise you know, reaching out. If you are interested in our Academy, Academy@blindIT.org, we have candidates@BlindIT.org or sales@blindIT.org. Any of those, if you can't remember any of them and you can only remember, oh, she said Sales@BlindIT.org, but I'm really not in sales still go to that email address. We're looking at over 50 of us. Our internal team, you know, is about 25 to 30. We're very tight knit, so it's going to get to us. So any of those email addresses work and you can find them all on our website. So again, BlindInstituteOfTechnology.org or BlindIT.org will get you there as well. Carol: So no wrong door in. Kristy: Nope, nope. We will get you to where you need to be. Just let us know what you're looking for, what you're interested in, and we will find the person for you. Carol: Well, that is awesome and I know I am going to sing your praises going forward. Like continue to like tell people about what is happening there. It's pretty amazing. I really appreciate your time. I wish you much success. Thanks for joining me. Kristy: Thank you so much, Carol. I appreciate the opportunity. {Music} Outro Voice: Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time. One minute at a time. Brought to you by the VRTAC. Catch all of our podcast episodes by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Leonard S. Graham. Social Security disability advocate, Leonard S. Graham joined Rushion McDonald on Money Making Conversations Master Class to explain how Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) really work, who qualifies, and how misconceptions prevent people—especially within the Black community—from receiving benefits they are legally entitled to. Graham has over 35 years of experience assisting clients nationwide with disability claims, appeals, and hearings. The conversation sheds light on the disability process, eligibility, the appeals system, the role of advocates vs. attorneys, and the importance of education, honesty, and persistence in navigating Social Security.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Leonard S. Graham. Social Security disability advocate, Leonard S. Graham joined Rushion McDonald on Money Making Conversations Master Class to explain how Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) really work, who qualifies, and how misconceptions prevent people—especially within the Black community—from receiving benefits they are legally entitled to. Graham has over 35 years of experience assisting clients nationwide with disability claims, appeals, and hearings. The conversation sheds light on the disability process, eligibility, the appeals system, the role of advocates vs. attorneys, and the importance of education, honesty, and persistence in navigating Social Security.

Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) with Long COVID or ME/CFS is complex—and often discouraging. Many people are denied early and don't understand why.In this episode, Dr Khan speaks with disability attorney Barbara Comerford, who has spent 30+ years helping clients navigate disability claims for complex, hard-to-document conditions.We break down: How SSDI actually works (and who qualifies)  Why most claims are denied—and what that really means  The 5-step process Social Security uses to evaluate your case  What evidence matters for conditions like Long COVID  When to hire a lawyer—and how to strengthen your claim This is a practical guide to help you understand the system and make more informed decisions.Chapter Markers (Streamlined)00:00 Why SSDI matters for Long COVID 06:45 Who qualifies + how SSDI actually works 12:30 The 5-step disability evaluation process 25:00 Why claims get denied (and how to appeal) 40:30 Evidence, lawyers, and how to strengthen your caseResources Mentioned in This EpisodeSocial Security Administration (SSA) https://www.ssa.gov/ Check your earnings record and quarters of coverage to confirm SSDI eligibility. Tri-State Disability Law Barbara Comerford's law firm (SSDI and long-term disability cases) 866-444-6939Workwell Foundation Guidance on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and instructions for the NASA Lean Test (dysautonomia assessment) Bateman Horne Center Educational resources on ME/CFS, Long COVID, and disabilityProject ECHO Webinar series referenced in the episode (including sessions on disability and chronic illness) Key Tools & Concepts ReferencedNASA Lean Test – low-cost way to document dysautonomia symptoms CPET (Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing) – objective measure of exertional intolerance Neuropsychological Testing – documents cognitive impairment (brain fog, processing speed) Symptom Journaling – daily tracking of function (sitting, standing, cognitive stamina) to support claimsSupport the showSubscribe for free written summaries of each episode, resources, and more.  LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribeSupport by donating at BuyMeACoffee

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Leonard S. Graham. Social Security disability advocate, Leonard S. Graham joined Rushion McDonald on Money Making Conversations Master Class to explain how Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) really work, who qualifies, and how misconceptions prevent people—especially within the Black community—from receiving benefits they are legally entitled to. Graham has over 35 years of experience assisting clients nationwide with disability claims, appeals, and hearings. The conversation sheds light on the disability process, eligibility, the appeals system, the role of advocates vs. attorneys, and the importance of education, honesty, and persistence in navigating Social Security.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Leonard S. Graham. Social Security disability advocate, Leonard S. Graham joined Rushion McDonald on Money Making Conversations Master Class to explain how Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) really work, who qualifies, and how misconceptions prevent people—especially within the Black community—from receiving benefits they are legally entitled to. Graham has over 35 years of experience assisting clients nationwide with disability claims, appeals, and hearings. The conversation sheds light on the disability process, eligibility, the appeals system, the role of advocates vs. attorneys, and the importance of education, honesty, and persistence in navigating Social Security.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Leonard S. Graham. Social Security disability advocate, Leonard S. Graham joined Rushion McDonald on Money Making Conversations Master Class to explain how Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) really work, who qualifies, and how misconceptions prevent people—especially within the Black community—from receiving benefits they are legally entitled to. Graham has over 35 years of experience assisting clients nationwide with disability claims, appeals, and hearings. The conversation sheds light on the disability process, eligibility, the appeals system, the role of advocates vs. attorneys, and the importance of education, honesty, and persistence in navigating Social Security.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Leonard S. Graham. Social Security disability advocate, Leonard S. Graham joined Rushion McDonald on Money Making Conversations Master Class to explain how Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) really work, who qualifies, and how misconceptions prevent people—especially within the Black community—from receiving benefits they are legally entitled to. Graham has over 35 years of experience assisting clients nationwide with disability claims, appeals, and hearings. The conversation sheds light on the disability process, eligibility, the appeals system, the role of advocates vs. attorneys, and the importance of education, honesty, and persistence in navigating Social Security.

Have a comment or question? Click this sentence to send us a message, and we might answer it in a future episode.Welcome to Season 6, Episode 19 of Winning Isn't Easy. In this episode, we'll dive into When Expertise Isn't Enough: A Doctor's Disability Journey With Long COVID (With Guest Dr. Zeest Khan).Long COVID has challenged not only medicine, but also the disability insurance system. Insurers often characterize these claims as subjective, difficult to measure, or lacking definitive proof, leaving claimants to navigate a process that can struggle to account for fluctuating symptoms and complex limitations. In this episode, attorney Nancy Cavey speaks with Dr. Zeest Khan, a former anesthesiologist whose own experience with long COVID forced her transition from doctor to patient. They discuss how that perspective reshaped her understanding of chronic illness, the realities of pursuing SSDI and Long-Term Disability benefits, the challenges posed by independent medical exams, and why long COVID continues to expose gaps in the way disability claims are evaluated.Check out Dr. Khan's website here: https://longcovidmd.com/In this episode, we'll cover the following topics:One - From Physician to Patient: Identity, Illness, and a New Path Two - Inside the Disability Maze: LTD, SSDI, and System Gaps Three - Advocacy and Strategy: Navigating Claims with Long COVID Whether you're a claimant, or simply seeking valuable insights into the disability claims landscape, this episode provides essential guidance to help you succeed in your journey. Don't miss it.Listen to Our Sister Podcast:We have a sister podcast - Winning Isn't Easy: Navigating Your Social Security Disability Claim. Give it a listen: https://wiessdpodcast.buzzsprout.com/Resources Mentioned in This Episode:LINK TO ROBBED OF YOUR PEACE OF MIND: https://mailchi.mp/caveylaw/ltd-robbed-of-your-piece-of-mindLINK TO THE DISABILITY INSURANCE CLAIM SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR PROFESSIONALS: https://mailchi.mp/caveylaw/professionals-guide-to-ltd-benefitsFREE CONSULT LINK: https://caveylaw.com/contact-us/Need Help Today?:Need help with your Long-Term Disability or ERISA claim? Have questions? Please feel welcome to reach out to use for a FREE consultation. Just mention you listened to our podcast.Review, like, and give us a thumbs up wherever you are listening to Winning Isn't Easy. We love to see your feedback about our podcast, and it helps us grow and improve.Please remember that the content shared is for informational purposes only, and should not replace personalized legal advice or guidance from qualified professionals.

An emergency fund can be the difference between a financial setback and a financial crisis—but only if it's built the right way. Most people know they should have money set aside for emergencies. But many aren't sure how much to save, what actually counts as an emergency, or where to keep that money. Those are important questions, because an emergency fund is not just another savings goal. It is a key part of wise financial stewardship. What Is an Emergency Fund? An emergency fund is money set aside for unexpected, significant financial disruptions. Those two words matter: unexpected and significant. This is not money for routine expenses, planned purchases, or occasional wants. It is reserved for the kinds of situations that can suddenly shake your financial life—job loss, a major medical need, a significant car repair, an urgent home repair, or another event that interrupts your income or requires a large amount of cash. In that sense, an emergency fund acts like a financial shock absorber. When something unexpected happens, it helps keep a difficult situation from turning into debt, panic, or financial chaos. Without an emergency fund, many people are forced to rely on credit cards or loans during hard times. But with one in place, you create stability and breathing room when uncertainty comes. How Much Should You Save? A helpful rule of thumb is to keep three to six months of living expenses in your emergency fund. That means enough to cover essential expenses such as housing, food, utilities, insurance, transportation, and other necessary costs. For example, if your household needs $5,000 per month to cover basic expenses, a fully funded emergency fund would typically range from $15,000 to $30,000. Where you land in that range depends on your situation. If your income is stable and predictable, three months may be enough. But if your income fluctuates, if you're self-employed, or if you simply want additional peace of mind, six months—or even a little more—may be appropriate. The goal is not perfection. The goal is preparedness. Is Saving for Emergencies a Lack of Faith? Some Christians may wonder whether saving for emergencies reflects a lack of trust in God. But Scripture encourages wise preparation. Proverbs 6:6–8 says, “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” The ant is not anxiously trying to control the future. It is wisely preparing for what may come. That is the posture we want to take with our finances. An emergency fund is not about pretending we can control tomorrow. It is about stewarding today's resources wisely so that when tomorrow brings challenges, we are not forced into panic or unnecessary debt. Planning and trusting God are not opposites. In many cases, wise planning is an expression of faithful stewardship. Where Should You Keep Your Emergency Fund? Once you decide how much to save, the next question is where to keep it. This is where many people get tripped up. While an emergency fund should grow over time, it is not meant to be invested like a retirement account. Why? Because investments such as stocks and mutual funds fluctuate. If the market drops at the exact moment you need the money, your safety net may suddenly be smaller than you expected. Likewise, locking emergency funds in a certificate of deposit can limit your access. If you need to withdraw early, you may face penalties or lose interest. An emergency fund has two primary goals: safety and accessibility. You want the money protected and accessible quickly when a real need arises. That's why many financial advisors recommend keeping emergency funds in accounts such as high-yield savings accounts or money market accounts. These allow your money to earn a competitive rate while remaining liquid and accessible. They are also typically insured, helping protect your savings while they earn a modest return without taking unnecessary risk. A Banking Option Worth Considering This is where our friends at Christian Community Credit Union (CCCU) come in. They recently merged with AdelFi to form AdelFi Christian Banking, creating even more opportunities for believers to align their banking with their faith. Right now, AdelFi offers a high-yield money market account that may be a good fit for an emergency fund. With this account, you can earn around 4% on balances up to $100,000, giving you both strong returns and the liquidity you need if an emergency arises. And when you bank with AdelFi, your deposits help fund ministry initiatives and Kingdom work around the world. For FaithFi listeners, there is also a special offer. When you open an account and use the code FAITHFI, you can receive up to a $400 bonus. To learn more, visit FaithFi.com/Banking. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: I'm 68 and still working. I have about $50,000 in a 403(b) from a previous employer—part traditional, part Roth—and it's my only retirement savings. My tax preparer suggested I stop contributing to the Roth and use the traditional side so I could withdraw about $10,000 a year later with less tax. Now I'm wondering: should I move the traditional portion into a Roth, and how would that work? I'm 67 and have a 401(k) through my current employer. I'd like to use about $25,000 from it to buy a car instead of taking out a loan. Am I allowed to do that, and would I need to check with my plan administrator to see whether my 401(k) permits it? I'm considering a reverse mortgage, but I'm confused. If I take one out, would I still own my home, or would the house belong to the lender? Also, could I use a reverse mortgage for only about a year? What requirements would I need to meet based on my current mortgage balance and my home's value? I'm receiving SSDI, and I've heard those benefits switch to regular Social Security at retirement age. Will that happen automatically at 62, 65, or another age? Also, once it switches to retirement benefits, will I be able to work and earn income without being penalized? I'm 71 and planning to use Qualified Charitable Distributions from my IRA to reduce taxes. Since my birthday is in August, when should I make those gifts—before my birthday or later in the year? And when is my Required Minimum Distribution calculated so the QCD counts properly? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) AdelFi | Christian Community Credit Union (CCCU) - AdelFi Christian Banking Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Navigating SSI and SSDI benefits is often overwhelming, time-consuming, and difficult to manage, especially for individuals already dealing with health, financial, and life challenges. In this episode, Lauren Fusco, Director of Partnerships at Mindset Care, shares how Mindset Care is addressing these barriers with end-to-end, person-centered support that guides individuals through every step of the process. By combining technology with human expertise, Mindset helps streamline applications, improve approval outcomes, and reduce the burden on individuals and care teams alike. Through partnerships with providers, payers, and community organizations, they're turning disability benefits into a critical gateway for broader care, stability, and improved quality of life. Tune in to hear how a more human, connected, and tech-enabled approach is helping people access the benefits they deserve! Resources: Connect with and follow Lauren Fusco on ⁠LinkedIn⁠. Follow Mindset on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and explore their ⁠website⁠.

May Day 2026, QUEER & TRANS NON/WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE for a tour of some historically significant sites in the Mission, detailed on this episode. All hookers, loiterers, shoplifters, street sellers, truants, 1099 queens, gig workers, students, time theft recidivists, hustlers, welfare fags, & SSDI dykes are encourage to attend. May 1 at 7pm, 16th BART Plaza in San Francisco Gay Shame  https://gayshame.net/ Map of Technofascist Terror in the Mission Gay Shame on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gay.shame/ Gay Shame: The Podcast: Anti-Sex Worker Barricades at Capp Street https://gayshame.net/index.php/gay-shame-podcast-episode-9-anti-sex-worker-barricades-at-capp-street-update-and-whats-to-be-done/ Valleywag: Dropbox Dudes Tried to Kick Children Off a Soccer Field https://web.archive.org/web/20200220131518/https://valleywag.gawker.com/dropbox-douchebags-tried-to-kick-children-off-a-soccer-1644947724 Mission Local: SF teacher says she was tricked into 'I Am Not a Monster' BART campaign https://missionlocal.org/2018/01/sf-teacher-says-she-was-tricked-into-i-am-not-a-monster-bart-campaign/ By Hook or By Crook trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayvl07NwTIM Episodes: The Redstone Labor Temple f/ Rick Gerharter and Tiny Gray-Garcia https://www.patreon.com/posts/redstone-labor-f-97275952 Support the show and get new episodes early on Patreon: https://patreon.com/sadfrancisco 

#709: Keith Wargo has spent decades navigating one of the most daunting financial planning challenges a family can face: raising a child with a developmental disability. He joins us to share what families need to know. The financial stakes are significant. Keith, who is the CEO of Autism Speaks, estimates lifetime care costs for a person with a developmental disability can run between $1.4 and $2.4 million - and that figure may be conservative. Yet many families put off financial planning because the day-to-day demands of caregiving leave little room for anything else. One of the first things Keith walks us through is the federal benefits system. Medicaid and SSI are the primary lifelines for many families, but qualifying takes time - for Keith's family, it took three years of meetings and paperwork. There's also a critical detail: SSI requires the individual to have no more than $2,000 in assets in their name. A well-intentioned inheritance from a grandparent can wipe out eligibility overnight. That's why Keith recommends a special needs trust for most families. Assets held in the trust don't count against federal benefit limits. He also recommends pairing the trust with a "second to die" life insurance policy - one that pays out after both parents are gone - to help fund it. ABLE accounts round out the toolkit. Similar to a 529 plan, they allow tax-free contributions of up to $20,000 per year for a person with a qualifying disability. The funds cover everyday expenses like food, transportation, and entertainment. Unused 529 funds can also be rolled into an ABLE account, up to $20,000 per year. Keith also addresses trustee succession - who manages the money after the parents are gone, and who steps in after that person. His advice: start building a network early, revisit the plan every few years, and bring siblings into the financial conversation sooner than feels necessary. Timestamps: Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths. (00:00) The Financial Reality of Developmental Disabilities (02:00) Caregiving's financial toll on families (03:41) Keith's background (04:26) His son AJ's diagnosis and journey (07:08) Rights and services end at age 22 (08:06) Medicaid, SSI, and SSDI explained (14:12) The $2,000 asset limit for SSI eligibility (14:33) Why special needs trusts matter (16:04) Life insurance as a funding tool (23:08) Planning two retirements simultaneously (25:04) ABLE accounts - the basics (27:06) ABLE account balance limits by state (36:35) Employment opportunities for neurodiverse workers (42:11) Fraud and safety risks to be aware of (51:15) Trustee succession planning (53:22) Rolling 529 funds into ABLE accounts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Health Affairs' Rob Lott interviews David Powell of the University of Pennsylvania about his recent paper exploring new research showing SSDI beneficiaries face significantly elevated mortality during the mandatory two‑year waiting period for Medicare for such beneficiaries, why the waiting period exists, how it affects access to care, and what policy options could better serve this vulnerable population.Order the March 2026 issue of Health Affairs.Currently, more than 70 percent of our content is freely available - and we'd like to keep it that way. With your support, we can continue to keep our digital publication Forefront and podcast for everyone.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Leonard S. Graham. Social Security disability advocate, Leonard S. Graham joined Rushion McDonald on Money Making Conversations Master Class to explain how Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) really work, who qualifies, and how misconceptions prevent people—especially within the Black community—from receiving benefits they are legally entitled to. Graham has over 35 years of experience assisting clients nationwide with disability claims, appeals, and hearings. The conversation sheds light on the disability process, eligibility, the appeals system, the role of advocates vs. attorneys, and the importance of education, honesty, and persistence in navigating Social Security.

 2026 Welfare Benefits Guide: How to Qualify & Maximize Your Payments| Wheel with it PodcastWant to maximize your government benefits in 2026? This complete welfare benefits guide breaks down EVERYTHING you need to know.In this video, I'm sharing a full federal benefits training from a local disability advocacy organization—the Endependence Center—so you can better understand how to qualify for and maximize your benefits.We cover:• Social Security (SSI & SSDI)• SNAP (Food Stamps)• Medicare & Medicaid• Federal Housing Assistance• Childcare Assistance Programs

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Leonard S. Graham. Social Security disability advocate, Leonard S. Graham joined Rushion McDonald on Money Making Conversations Master Class to explain how Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) really work, who qualifies, and how misconceptions prevent people—especially within the Black community—from receiving benefits they are legally entitled to. Graham has over 35 years of experience assisting clients nationwide with disability claims, appeals, and hearings. The conversation sheds light on the disability process, eligibility, the appeals system, the role of advocates vs. attorneys, and the importance of education, honesty, and persistence in navigating Social Security.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Leonard S. Graham. Social Security disability advocate, Leonard S. Graham joined Rushion McDonald on Money Making Conversations Master Class to explain how Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) really work, who qualifies, and how misconceptions prevent people—especially within the Black community—from receiving benefits they are legally entitled to. Graham has over 35 years of experience assisting clients nationwide with disability claims, appeals, and hearings. The conversation sheds light on the disability process, eligibility, the appeals system, the role of advocates vs. attorneys, and the importance of education, honesty, and persistence in navigating Social Security.

Have a comment or question? Click this sentence to send us a message, and we might answer it in a future episode.Welcome to Season 6, Episode 1 of Winning Isn't Easy. In this episode, we'll dive into the complicated topic of The Gold in Your Social Security File: How Disability Carriers Use It Against You.Most people assume Social Security Disability and ERISA Long-Term Disability benefits operate independently. While they are separate systems, what happens in one can significantly affect the other. Insurers don't focus solely on diagnosis - they closely examine medical records, treatment history, daily activities, and statements made to Social Security to decide whether a claim meets the policy's definition of disability. In this episode, we examine how Social Security intersects with ERISA disability claims. We explain why carriers seek access to your Social Security file, what key evidence it contains, and how inconsistencies, consultative exams, or vocational opinions can be used to reduce, deny, or terminate benefits. We also discuss why timing matters, from SSDI approval to ongoing reviews and appeals. By the end of the episode, you'll understand that protecting your disability benefits isn't just about your medical condition - it's about strategy, documentation, and timing.In this episode, we'll cover the following topics:One - Setting the Stage: Why Your Disability Carrier Wants Your Social Security FileTwo - Inside the File: What Medical Material Can Lead to an ERISA DenialThree - Timing Is Everything: The Four Times Your Carrier Wants Your Social Security FileWhether you're a claimant, or simply seeking valuable insights into the disability claims landscape, this episode provides essential guidance to help you succeed in your journey. Don't miss it.Listen to Our Sister Podcast:We have a sister podcast - Winning Isn't Easy: Navigating Your Social Security Disability Claim. Give it a listen: https://wiessdpodcast.buzzsprout.com/Resources Mentioned in This Episode:LINK TO ROBBED OF YOUR PEACE OF MIND: https://mailchi.mp/caveylaw/ltd-robbed-of-your-piece-of-mindLINK TO THE DISABILITY INSURANCE CLAIM SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR PROFESSIONALS: https://mailchi.mp/caveylaw/professionals-guide-to-ltd-benefitsFREE CONSULT LINK: https://caveylaw.com/contact-us/Need Help Today?:Need help with your Long-Term Disability or ERISA claim? Have questions? Please feel welcome to reach out to use for a FREE consultation. Just mention you listened to our podcast.Review, like, and give us a thumbs up wherever you are listening to Winning Isn't Easy. We love to see your feedback about our podcast, and it helps us grow and improve.Please remember that the content shared is for informational purposes only, and should not replace personalized legal advice or guidance from qualified professionals.

Send us a textA hard conversation worth having: we sit down with retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Gade to examine how the VA disability system, built with noble intent, can trap veterans in dependency and distort how America sees its warriors. Drawing on his combat wounds, hospital experience, academic work, and policy roles, Daniel makes a clear distinction between having a condition and becoming that condition—and shows how incentives, ratings, and advocacy ecosystems can push veterans toward the latter.We trace why claimed conditions increased across generations even as sustained direct combat remained limited for most. Daniel explains the politics behind expanding the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities and why ratings like sleep apnea at 50% undermine public trust when compared to losing an eye or a below-knee amputation. He challenges the emotional “1% served” shield, arguing that service is a voluntary civic duty already compensated with pay and benefits, not a lifetime blank check on taxpayers.Most importantly, we focus on fixes. Daniel proposes linking mental health compensation to active treatment so care drives recovery rather than pay driving identity. He urges redefining disability to align with activities of daily living and high standards like SSDI, while shifting resources from marginal payouts to high-impact transition: SkillBridge access without command vetoes, employer pipelines, reskilling, and entrepreneurship. We discuss how work sustains identity, how Individual Unemployability can backfire, and why every dubious claim delays care for those with amputations, TBI, sexual assault trauma, and acute PTSD.If you care about veterans' dignity, purpose, and long-term outcomes, this conversation offers a roadmap that prioritizes treatment, transition, and true service-connected disability. Listen, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and leave a review with the reform you'd implement first.Stories of Service presents guests' stories and opinions in their own words, reflecting their personal experiences and perspectives. While shared respectfully and authentically, the podcast does not independently verify all statements. Views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the host, producers, government agencies, orSupport the showVisit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTERRead my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.comWatch episodes of my podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

As Christmas Day draws near, we often hear stories of generosity, kindness, and the spirit of giving. But perhaps no story has inspired these virtues more than the life of St. Nicholas—a real man whose faith-filled generosity continues to echo through the centuries.Long before red suits and reindeer entered the picture, Nicholas lived a quiet, Christ-centered life marked by sacrificial love. His story reminds us that the true meaning of Christmas isn't found in what we receive, but in how we reflect the love of Jesus to others.A Childhood Shaped by Faith—and LossNicholas was born around A.D. 280 into a wealthy Christian family in Patara, a bustling port city in modern-day Turkey. From an early age, his parents taught him the teachings of Jesus—especially the call to care for the poor and the vulnerable. Their daily example planted seeds of compassion that would later bear extraordinary fruit.A tragedy occurred when Nicholas was still young. An epidemic claimed the lives of both his parents, leaving him orphaned—but also leaving him with a significant inheritance. In his grief, Nicholas turned to his faith. Rather than clinging to his wealth, he saw it as a means to serve others and live out the gospel.Nicholas became known for quietly helping those in desperate situations. His most famous act of generosity involved a poor man and his three daughters. In that culture, a dowry was required for marriage. Without it, the daughters faced the horrifying prospect of being sold into slavery.Moved by their plight, Nicholas acted—secretly. Under the cover of night, he delivered a bag of gold to the family, securing the eldest daughter's future. He returned twice more, each time providing enough to ensure another daughter could marry safely.When the father eventually discovered Nicholas's identity, Nicholas urged him to thank God alone. He took Jesus' words to heart: “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3). Nicholas didn't seek recognition—only faithfulness.A Shepherd With Courage and ConvictionLater in life, Nicholas became the bishop of Myra, where his compassion expanded beyond individuals to an entire community. He was known for defending the poor, standing up for the innocent, and shepherding his people with deep love.During the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian, Nicholas risked imprisonment for his faith. He later attended the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325, standing firm for the truth of the gospel. Yet what truly defined him wasn't his position—it was his Christlike love.Nicholas lived as if true wealth was found not in possessions, but in a living relationship with God.After his death on December 6, A.D. 343, stories of Nicholas's generosity spread across generations. He became known as a protector of children, a patron of sailors, and a symbol of selfless giving. Over time, his life inspired the figure we now associate with Santa Claus—but behind the legend stands a man devoted to glorifying God.The story of St. Nicholas challenges us to reconsider the meaning of Christmas. His life wasn't about extravagant gifts or public praise. It was about embodying the love of Christ—sacrificial, humble, and freely given.Living the True Meaning of ChristmasThis Christmas, as we exchange gifts and gather with loved ones, let's remember that the greatest gift has already been given—Jesus Christ, who came to save sinners and offer eternal life.Like St. Nicholas, we are called to share that gift with others. Through generosity, service, and simple acts of kindness, we can reflect the light of Christ in a world desperate for hope. As Jesus reminded us, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”May the story of St. Nicholas inspire us to give generously, love deeply, and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas—because it's not the gifts we receive, but the love we share, that makes this season truly special.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I've heard that even if you have a will, your estate still has to go through court, but that having a trust allows you to avoid that. Is that correct? Since I currently have both a will and a trust, is it advisable to keep both?I'm the CFO of a company that's considering a sale. The CEO wants to sell to a buyer I'm concerned could ultimately harm the company. Given my role, what counsel or perspective can I offer the CEO as we consider this decision?I'm 82 years old and have lost my eyesight, which makes it difficult to write checks and pay bills. What options are available for setting up automatic bill pay or managing my finances more easily?I'll be retiring soon—I turn 62 next year—and I still owe about $119,000 on my home. I work part-time, and my husband works full-time. Should I start collecting Social Security now, even though I'll continue working, so we can pay off the house more quickly?My husband and I are in our early 40s. We own our home outright, have no debt, and paid for college in cash. We've saved about $140,000 and would like to invest $100,000, but we're not sure of the best way to do that.I was overpaid SSDI by Social Security and am currently repaying it. Do I need to repay the overpayment before I can receive my retirement benefits?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jon Hansen is joined by Social Security Disability Attorney Jeffrey Rabin of The Law Offices of Jeffrey A. Rabin & Associates to talk about Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Jeff answers whether you can work while your SSI/SSDI case is pending and answers listener questions. For more information, call 312-431-1000.

Jon Hansen is joined by Social Security Disability Attorney Jeffrey Rabin of The Law Offices of Jeffrey A. Rabin & Associates to talk about Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Jeff answers whether people can be on both, how people qualify for each, and answers listener questions. For more information, call 312-431-1000.

     MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MINUTE:                                                         Informed consent: The key to preventing big Medicare Advantage mistakes!      YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS 2025:                                                            Surgical Dressings Enjoy some correspondence from clients or wannabe clients:      Ken & Mrs. Ken sent their heartfelt thanks for the help with various insurance products, including Medicare supplement and life insurance which they shopped for effortlessly and without being irritated by me or any other annoying insurance agent.      A new client, under 65 on SSDI, wrote to request Medicare supplement quotes. Fortunately for her, the rates in her state are quite reasonable.      ANON sent a lengthy message entitled: Two Complaints and Some Serious Foot-Stomping (or words to that effect);      ANON II sent a short, invective-laden complaint.  Finally, we held a short review of a list of the most frequently prescribed drugs in America.      Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2025; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

One of the clearest signs that God has changed a person's heart is generosity. Scripture makes it plain: giving isn't merely an act—it's a reflection of God's own character. As believers, we give not because we have to, but because God has given richly to us.Today, we explore what the Bible says about generosity and highlight timeless wisdom from Christian voices throughout history. Their words still inspire us today to give joyfully, sacrificially, and with hearts shaped by the gospel.A Biblical Vision of GenerosityThe Bible paints a sweeping picture of generosity—one that reaches far beyond financial giving.Generosity Begins with CompassionJesus taught, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Generosity starts with seeing the needs right in front of us and responding with compassion, humility, and love.Giving Flows from the HeartThe apostle Paul reminds us that our gifts should reflect the posture of our hearts: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”Generosity isn't measured by the amount of money given, but by the joy, gratitude, and trust behind it.Generosity Reflects God's CharacterPsalm 112 connects generosity to righteousness itself. Giving is not just something Christians do—it becomes part of who we are when our lives are aligned with God's heart.Timeless Christian Wisdom on GivingThroughout the centuries, believers have wrestled with what it means to give faithfully. These quotes reflect deep biblical conviction and continue to encourage us today.C. S. Lewis“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.”Lewis reminds us that generosity stretches us—it costs something. Yet in that stretching, God grows us.John Wesley“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can…as long as ever you can.”Wesley captures the spirit of a life poured out for God: comprehensive, intentional, and relentless generosity.A. W. Tozer“Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.”Our giving invests in eternity, turning temporary resources into lasting treasure.Billy Graham“Tell me what you think about money, and I will tell you what you think about God… A man's heart is closer to his wallet than anything else.”Graham's words challenge us to consider how closely our financial decisions reveal our spiritual values.Evelyn Underhill“The spirit of adoration is the spirit of generosity, for worship is giving.”True generosity flows out of worship—a recognition that everything we have is a gift from God.Randy Alcorn“Giving affirms Christ's lordship. It dethrones me and exalts Him.”Giving reorders our priorities. It loosens our grip on earthly security and strengthens our trust in Christ.St. Augustine“Charity is a virtue which…unites us to God, for by it, we love Him.”For Augustine, generosity wasn't just an action—it was spiritual formation.Amy Carmichael“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”Our giving is evidence of Christ's love alive in us.St. Paula of Rome“The more we give to Christ, the more we possess Him.”Generosity deepens our fellowship with Christ, reminding us that He is our true treasure.Jesus ChristWhen sending His disciples, Jesus said: “Give as freely as you have received.” (Matthew 10:8)All Christian generosity begins here—in response to His grace.Giving as a Reflection of the GospelWhen we give, we echo the heart of the ultimate Giver. Jesus held nothing back—not even His own life. Generosity isn't defined by the size of the gift but by the surrender of the heart.Every act of giving becomes a small reflection of the love of Christ in us.At FaithFi, we're committed to helping you integrate your faith and finances in a way that reflects God's glory. That's why each issue of our Faithful Steward magazine is designed to encourage you to:Live wiselyGive generouslySee God as your ultimate treasureWhen you become a FaithFi Partner by December 31, you'll receive all four issues of Faithful Steward—plus our brand-new devotional, Our Ultimate Treasure, releasing early next year. Learn more at FaithFi.com/Partner.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I'm in the process of redoing my will—this is actually the second attorney I've worked with—and I want to leave my house to my daughter, who's on SSDI. The attorneys I've spoken with both mention trusts, but they offer different opinions, which is confusing. What would you recommend? Also, I still owe about seven years on the mortgage at a 3.75% interest rate. Should I pay it off now or keep making payments?How should I advise my 19-year-old granddaughter on investing? Right now, she saves her cash in an envelope or in the bank, but I want to help her get started investing in a simple, conservative way. What's a good company or platform for her to begin with—something that doesn't require a lot of money to start?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)National Christian Foundation (NCF)Schwab Intelligent Portfolios | Betterment | StockpileWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jon Hansen is joined by Social Security Disability Attorney Jeffrey Rabin of The Law Offices of Jeffrey A. Rabin & Associates to talk about how Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are funded and more. Jeffrey answers listener questions about pensions and more! For more information, call 312-431-1000.

This week, Jeremiah and Alex tackle the questions that real retirees are actually asking. From how to file for Social Security the smart way to how to unlock forgotten retirement money hiding in old accounts. They dig into Social Security myths and strategies, including how to decide when to file, the difference between spousal and survivor benefits, how income limits affect your payments, and what happens when SSDI converts to regular benefits. Callers share real-world dilemmas: a 64-year-old in cybersecurity weighing when to claim; a woman in California discovering a secret credit card in a community property state; and a couple debating whether to sell or rent a second home and how to avoid capital gains taxes using the Section 121 exclusion. The unstoppable duo wrap with tips on finding unclaimed 401(k)s, old accounts, and missing funds, plus why year-end is the perfect time to revisit tax strategies and portfolio moves.   Listen, Watch, Subscribe, Ask! https://www.therealmoneypros.com Hosts: Jeremiah Bates & Alex Lundgren ————————————————————— SPONSORS: Ataraxis PEO https://ataraxispeo.com Tree City Advisors of Apollon: https://www.treecityadvisors.com Apollon Wealth Management: https://apollonwealthmanagement.com/ —————————————————————

3. Supply vs. Demand: Economic Shocks, Entitlements, and the Invisible Population Nicholas Eberstadt Book: Men Without Work (Post-Pandemic Edition) Eberstadt explores the competing explanations for the ghost army, contrasting his supply-side argument (men holding back labor/unpreparedness) with demand-side views from critics Henry Olsen and Jared Bernstein. Olsen highlights the role of economic shocks and structural changes, like the 1970s stagflation and deindustrialization (the Rust Belt). The role of entitlements is significant, as over half of NILF men receive at least one benefit, often disability payments like SSDI. Regional differences in labor force participation (e.g., high inactivity in West Virginia adjacent to low inactivity in Maryland) mitigate a purely national demand-side case. The source stresses the lack of data on the estimated 25 million ex-convicts, who are an "invisible population" largely untracked by labor statistics. 1929

When facing tax debt, you are worried about every asset you own and whether or not the IRS is going to take it from you. Can the IRS garnish you SSI and/or SSDI though? Find out today! Do you have tax debt? Call us at 866-8000-TAX or fill out the form at https://choicetaxrelief.com/If you want to see more…-YouTube:    / @loganallec  -Instagram: @ChoiceTaxRelief @LoganAllec -TikTok: @loganallec-Facebook: Choice Tax Relief // Logan Allec, CPA -Reddit:   / taxrelief   

This parent-focused webinar demystifies benefits so you can plan with confidence. Benefits Navigator Marcy LaCroix explains how SSI and SSDI work, why “logic” often feels missing, and how to use work incentives so your teen can try jobs without losing critical supports. You'll hear when and how to apply, what documentation Social Security looks for, and why the age 18 redetermination matters. Marcy clarifies the difference between income limits and asset limits, how living arrangements affect SSI, and when Medicare and Medical Assistance can work alongside employer insurance. She also covers student-friendly supports like the student earned income exclusion, plus paths to keep eligibility if earnings rise. Expect practical guidance on reporting wages, avoiding overpayments, and handling denials and appeals. Throughout, SSB's Transition Coordinator Shane DeSantis underscores that work is possible, help is available, and you're not alone. Parents leave with next steps, trusted resources, and real-world answers.   Links mentioned in the episode: Disability Hub DB101   To find out more about the services provided at State Services for the Blind, and what they can do for you, contact Shane DeSantis at shane.desantis@state.mn.us or call Shane at 651-385-5205.   Full Transcript    Thanks for listening!

Jim and Chris discuss listener questions on Social Security disability, dependent benefits for an adult child, a 60-day rollover nuance, inherited IRA RMD rules, and a deferred income annuity strategy.(15:00) George asks whether his brother, who is on SSDI and will transition to retirement benefits at 67, can suspend and restart his benefit to grow […] The post Social Security, 60-Day Rollover, Inherited IRA, and Deferred Income Annuity: Q&A #2539 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener questions on surviving spouse Social Security benefits and Roth conversions, SSDI and pensions, the Social Security Fairness Act, managing large HSA reimbursements, and choosing between MYGAs and the TSP G Fund.(7:45) George asks whether Roth conversions count toward the earnings test when planning to claim his surviving spouse Social Security […] The post Social Security, HSA Reimbursements, and MYGAs: Q&A #2536 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

As a social worker, Billie Guthrie was drawn into all the factors at play in her clients' struggles. As a Social Security Disability attorney for The Deuterman Law Group, she is laser-focused on getting clients the benefits they deserve. Tune in to this conversation with host Amber Nimocks as Billie reflects on her unique journey to making “tangible differences” in clients' lives. And attend the NCAJ's upcoming day-long CLE, "Social Security Disability Updates and Practical Pointers for 2025 and Beyond," to learn more about her strategies and insights. Held at NCAJ's Raleigh headquarters, the September 18 event will kick-off the fall season of in-person, member-led CLE programming. Billie's topic for the CLE is strengthening cases involving mental health impairments and substance abuse, but email her if you're attending and have a question.

What if your work isn't just a job—but part of God's bigger story for your life?For some, work is a source of stress, struggle, or simply something to endure. But what if we're seeing it all wrong? What if God designed work to be a vital part of how we worship Him and serve others? Dr. Tom Nelson joins us today to talk about that. Dr. Tom Nelson is the President of Made to Flourish and has served as the Senior Pastor of Christ Community Church, a multi-site congregation across Kansas City, for over 30 years. He is also the author of Why Your Work Matters: How God Uses Our Everyday Vocations to Transform Us, Our Neighbors, and the World.False Narratives About WorkCulture tells us many things about work—most of them untrue.“Thank God it's Friday” reflects the belief that work is a curse and that our real lives happen only on weekends.Work as mere productivity reduces our calling to a paycheck or to-do list.Sacred vs. secular divide suggests ministry work matters more than other vocations.However, if we return to Genesis 1 and 2, we find that work is not a curse. Work is God's good design. Whether paid or unpaid, our work is part of how we glorify Him.The Four-Chapter Story of WorkDr. Tom Nelson uses a “four-chapter” framework to show how the Bible shapes a proper view of work:Creation – What Ought to Be. God designed work as a gift and a reflection of His image. Work and worship were never meant to be separate.The Fall – What Is. Sin corrupted work, introducing toil, frustration, and broken relationships.Redemption – What Can Be. Through Christ, our work can be redeemed. Whether changing diapers, leading a company, or volunteering, we bring God's presence into every environment.New Creation – What Will Be. One day, we will experience work in its perfect form—creative, joyful, and without sin—in God's restored Kingdom.One of the most transformative ideas to remember is that all work done for God's glory is sacred. Work is contribution, not just compensation. We carry God's presence with us into our workplaces because the Holy Spirit dwells within us.This perspective breaks down the artificial barrier between “spiritual” and “secular” work. It gives believers a seamless life of worship—Sunday through Monday.Hope for the FutureWe won't spend eternity sitting on clouds. Revelation offers us a glimpse of a garden city where we will worship Jesus and engage in creative, joyful work—free from sin, frustration, and the need for perfect relationships with God and others.If you've believed that your work doesn't matter, be encouraged that you were created with work in mind. God is with you in your work. When you embrace Jesus and become His apprentice, you'll learn to live a seamless life where every task, big or small, can glorify Him.Dr. Tom Nelson's latest book, Why Your Work Matters: How God Uses Our Everyday Vocations to Transform Us, Our Neighbors, and the World, is available wherever books are sold. To learn more about integrating faith and work, visit MadeToFlourish.org.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I'd like advice on how to invest between $30,000 and $60,000 to generate steady monthly or quarterly dividends. My goal is to cover about $150 a month to help with some expenses.I've been on SSDI for about five or six years due to health issues, and I also earn about $1,400 a month from a part-time job. Am I allowed to contribute to an IRA with this income?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Made to FlourishWhy Your Work Matters: How God Uses Our Everyday Vocations to Transform Us, Our Neighbors, and the World by Dr. Tom NelsonCommon Good MagazineBankrate.comWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Jon Hansen is joined by Social Security Disability Attorney Jeffrey Rabin of The Law Offices of Jeffrey A. Rabin & Associates to talk about Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Jeffrey answers listener questions about back pay and what to do after someone who was receiving benefits passes. For more information, call 312-431-1000.

Jon Hansen is joined by Social Security Disability Attorney Jeffrey A. Rabin of The Law Offices of Jeffrey A. Rabin & Associates to talk about Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). He also talks about the mental health aspects of SSDI and general rules for applying. Jeffrey also answers listener questions. For more […]

8.8.25. MTA Max Page with Jonathan Hecht on reforming stipends. Atty James Winston impact cuts to SSI & SSDI. Nina Kleinberg on Casablanca at Amherst Cinema. Northampton Mayoral Candidate David Dombrowski.

8.8.25. MTA Max Page with Jonathan Hecht on reforming stipends. Atty James Winston impact cuts to SSI & SSDI. Nina Kleinberg on Casablanca at Amherst Cinema. Northampton Mayoral Candidate David Dombrowski.

8.8.25. MTA Max Page with Jonathan Hecht on reforming stipends. Atty James Winston impact cuts to SSI & SSDI. Nina Kleinberg on Casablanca at Amherst Cinema. Northampton Mayoral Candidate David Dombrowski.

Tom Foley began 2021 as the new Executive Director of National Disability Institute (NDI).Trained as a tax lawyer and financial planner, Tom has more than 30 years of experience in the disability community. As a person who is blind, he has been an advocate and dedicated his career to partnering with other thought leaders to address the complex drivers of economic inequality and create pathways to employment and financial security for the most vulnerable communities. In addition, Tom has been instrumental in developing and influencing federal and state legislation to encourage employment and increase participation of people with disabilities in employment and wealth-building programs. He most recently held the position of Managing Director at the World Institute on Disability.Tom says: I think financial institutions, educators and banks each have to recognize the disability community as a specific market segment of the population that have been traditionally underserved and have a demonstrated need for access to financial tools and services. Once they make the decision to work with the disability community, they need to partner with organizations who are particularly well-positioned to provide industry technical assistance to reach the disability community and further the financial industry's inclusion goals – like National Disability Institute. For example, NDI reaches two million people per year and has been doing this for 15 years. We are particularly well situated, through our research, policy and practice, to reach this community.In addition, it's important for banks and financial institutions to target people with disabilities through their CRA activities. NDI's Center for Disability-Inclusive Community Development (CDICD) works to improve the usage of the opportunities and resources available under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). This is really important as millions of dollars, that could help people with disabilities in LMI communities, goes unspent every year. Through NDI's research, we've identified that Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities with disability are the most underserved. How do we change this? Financial institutions, in particular, need to make a concerted effort to work with and support this segment of the community. In addition, we, the disability community, need to be intentional in our own efforts to better address these issues.© 2025 All Rights Reserved© 2025 Building Abundant Success!!Join Me on ~ iHeart Media @ https://tinyurl.com/iHeartBASSpot Me on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yxuy23baAmazon ~ https://tinyurl.com/AmzBASAudacy:  https://tinyurl.com/BASAud

Learn what the One Big Beautiful Bill Act means for your taxes, benefits, and financial planning. Then, understand how to adapt to living on disability insurance. What tax changes are coming from the federal budget bill? Can you save money while living on disability? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola unpack the latest legislative changes to help you understand how they'll impact your finances. Joined by senior news writer Anna Helhoski, they explain how the nearly 900-page budget bill alters the tax landscape, including extensions of Trump-era cuts, new deductions for car loan interest and tipped income, and major clean energy credit rollbacks. They also explain what the end of certain EV and solar credits means for your 2025 tax strategy and how new "Trump Accounts" for babies could factor into long-term savings. Then, personal finance Nerd Kate Ashford joins Sean and Elizabeth to help answer a listener's question about how to manage their finances while on disability. They cover SSDI vs. SSI, saving strategies despite income limits, and whether it's possible to start a nonprofit or invest money without risking benefits. They also discuss emotional support during life transitions, who should consider disability insurance, and how to shop for a policy while you're still healthy. Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: federal budget 2025, tax cuts 2025, Trump tax cuts extension, new tax deductions 2025, car loan interest deduction, tipped income tax exemption, overtime income tax deduction, SALT deduction 2025, standard deduction for seniors, clean energy tax credits ending, EV tax credit deadline, solar panel tax credit expiration, energy efficient home improvement credit, Trump baby savings accounts, Medicaid work requirements, SNAP cuts 2028, ACA premium increases 2025, health insurance cost increase, student loan changes 2026, repayment assistance program 2026, graduate student loan limit, SSDI savings rules, how to save on SSDI, investing while on SSDI, SSDI vs SSI, work income limit on disability, disability benefits income cap, short term disability insurance, long term disability insurance, how to buy disability insurance, SSDI work expense deductions, how to qualify for disability benefits, financial planning on disability, and new tax rules 2025. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord's people.” - 1 Corinthians 14:33We're continuing our series on temperaments—how our God-given wiring shapes the way we communicate, relate to others, and make financial decisions. Kathleen Edelman is back with us, joined by Andrew Stanley, as we take a closer look at the Blue temperament and its influence on our approach to money.Kathleen Edelman is the author of I Said This, You Heard That: How Your Wiring Colors Your Communication. She is certified in Biblical Studies and Christian Counseling Psychology and has spent over 30 years coaching clients in the art of effective communication.Andrew Stanley is a nationally touring stand-up comedian who's been performing across the country since 2016. You can learn more at AndrewStanleyComedy.com. In this episode, he also joins us as our representative for the Blue Temperament.The Four Temperaments in a NutshellBefore diving into blue specifically, Kathleen offers a quick primer on all four temperaments:Yellow (Sanguine) – Extroverted and people-oriented, they speak the language of fun and relationships.Red (Choleric) – Task-oriented extroverts who value power and control.Blue (Melancholic) – Introverted and task-focused, they speak the language of perfection and order.Green (Phlegmatic) – Introverted but people-oriented, seeking peace and harmony.Each temperament influences not just relationships, but also how people handle money, make decisions, and respond under pressure.Blues and the Search for SafetyFor those with a blue temperament, safety isn't just a preference—it's a core emotional need. Blues thrive in environments where things are predictable, orderly, and well-organized. They naturally seek clarity, structure, and control to feel secure. When it comes to money, this often means creating detailed budgets, developing long-term plans, and being cautious when making financial decisions without having all the necessary information. Blues may prefer to save rather than spend, not because they're stingy, but because a growing bank account feels like a safety net against life's uncertainties. They can struggle with risk and may delay action if they feel unsure, even if the opportunity is wise or time-sensitive.In relationships, this drive for safety shows up in how blues communicate and connect with others. They crave understanding and support but may not always express those needs clearly. Because they process deeply and thoroughly, they often require space and time before responding, especially in moments of conflict or when making big decisions. If rushed or misunderstood, they may withdraw, using silence as a way to regain control or avoid making a mistake. However, when their need for emotional safety is honored through patience, empathy, and clear communication, they can be deeply loyal, thoughtful, and intentional partners. Understanding this temperament helps others engage them with compassion and build stronger, more harmonious relationships.Advice for and About BluesIf you have a blue temperament, give yourself permission to take the time you need to process decisions, especially those involving finances. Your thoughtful, analytical nature is a gift, but it can also lead to overthinking or decision paralysis. Don't let the desire for perfection keep you from making progress. Instead, set realistic deadlines, seek wise counsel, and remember that not every choice has to be airtight before it's made. Lean into your strengths—planning, order, and foresight—while also allowing space for joy, spontaneity, and relational connection. A budget isn't just a safety tool; it can also be a pathway to shared experiences and generous living.For those in a relationship with a blue—whether in marriage, friendship, or at work—understand that their quiet moments are rarely a sign of apathy. Blues often feel deeply but express slowly. They value being understood and respected, especially when making important decisions. Don't rush them. Instead, provide information clearly and give them time to reflect. Be patient if they seem hesitant or cautious. Underneath that careful exterior is someone who longs for peace, harmony, and purpose. When you honor their need for safety and support, you'll discover a loyal, wise, and dependable partner who brings depth and stability to any relationship.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My wife and I are carrying about $8,500 in credit card debt, plus a car loan. I've been considering opening a new credit card with an introductory 0% interest rate to help us pay it down more quickly. My wife's grandmother also mentioned a credit card relief program, but I'm worried it might hurt our credit. What's the best way for us to tackle this debt?Thank you for the financial advice you share on the program. It's helped me organize my finances, set up separate accounts, and start investing early. I'm grateful for the practical wisdom you offer!I'm on SSDI and have limited resources, but I'm wondering if it's still worthwhile to start investing. My daughter helps manage my finances, and I could probably set aside about $100 a month. Is starting small like that a good idea?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)I Said This, You Heard That: How Your Wiring Colors Your Communication by Kathleen EdelmanAndrewStanleyComedy.comChristian Credit CounselorsThe Sound Mind Investing Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Money From a Biblical Perspective by Austin Pryor with Mark BillerWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Jon Hansen is joined by Social Security Disability Attorney Jeff Rabin of The Law Offices of Jeffrey A. Rabin & Associates to talk about Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), how they’re paid for and how often there is pushback. For more information, call 312-431-1000.

 Ken opens up about life after a devastating neck injury, sharing raw stories of pain, recovery, and resilience. From battles with workers' comp and SSDI to finding humor in goats replacing lawnmowers, he reflects on the emotional weight of chronic pain, lost passions, and adapting to new realities. Blending grit with humor, Ken also dives into the trucking world—old gear, DOT inspections, e-logs, and the mental toll of the road—always reminding us that healing is more than just physical.   Donate to help our Coworker's son during his battle with Cancer! Click HERE to donate! Support The Show KEEP US FUELED: buymeacoffee.com/hammerlane Gear: https://www.hammerlanelegends.com/gear Share Your Stories EMAIL US YOUR STORIES: hammerlanelegends@gmail.com Website: www.hammerlanelegends.com Follow The Show YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC5TWlB5Yqx8JlQr3p3bkkMg Facebook: www.facebook.com/hammerlanelegends Facebook Fan Group: www.facebook.com/groups/hll Instagram Desktop: www.instagram.com/hammerlanelegends Instagram Mobile: @hammerlanelegends Twitter Desktop: www.twitter.com/HLLPodcast Twitter Mobile: @HLLpodcast Follow The Team Brian Merkel Facebook: www.facebook.com/brian.merkel.94 Instagram Desktop: www.instagram.com/brianmerkeloffical/ Instagram Mobile: @brianmerkelofficial Produced by: Jason York Follow Jason on Instagram @jyorkofficial Share 

Send us a textDiscover the critical financial strategies that can transform the lives of families with autism in our latest episode of "Why Not Me." Join us as we sit down with Andrew Smith, an experienced financial planner who specializes in guiding families with special needs. With a personal connection to the cause, Andrew delves into the complex world of government benefits like SSI, SSDI, and Medicaid, shedding light on how families can navigate these programs while addressing unique financial needs such as medical and travel expenses. His insights emphasize the importance of personalized planning and utilizing specialized tools to create secure financial futures.Ever wondered how to manage the financial complexities that come with an autism diagnosis? Andrew walks us through the essential first step of securing case management and introduces the ABLE plan—a game-changing financial tool for individuals with disabilities. Similar to a 529 college savings plan, the ABLE plan allows for savings beyond the typical asset limits without jeopardizing benefits. Andrew explains how understanding state-specific rules and investment options can provide a hopeful and clear path forward for families, easing the emotional and financial burdens that come with such diagnoses.Protecting assets for children with autism is a crucial task for any parent, and Andrew lays out the importance of third-party special needs trusts in this episode. Learn how these trusts can ensure that assets are managed according to the parents' wishes without disqualifying the child from necessary aid. We also cover the role of professional trustees and the vital need for educating both clients and advisors to improve service quality. Through Andrew's expertise, we aim to inspire and reassure families, showing them that they are not alone on this challenging, yet hopeful, journey towards a secure financial future.https://tonymantor.comhttps://Facebook.com/tonymantorhttps://instagram.com/tonymantorhttps://twitter.com/tonymantorhttps://youtube.com/tonymantormusicintro/outro music bed written by T. WildWhy Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)