Podcasts about Supplemental Security Income

A representative payee program is a program that helps individuals who are unable to manage their Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Disability Benefits, Veterans' or other financial benefits. A representative payee is appointed to manage the benefits on behalf of the beneficiary. The program is designed for individuals who are Read More Shared by United Resource Connection April 18, 2025

In Wisconsin alone, more than 100,000 adults with disabilities receive monthly Supplemental Security Income payments of $943 per month. If they get married, however, a decades-old federal law slashes those benefits and threatens the support services that come with them. In this episode of Open Record, FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn shares his latest investigation that found the law has some couples with permanent disabilities living a life of forbidden love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1972, the federal government launched a program to support the poorest disabled and elderly Americans. Supplemental Security Income, run by the Social Security Administration, provides monthly checks that are a lifeline for some of the most vulnerable people in this country.SSI was intended to serve as a powerful safety net and a tool for fighting poverty. But a recent NPR Investigation led by correspondent Joseph Shapiro has discovered a very different reality today.In today's episode of The Sunday Story, Shapiro explains how SSI's outdated rules have made the system difficult to run and almost impossible for its beneficiaries to navigate. Impoverished disabled and elderly people say they have been penalized for trying to improve their lives—for saving money, getting married, and even daring to have careers.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In this episode of the Friends for Life Podcast, Tony Stuart dives into the untapped political power of the disability community, exploring how an estimated 40.2 million eligible voters with disabilities could influence the upcoming presidential election. This episode highlights eye-opening statistics from Rutgers University and examines the growing influence of this often-overlooked electorate, which accounts for a third of all eligible voters when including households with people who have disabilities. Despite their significant numbers, presidential candidates have yet to prioritize issues crucial to this community, raising concerns among disability advocates. Tony Stuart discusses the frustrations of advocates who have received little to no response from the campaigns of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris regarding vital issues like subminimum wage, Supplemental Security Income, and the inclusion of people with disabilities in policymaking. While Harris has proposed expanding Medicare for in-home care, advocates stress the need for both candidates to address the direct support workforce crisis and improve community-based services for people with developmental disabilities. As Election Day approaches, Tony also highlights efforts by organizations like The Arc to ensure that people with disabilities can exercise their right to vote. From hosting voter registration events to providing plain-language resources and taking legal action against voter suppression, advocates are working hard to mobilize the disability vote. Tune in to learn more about the pivotal role this community could play in shaping the future of American politics.

Series: Future Planning "Supplemental Security Income (SSI) & Employment" with Aleyada Toruna We continue on in our Future Planning Series today with a topic that many of us have allot of questions about. Can an individual receive both Supplemental Security Income or SSI and be employed earning an income. This can be a complicated subject and we are incredibly blessed to have expert Aleyda Toruno on today to explain it all to us. Aleyda has been advocating for the rights of people with disabilities for over 20 years. Prior to her current position at Cornell as Work Incentives Associate, she represented clients in mediations and hearings in Social Security work incentives, vocational rehabilitation, special education, California Regional Center services and Medi-Cal. Her passion to help clients through the employment continuum led her to the world of work incentives counseling. Lets listen in as she shares. Bio: Aleyda has been advocating for the rights of people with disabilities for over 20 years. Prior to her current position at Cornell as Work Incentives Associate, she represented clients in mediations and hearings in Social Security work incentives, vocational rehabilitation, special education, California Regional Center services and Medi-Cal. Her passion to help clients through the employment continuum led her to the world of work incentives counseling. For more information on Student Earned Income Exclusion see SEIE Contact: https://www.yti.cornell.edu/   Connect with Us: If you enjoy this podcast please share us with others and be sure to follow us so won't miss an episode.  We'd love to hear from you so please leave us a comment or rating and connect with us on social media or on our website.  Email us Website: Instagram Facebook: Facebook Group Free Youtube Resource Library 

The RISE-UP project is a transformative initiative to revolutionize rehabilitation services for underserved populations, focusing on racial and ethnic minorities. Dr. Mari Guillermo and Dr. Mark Tucker, Project Directors at San Diego State University's Interwork Institute, highlight how this project seeks to drive systemic change through state agency partnerships and tools like QA Advisor Plus. RISE-UP strives to reshape vocational rehabilitation and improve employment outcomes nationwide by fostering equity, inclusion, and access.   Listen Here   Full Transcript:   {Music} Mark: QA Advisor Plus, a tool that agencies can use to check their RSA 911 data for errors and to help facilitate or expedite analysis of their own data.   Mari: How do we close this gap? Where are people not being served, what populations specifically are not being served? And the emphasis is on systems change because we can't improve these outcomes without really looking at what needs to change within that system.   Mark: So we hope that when you see information about the survey coming out, that you take a few minutes to fill it out and can provide us with information both about what they see as needs related to serving underserved populations. But also, we're asking folks to identify any promising practices that they're aware of with respect to providing effective services to underserved populations.   Intro Voice: Manager Minute brought to you by the VRTAC for Quality Management, Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time, one minute at a time. Here is your host Carol Pankow.   Carol: Well, welcome to the manager minute, Dr. Mari Guillermo and Dr. Mark Tucker, are co-project directors with San Diego State University Interwork Institute. And they are joining me in the studio today. So how are things going in San Diego, Mari?   Mari: Uh, well, it's warming up. It's going to be in the 90s by tomorrow, but it's also the start of the semester at San Diego State University. We're in our second week, so things are still trying to settle down, but it's been quite a good busy two weeks for sure.   Carol: Oh, good for you. Well, I was in San Diego back in June and I'm going, okay, why isn't it warm here now? It was warmer in Minnesota than it was in San Diego. It was so crazy with that kind of, I don't know, marine layer or whatever hangs out. Yeah. How about you, Mark? How are things going for you?   Mark: Going well, yeah, That marine layer in June we that's like a typical thing June Gloom we call it. And then we pay the price in September. September is usually warm for us, but we'll get back to our normal San Diego weather in October.   Carol: Nice. I do love your fair city though. It is really awesome. Well, I thought, and I'm so glad I could get you two because I've been trying to snag you. I think I've been talking to you since last December, but now is finally the sweet spot. I thought it was super timely that we talk about the project given you're at the end of year one. October is also National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and I really think the project that you guys are embarking on could have a significant impact on the employment arena for underserved populations. As a little side note, we're super happy as part of the George Washington University team to be a partner on this project. So I want to give our listeners just a little bit of background. Over a year ago, RSA competed a discretionary grant, and the grant was specifically related to section 21 of the Rehab Act, as amended by WIOA, which requires RSA to reserve 1% of the funds appropriated each year for programs under titles three, title six, and seven to provide grant, contract or cooperative agreement awards to minority entities and Indian tribes to carry out activities under the Rehab Act. Secondly, minority entities and Indian tribes to conduct research training to or a related activity to improve services provided under the act, especially services provided to individuals from minority backgrounds. Or thirdly, state or public or private non-profit agencies or organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to minority entities and American Indian tribes to promote their participation in activities under the Rehab Act. I learned a whole bunch. I know for our listeners, you're getting a whole history lesson, but I thought this was cool. And so under this priority, the department provides funding for a cooperative agreement for a minority entity or an Indian tribe to provide training and TA to a minimum range of 5 to 15 state VR agencies over a five year period of performance, so they are equipped to serve as role models for diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the workforce system by implementing policies, Practices and service delivery approaches designed to contribute to increasing competitive, integrated employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities from underserved populations. And the other cool part is that you also need to contribute via our research and really good practices that promote access, and this will be really of great benefit across the whole country. So I'm super excited. Let's dig in. So, Mari, typically our listeners like to know a little bit about our guests, your backgrounds. So can you tell a little bit about yourself and your background?   Mari: Yeah, I'm originally from Hawaii, born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. I moved to San Diego in the late 80s to as a graduate student in the rehabilitation program at San Diego State University. So since moving to San Diego, I haven't moved very far from San Diego State University and our rehab counseling program. I'm currently faculty in our graduate program, but I've been with the Interwork Institute since its beginning, when it was started by doctors Fred McFarlane and Doctor Ian Champion, and just worked with some incredible number of leaders in our rehabilitation field. And upon graduating from the master's program, I started working with Doctor Bobby Atkins. And for those of you who few of you who are not familiar with Doctor Atkins, she is a leader. When we look at all diversity initiatives and in fact, when we look at section 21, that was started with her groundbreaking research looking at the involvement and participation of African Americans in vocational rehabilitation. But I worked with Doctor Atkins upon graduating from the program in the capacity building projects funded by this same pool of money. And Doctor Atkins was the national director for the Rehabilitation Cultural Diversity Initiative, which then morphed over into the Rehabilitation Capacity Building Project. So I worked with her from the 90s. All the way up to like 2015 I think is when the project ended. So a lot of the work that we are doing in Rise Up really builds on the foundational work that we did with Doctor Atkins back in the 1990s. So it's an incredible honor.   Carol: I think that is very cool. You've come full circle. Oh my gosh, I love that. I had no idea. And for our listeners too, I just want to say a word about Doctor Fred McFarlane. Fred had passed away this summer. Fred has been a good friend to many, and many of our listeners have benefited from Fred's work with the NRLI and the Leadership Institute. Fred was the founding person developing that and really did such an amazing job touching so many VR professionals over his career. And his legacy definitely lives on. So I just I needed to say that because Fred is definitely missed. So, Marc, how about you? Why don't you tell us a little bit about your background.   Mark: Sure, I've got a Master of Science in rehabilitation counseling, and I'm a certified rehabilitation counselor. And in fact, you know, when I was applying to the graduate program in rehabilitation counseling, Fred interviewed me. Uh, that was a few years back. But that...   Carol: Yeah, 1 or 2.   Mark: Yeah, but he was there right at the start for me. And then kind of in the profession, I got my start in community based non-profit agencies and then from there joined the Rehabilitation Continuing Education program for region nine at Interwork and SDSU in the early 2000. And when I was there, was involved in all kinds of different technical assistance, training and research projects, while also kind of teaching in an adjunct capacity in the Rehabilitation counseling graduate program at SDSU. And then eventually the Rehabilitation Continuing Education programs transitioned into the Technical Assistance and Continuing Education centers. So I continued doing that same type of work with what were called the TACE centers, and then in 2014, joined the Rehabilitation Counseling Program faculty at SDSU full time. So that's sort of where I spend a lot of my time. But I still continue working with, you know, Interwork. The two are just so intricately joined. It's really difficult to be part of one without being part of the other. So I continue doing work at Interwork. One of the recent projects that Mari and I were both involved in a few years back was the California version of the Promise Projects. It was a 5 or 6 years of work with transition age youth who were recipients of Supplemental Security Income. Presently, I'm the coordinator of the Rehabilitation Counseling program at SDSU, and do that while maintaining connections to a variety of projects at Interwork.   Carol: Yeah, you're always wearing about 40 hats. I always think of you, Mark, as being the data guy though, too, because you love the data. I mean, everybody likes data, sort of but you love the data. I mean, you've done some really amazing things with our national data.   Mark: Thank you. I enjoy that. I appreciate being able to bring that to a lot of the projects that I'm involved in. Yeah, you're right. I think I find it fun maybe at times where other people are like, oh, we'll leave that to somebody else.   Carol: Yeah, absolutely. Oh my gosh. So why don't you guys tell us a little bit about your project? I know it's called Rise Up. Maybe you can tell our group like what's that stand for? Everybody's got their fun acronyms and what you're trying to accomplish.   Mari: The name really captures the overall vision for this project, and we have to give a shout out to Doctor Chaz Compton because after several failed acronyms, as we were writing the proposal, it was Chaz who came up with the name. And RISEUP stands for Rehabilitation Improvements in Services and Employment for Underserved Populations. And so that really captures what we're aiming to do, improving the services and in the process of improving services, improving the outcomes for underserved populations, in competitive integrated employment, in careers, in academic achievements and accomplishments now underserved populations. There's many ways we can look at that, but RSA has defined it for us and it concentrates on race and ethnicity. So it encompasses individuals who are black, Latino, indigenous, Native American persons, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other persons of color. And so that is the specific focus for this grant and the population that we hope to impact ultimately with the work that we do with the state agencies. An important component of the project is the partnerships that we aim to build with ten state agencies. And that partnership is really important because while we think about this work is okay, we'll do training and technical assistance and all these different topics and how it intersects with these different populations based on evidence based practices and promising practices. But we can only do so much with training and technical assistance. We really have to look at, okay, how does this then translate into the work that goes on in the agency and not just in the agency? How does that look at the different levels within the agency? How a director would translate the training will look different than how a counselor or a technician would translate. We hope that it complements each other, but everyone has a different role in this process. And that's the other part of the project, is that we want to really look at the whole agency and all the different levels, and being able to provide that support to them where they need it. And really looking at how do we close this gap? Where are people not being served, what populations specifically are not being served within a state or a section of the state? And the emphasis is on systems change, because we can't improve these outcomes without really looking at what needs to change within that system. And there's different components that we're going to be incorporating into the project in our partnerships with the state agencies to look at what are the strengths and weaknesses within your agencies and what are the opportunities and gaps. And while there are big challenges that we all are aware of, there's also some great things going on and we want to highlight that, and we believe we'll be able to find that also within each of the state agencies.   Carol: I like a couple of things about what you just said. Well, I like it all, but a couple things stick out to me because holistically, we've seen it as we do TA and as people put in new initiatives in place. If you really get the whole agency going in the same direction, it is the rise or fall of that project for sure, because maybe the director is all in, but the mid-level managers and the counselors are like, I don't even understand what's going on. You're asking us to do this other thing? I don't get it. It seems weird. It's extra. I don't want to. I'm not going to. And then it doesn't happen. And so you really have to get everybody in sync. So I think you're smart to look at the whole organization and how everybody interprets the information and the training and how it actually gets implemented, because it isn't the director implementing it. It's the boots on the ground folks, it's your counselor. You need your line folks engaged and involved and giving you feedback and understanding what's happening. So that I think that is brilliant. Secondly, the data I think it's been interesting and I think Mark, it's some of the work that you've done over the last couple of years that I've known you as well, that as people start to get better about looking at their data, I think folks were looking really high level, not getting into the real intricacies and seeing the maybe the disparities that are happening in employment as you start looking at different races and ethnicities and who's getting what kind of work and what those outcomes are. And then we've seen states be completely shocked, like we didn't know we have a huge problem in this area. So I think getting at the data is super important. So I know, Mark, you and I had spoken to and you talked about this special wrinkle, and we're not using wrinkle in a bad way. It was in a good way. But you have a contractor called Encorpe and they're bringing something special to the project. Tell us a little bit about that.   Mark: Sure, and this relates a bit more to the data aspects of the project that we were just talking about. So Encorpe is a partner on the project. It's an organization that's headed by a couple of individuals with considerable experience with the public VR program, and they offer a tool that's known as QA Advisor Plus. So this is a tool that agencies can use to check their RSA 911 data for errors and to kind of help facilitate or expedite analysis of their own data. So users of the tool can run custom queries on their data. They can do things like track changes from quarter to quarter in things like population served on a variety of measures that might include things like applications or eligibility plan services, competitive integrated employment outcomes. Those are the kinds of things that are of interest, particularly to us as part of the Rise Up project and built into this project is that Rise Up will pay for one year of QA advisor Plus for participating agencies if they elect to use it. So agencies aren't required to use QA Advisor Plus if they don't want to. We have other strategies for helping and assisting with data analysis if they elect not to use it, but that's there as an offer. Rise Up will cover one year of the cost of that service. And I think one of the things that we're trying to get at is that through the project is to kind of help facilitate kind of long term attention and ongoing attention to things like population served and differences in services and outcomes, and to use that for more data informed planning, in our case, particularly around underserved populations. But agencies can certainly pretty easily extend that out to other groups of interest or other aspects of the rehabilitation process. That may not be maybe the central focus of what Rise Up is doing. And one of the things I sort of want to underscore here is that the project is intentionally designed to make considerable use of data that the state agencies are already gathering and reporting to RSA anyway. So if agencies are interested maybe in participating in Rise Up, but they're like, oh, I don't want there to be like an additional heavy burden on my data folks or my direct service folks. Our intention is that things will be fairly light with respect to those kinds of demands, because we'll take advantage of existing data that's already being gathered, and then we'll either use QA Advisor Plus or some of our own staff to assist with the analyses.   Carol: That's the beauty of this project really, I love that because it isn't like you're going, okay, state, we're knocking on your door to like, come and do this thing. And then you need to add like ten positions to pay attention to this. And I think it's great because I got a chance to look at that QA Advisor Plus. I saw the Encorpe guys at, CSAVR and they were like, hey, do you want to see a little demo of this? I was like, oh my gosh, I know as being a small blind agency director, we had one data person who's doing a million things, and so we were very surfacey. We got a little bit of stuff, but it was really hard. You have one person there doing a million things, and so that tool, I liked how it kind of rose up little things. It had that cool feature and it would just flag something for you to go like, hey, what's going on in this particular area? That would have been so lovely because I know a lot of our programs are small, so you might just have a half a position or one position that's working in this area. They don't have a whole team that's got all this really developed deep skill set in there. I just think having that added resource is amazing and could really take that level of sort of your data analytics to a whole different place than what you've been able to do so far and not, you know, not disparaging anybody's current skill level at it. It's just that people don't have time because there's so many demands. So when you can add like a feature to help with analyzing that data, it really is a great gift. So who are your agencies that are currently participating in the project?   Mari: So we've had initial conversations with a number of agencies, and certainly there were a number of agencies who had written letters of commitment when we wrote the grant, and that was really important. I don't want to mention the states yet until we have agreements in place out of respect for the agencies, our goal is to have by the end of year two, our goal is to have six agreements in place and by the end of year three, another four. So that will be a total of ten. But we've already started to have that conversation and people are at different starting points, right? And trying to map out how will this make sense and be of value to your agency and mapping that out in an individualized agreement with each of the states? So maybe we'll be invited for a second visit a year down the road, and I can at least give you a few more names more specific than what I'm giving you now, Carol.   Carol: No,  that's totally fine. Absolutely. I wasn't sure if, you know, like, are you needing some people? Because sometimes our listeners are like, hey, I want to be part of that project. I want to be in.   Mari: No, absolutely. And we're more than happy to talk to agencies throughout this whole process, because really the intent is we targeted ten agencies because we want to make sure that with the resources that we have available to us, that we use that in a way to really make that impact, to really try to get to that systems change because again, change doesn't happen overnight and it doesn't happen on a zero budget, right? But the hope is the lessons that are learned from the ten agencies in this work will be relevant to the rest of the country.   Carol: That's what I've loved about all of these different discretionary grants that RSA has put out, because I've been talking to people for the last year, and there is such cool things being done and demonstrated that now they're sharing out, you know, with other people and just that wonderful plethora of ideas. It makes it super fun. And everybody gets really excited planting the seeds of a different way of looking at things and doing things. So you are at the end of year one, and I love it when I talk to all our grantees that have gotten these grants, like, what have been your challenges this year?   Mark: I would say some of the challenges that we've encountered are things that it's not like they're not doable. It's just that they're the time and process demands are, you know, things have sort of taken longer, I guess I've started to come to kind of expect it. But still, when you're anxious to kind of get going and get rolling, these things sort of surface as challenges or frustrations. And so some of them are, I think, very predictable things like fleshing out the project staff, developing and executing subcontracts. I think Mari, she's nodding her head often. It's a little bit more complicated or involved than you think it might be. We've been working on things like establishing the technical infrastructure for the project, information management, information sharing systems, and we have a website that's in development that will ultimately use to share information coming out of this project, with many more than just the ten state agencies that we work intensively with. So there will be kind of dissemination of project learning far beyond those ten. We've been comprehensively surveying the literature related to underserved populations in VR, and it's not really just a challenge. It's just kind of a time consuming thing that we're kind of working our way through. We are going to be implementing a national survey of state VR staff around both challenges and opportunities related to serving underserved populations and the instrument development process is always a little time consuming, and you get a lot of feedback and you make revisions and there's several feedback and revision stages. So that's something that will be surfacing in the near future. That's just it's taken time, but we'll get there. Or going through things like the human subjects institutional review process, just to make sure that everybody's, you know, treated well and treated ethically. So those are all, you know, just things that have moved along or are moving along and we're squaring them away. But for those of us who are like, would like to just get going, all of that process stuff at the beginning is a little bit of a challenge. One thing that I think the team is wrestling with a little bit, and this is something that I think were a challenge that we will contend with going forward, and I've got confidence that we'll be able to address it, but it's just going to require some thought is that, you know, as Mari indicated earlier, the underserved populations of interest are defined by race and ethnicity. And we know already from looking at our data over a long period of time that our clients, like everybody else, often are multiracial, and they check a whole bunch of boxes So we're not going to necessarily be able to look at clients who are folks don't fall neatly into very convenient categories, right. So I think we're going to have to be very sensitive to that dynamic in the process and probably develop multiple ways of looking at race and ethnicity, so that we don't kind of miss any really important lessons that are coming out of this project.   Carol: Absolutely. And regarding that national survey, is there something our listeners can do to be of help in that or something they should be looking out for?   Mark: We're still in the process of piloting it like we want to get it right before it goes out, but we will be working with one of our project partners, which is CSAVR, to disseminate this national survey. It'll be an electronic survey, and it's really designed to go to VR staff at all levels. Like we talked about earlier, involvement of folks, feedback from folks at all levels in VR system really important. So VR staff at all levels, folks like SRC members will be disseminating it through CSAVR. And we would encourage everybody to, you know, I know we survey ourselves all the time in society here in the US. But this one is important. And to me and I think to the overall intent of the project. And so we hope that when you see information about the survey coming out, that you take a few minutes to fill it out and complete it. It will be anonymous. It won't be linked back to you. So we hope people will respond candidly and provide us with information both about what they see as needs related to serving underserved populations. But also, we're asking folks to identify any promising practices that they're aware of with respect to providing effective services to underserved populations. I think both of those types of information can be really helpful to us in terms of planning out the future of this project, designing effective training, effective technical assistance efforts. So we see it as one way of kind of triangulating that information. We will look to triangulate it with other forms of information, but really critical to kind of building some of the key infrastructure to the project.   Carol: Good.   Mark: Yeah.   Carol: And we definitely can be a help to in passing out the word when the survey comes out. I know Chaz, he'll be like, Carol, can you get that out in our email groups too? We have lots of different ways. We communicate out. We have different COPs. We've got lots of mailing lists and such, so we can help kind of promote the word to get at the different groups of folks. So you get kind of a wide range of participation. So I know, Mark, you've alluded to a few things that really you've learned so far this year. One, because always year one's a learning year because people don't fall neatly in boxes. Are there any other kind of learnings you've had from year one so far, or Mari, too. either of you?   Mark: Yeah, I'm going to defer to Mari on this one.   Mari: We've learned a lot. And when you say, what have you learned so far? It's almost what has been confirmed. The whole reason why this funding opportunity is available because there's a gap there, right? And so what the conversations that we've had with agencies is just confirmed that there's a lot of work that we need to do and that we need to do better. But every agency is at a different starting point. Who they consider underserved will vary from state to state, or even from city to city within the same state. Right And where those gaps and inequities occur will also vary. For some states, it's just getting the outreach to communities to that door exists in their area, to certain populations dropping out before they even reach the point of developing an EIP, and other agencies are seeing where the EIP is developed. Things start to roll out and then for different reasons that we want to dig into, we lose people, you know, in certain populations compared to the overall populations being served. And so one of the things we are learning is that we really need to direct the training and technical assistance to where each agency wants to start, but also helping them and working together using that data that Marc talked about to confirm or not confirm whether these actual inequities at different points in the process are occurring. And then of course, the environment and the climate that agencies operate under impacts what they're tackling, something that we've heard repeatedly. And I'm sure, Carol, you've heard often, is the staffing challenges that our state agencies are experiencing upwards to 40% of unfilled positions, and that will certainly impact the work and the progress and the impact when we start to work with the agencies. Some agencies are further along in the process where they've really looked at the data from their comprehensive statewide needs assessment and saw a hole there and actually started to develop a goal to address that. And so they've already have that beginning understanding and now are at the stage of, okay, what do we do with this information? What kind of training and technical assistance can we provide our staff, and how can you help with this. And getting us to move the needle, at least move the needle forward, right? And I know we're going to get a lot of new information or confirming knowledge from the national survey, but also using that national survey to start the conversation with each of the individual agencies. You know, how does this national data look for you? Is it true or how different it is? And so I think we've learned a lot, and there's a lot more that we're going to unravel in this process.   Carol: I love it. The CSNAs, you know, I think states for a long time did it as a check the box. We have to do the thing. We're going to contract to somebody to do the thing. Here's the thing. It's 300 pages. All right. We put it on the shelf. It's in the electronic folder. But I have noticed this over the years we've been doing the QM work. People are really taking the CSNA and actually paying attention to it and starting to put all the dots together, linking that as the basis for then what flows into the state plan flows into goals and priorities and really connecting and spending more time. The thing I've been very hopeful of is spending time with direct staff so that they understand the whole process, because staff will hear about this stuff, but they don't really understand it or what is that about? And now people are linking like, here's why we're doing all of this. We're actually finding out what's the situation in our state, and we're taking this and we're putting together goals and priorities within our state plan based on this data, this information. So it all links together, because I think people feel like everybody's just doing these random activities, but they actually all come together.   Mari: Yeah.   Carol: So that I have seen as a change, definitely in the five plus years I've been doing TA work now, I've seen a big swing and I've loved it, because now people are digging down in the organization and including not just your executive leadership and middle managers. They're including the line staff and having them have an understanding of what's going on so that they can understand their contributions to this overall big picture. So I love that.   Mari: Yeah, and we learned that from the Cal Promise Project We had this whole large, comprehensive database and our team were able to put together, I guess, reports of here's what the data is looking like, here's how your region is being impacted, and the transition specialists, the people who are meeting with the families and with the students, like we've never seen this before. We're always feeding data to our supervisor. Our boss is always asking for data, and so we give it to them. But we never know what happens to it. And now it makes sense. This is how my work is impacting people.   Carol: Absolutely. It's mind blowing to the staff because when you go out, you're talking and you're like, okay. They're like, well, why is Congress doing all this crazy stuff with our money or whatever is going on? I always tell them, I go, the only way your story can be told because they don't know all your anecdotal, really neat. You got Joe, a job like this is awesome and it's a great career and you know, all this great things are happening. They don't know any of that. They only know by the data you put in the system. And when you put data in the system, that isn't very good. That's the picture, the story that your agency is telling. This is the only way for other people to make decisions. You just see this. Aha. Like people are like, oh well this stuff actually does matter. And it is being used for something and then they can figure it out. And I love it when you get down in regional levels because then they go like and they'll know what's going on. Sometimes up here the management's like, oh they're trying to figure out what's happening in that region. Talk to the staff. They see boots on the ground, what's going on. So the data confirms what's been happening in that area. And then the whole agency having that conversation, it's really exciting and super empowering and energizing. I feel like for their customers and what's going to happen for their people, I love that. The other thing I was going to say, Mari too, is we've been seeing a slight improvement in staffing levels. Now it seems like things for some reason, because we work with a load of states and we talk a lot about this particular issue, the staffing levels, it's been leveling off with that whole people leaving, leaving, leaving, leaving, leaving. And now I've had a couple agencies in the last year where they were sitting at 25, 30% now. They're at 5% and 8% turnover. Like there have been significant changes because of all of the things they put into play to not only get staff, but to keep them, to retain them. So we've been trying to do some efforts on our end and we can't say it's all us, you know, but people have been putting a lot of strategy into this, and it's really fun to see on this other side, this more encouraging landscape for the staff out there.   Mari: Wow, that's great to hear.   Carol: Yeah. So I'm hopeful for you guys as you're carrying this out. So now what are your plans for year two as you go into year two? What are you guys hoping to accomplish this year?   Mark: I think it'll be a busy year for us. I think one of the major efforts, you know, we've already kind of alluded to a little bit, which is get the national survey out there to get that information back, have our team kind of start analyzing the results. We'll use that data. As I said before, we'll triangulate that with other information sources that we have our team working on. You mentioned comprehensive statewide needs assessments and state plans. Our team is doing an analysis of that specifically through the lens of underserved populations to see what can be gleaned from those statewide reports. And they're triangulating that also with kind of other forms of published literature around underserved populations. So there's a lot of kind of building that kind of database of information will be focused on executing agreements with the first of the agencies that are going to be involved with kind of the intensive phases of Rise Up, while at the same time kind of establishing the groundwork for agencies that we will add to the Rise Up group, you know, to as we work towards our goal of getting to up to ten state agencies. And then I think as we work with each of the agencies, kind of to begin to identify the populations that they want to focus on for, you know, kind of sustained efforts to enhance getting folks in the door, getting them into plan, getting them services. The outcomes will also begin to kind of roll out. You know, one aspect of Rise Up will be training. Some of it will be technical assistance. That will be kind of systems change focused efforts. We'll begin to roll out initial training. Some of those will focus on topics like cultural humility And then we'll be using the literature search, the national survey, consultation with the agencies that we're working with to lend direction to the development of additional trainings that will be kind of targeted towards all levels of the organization. And then within the agencies that we begin to work with, we'll also begin kind of identifying the targeted and specific areas of need for technical assistance that will be unique to each of the agencies. So I see those as kind of the major tasks that will be kind of getting into in the beginning of year two and then kind of sustaining through the next year.   Carol: That is super exciting. I'm really excited about this. I would love to talk to you guys too, again at the end of like next year to see where things are at. Now, I understand you to, I believe, or somebody coming to CSAVR and people may want to chat with you. Is there a way folks could reach out to you if they are interested in talking to you about the project?   Mark: Sure.   Mari: Yeah   Mark: Yeah, so we will be at CSVAR, our project coordinator, Letty Vavasour will be there. Mari will be there. I will be there. So we're certainly kind of approachable there. As we mentioned before, CSAVR is a project partner of ours, and we mentioned encore. I think they're going to be there as well at CSAVR. And one other partner we haven't mentioned, but we should give them some credit, is a major partner with us is the George Washington Center for Rehabilitation Counseling, Research and Education. They're also a project partner with us and will be instrumental in kind of our efforts. So CSAVR is one place where folks can connect with us. Our team is working on a website, so we should have that up kind of in the near future. That's another way to get a hold of us. Email is always a good way to get a hold of us. I'm easy to get a hold of by email at MTucker at SDSU.edu and Mari is MGuillermo@SDSU.edu. So those are kind of really easy ways to get Ahold of us. And then of course Interwork Institute and the VRTAC-QM, we're sort of housed right there and involved in a number of those projects going on there so folks can track us down through Interwork or the QM.   Carol: Excellent. And, Mari, would you mind, Mari, would you spell out your email address? Just in case, because like me, it's like, how is that spelled?   Mari: And for those of you who know Spanish, my last name is Guillermo, which is William in Spanish, but it's m g as in George. U I L L E R M as in Mari o at SDSU.edu.   Carol: Excellent. Thank you. I really appreciate you taking the time. I'm super excited. And I wish our listeners could see like, the excitement on both of your faces about this project because it makes me like, super happy. I mean, the project couldn't be in better hands. You guys always do really good work out of Interwork, and I'm really excited to see what comes. So let's definitely chat again down the road.   Mark: That would be great.   Carol: Thanks for joining me.   Mari: Absolutely. Thank you Carol.   {Music}   Outro Voice: Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time, one minute at a time, brought to you by the VR TAC for Quality Management. Catch all of our podcast episodes by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening!

GDP Script/ Top Stories for June 26th          Publish Date:  June 26th           From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Wednesday, June 26th and Happy heavenly Birthday to NBA HOF Willis Reed. ***06.26.24 – BIRTHDAY – WILLIS REED*** I'm Bruce Jenkins and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia. Mystery Snails Are Invading Lake Lanier and State Officials Say They've Got to Go Gwinnett Schools Budget Includes Higher Raises for Employees Clydesdales Appearance in Gwinnett Promises to Be Second to None Plus, my conversation with Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on Laura Lynn products. All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: MOG   STORY 1: Mystery Snails Are Invading Lake Lanier and State Officials Say They've Got to Go Lake Lanier is facing an invasive species challenge with the emergence of the Chinese/Japanese Mystery Snail. Georgia Department of Natural Resources officials are concerned about this snail's presence, confirmed to be a reproducing population rather than an isolated case. The origin of these snails in Lake Lanier remains uncertain, but possibilities include their sale in food markets and ownership as pets, despite recent regulations against possessing them in Georgia. These snails pose ecological threats by displacing native species and economic risks by damaging boats and equipment, potentially hindering water access. DNR urges the public, especially anglers and boaters, to prevent further spread by ensuring boats and equipment are clean and by not releasing non-native species into Georgia's waters. STORY 2: Gwinnett Schools Budget Includes Higher Raises for Employees Gwinnett County Public Schools recently approved a $3.2 billion budget for fiscal year 2025, which includes substantial increases in teacher salaries beyond initial expectations. Originally slated for a $3,000 raise, teachers will now receive $4,000, reflecting additional state funding and community feedback. The budget also boosts the cost-of-living adjustment for other employees from 4% to 4.25%. This $32 million in new funding also supports initiatives like more instructional coaches, SAT For All program funding, graduation coaches, and enhanced resources for multilingual and ESOL programs. Additionally, the district plans a slight reduction in its property tax millage rate, pending public input at hearings scheduled for July. STORY 3: Clydesdales Appearance in Gwinnett Promises to Be Second To None The Budweiser Clydesdales, symbols of American tradition, will be in Norcross on July 5th. Their visit supports Folds of Honor, a charity providing educational scholarships to families of fallen service members. The majestic horses will be at B&W Burgers, Buns & Brews from 5-7 PM, with proceeds from Budweiser patriotic packaging sales benefiting the cause. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We'll be right back Break 2: TOM WAGES STORY 4: Gates Scholarship paves way for Mountain View grad to pursue college dreams at UGA Luke Vasquez, a recent graduate of Mountain View High School in Buford, has been awarded a prestigious Gates Scholarship from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Out of over 50,000 applicants nationwide, Vasquez was selected as one of 750 Gates Scholars. This scholarship will cover the cost of his undergraduate education at the University of Georgia, ensuring he graduates debt-free. Vasquez plans to study international affairs with aspirations of becoming an immigration attorney, inspired by his family's experiences with immigration. Beyond the Gates Scholarship, Vasquez has received numerous other honors and scholarships, reflecting his academic and extracurricular achievements in wrestling and community service. STORY 5: Georgia Power expands Income-Qualified Discount Georgia Power has expanded its "Income-Qualified Senior Discount" program to include more customers with limited incomes, effective since May 1 following approval by the Georgia Public Service Commission in December 2023. The program now benefits thousands more annually, offering a $33.50 monthly bill discount. Eligibility criteria include being 65 or older with a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or qualifying for Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, or HUD Section 8. Georgia Power aims to ensure access to affordable energy, offering additional income-qualified programs like EASE and partnering with community agencies for energy assistance. For details, visit Georgia Power's website.   We'll be back in a moment   Break 3: INGLES 8   And now here is my conversation with Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on Laura Lynn products.   ***LEAH MCGRATH***   We'll have final thoughts after this.   Break 4: INGLES 9 Signoff – Thanks again for hanging out with us on today's Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com/ Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network   Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com  www.wagesfuneralhome.com www.kiamallofga.com   #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversationsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is designed to provide monthly checks for low income, disabled and elderly Americans. But outdated rules trap recipients in poverty.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A representative payee program is a program that helps individuals who are unable to manage their Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Veterans' or other financial benefits. A representative payee is appointed to manage the benefits on behalf of the beneficiary. The program is designed for individuals who are unable to Read More Shared by United Resource Connection April 17, 2024

What if you weren't allowed to have more than $2,000 at any given time? Could you make it work? For people who receive Supplemental Security Income, this isn't a what-if — it's reality. SSI beneficiaries are subject to strict requirements and risk losing their benefits if they have more than $2,000 in financial assets, even if they exceed that by just a dollar. Why is the limit so low, and is anything being done to fix it? That's today on The Weeds. Read More: Tyler (@tylerlimaroope) | TikTok The Case for Updating SSI Asset Limits | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities    Submit your policy questions! We want to know what you're curious about. Credits: Jonquilyn Hill, host Sofi LaLonde, producer Cristian Ayala, engineer A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Roughly 8 million Americans currently receive Supplemental Security Income, but many who may qualify likely don't know it even exists, according to the SSA.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE AND ESTATE PLANNINGProverbs 13:16 highlights the importance of acting with knowledge in all aspects of life, including the preparation for inevitable events like death. This preparation involves legal, financial, and personal readiness to ensure your wishes are honored and your loved ones are cared for. IMPORTANCE OF UPDATED WILLS AND DIRECTIVESHaving updated wills is critical to ensure your wishes are followed after your death, with legal powers of attorney and health care directives being equally important.An estate attorney is necessary to prepare these documents, representing an essential investment in your family's future well-being. PREPARING FOR YOUR MEMORIAL SERVICE OR FUNERALOrganizing instructions for your memorial service or funeral is a considerate way to help your family and friends start the grieving process, ensuring your wishes are respected. CREATING ESSENTIAL LISTSCompile a list of all your financial accounts, including bank accounts, investments, credit cards, mortgages, retirement accounts, outstanding loans, and pensions, and keep this list updated.Make a list of contacts who need to be informed about your death, including family, friends, financial institutions, government agencies, and any other organizations you're associated with. UPDATING BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONSRegularly update the beneficiary designations on all your accounts to ensure they align with your current wishes. ENSURING ACCESS TO IMPORTANT DOCUMENTSEnsure someone you trust knows where to find all your important documents, ideally making this information accessible to your spouse if you're married. JOINT OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER ON DEATH ARRANGEMENTSWork with an estate attorney to arrange for major assets to be owned jointly or transferred upon death to avoid probate and secure assets for the survivor's use. ADVICE FOR MARRIED COUPLESBoth spouses should understand the family finances to avoid leaving the surviving spouse in the dark in the event of the other's death.Each spouse should have a credit card in their own name to ensure access to credit after one spouse's death.Plan for the surviving spouse's income, considering potential lifestyle changes due to reduced income, and understand the implications for Social Security benefits upon a spouse's death. THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATIONOpen communication about financial matters with your spouse and, if appropriate, with your children or other family members is crucial to ensure everyone knows what to expect. SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVEYou and I can't know when the Lord will call us home, but we do know where home is. Philippians 3:20 reminds us that “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Our job is to be ready. ON TODAY'S PROGRAM, ROB ANSWERS LISTENER QUESTIONS:I'm 76, on Supplemental Security Income, and interested in finding affordable life insurance options to cover funeral expenses and potentially support my daughter.I've been managing our family budget with spreadsheets since the 1980s, but I'm concerned my wife won't be able to manage it if I pass away. Can you recommend a simpler system?I have three retirement accounts totaling $100,000 and am considering rolling them into a Roth IRA for better investment options, despite potential tax implications.My tax preparer is requesting a photocopy of my Social Security card. Is it safe to provide it to him?After hearing advice on your show, I took responsibility for a debt I owed, despite being advised I could walk away due to its impact on my public aid. I want to share how your guidance inspired me to fulfill my obligations. RESOURCES MENTIONED:NerdWallet:NerdWalletUS News and World Report: Best Burial Insurance of 2024FaithFi appSound Mind Investing or FaithFi.com for articles on Roth vs. traditional IRA. 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 as well as American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.comwhere you can join the FaithFi Community, and give as we expand our outreach. 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.

In 2023, 148 members of GSK's Legal and Compliance Department global pro bono program served 160 clients,providing over 1200 hours of service. Since 2015, GSK has partnered with Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP), an organization that provides free legal services to individuals and families who experience or face homelessness in Philadelphia. GSK lawyers and legal professionals assist with securing birth certificates for clients which addresses homelessness and enables them to apply for housing. GSK also participates in HAP's SOAR (SSI, Outreach, Access, and Recovery) project to obtain expedited rulings on Supplemental Security Income and SSDI cases to help provide income to individuals who are unable to work due to a disability. We spoke with GSK Assistant General Counsel, Andy Boczkowski, for this special edition of the Pro Bono Happy Hour Podcast. Listen to how GSK got involved with HAP.

Schizophrenia, a complex and harrowing illness, presents an ongoing challenge for caregivers. In this groundbreaking book, discover the missing links that empowers you to navigate the labyrinth of decisions and actions required to provide the best care for your loved one.Nicole Drapeau Gillen is a mother who recognized that caregivers like herself often find themselves thrust into this challenging, complex and stressful situation with little clear guidance on how to help a loved one with a serious mental illness.Her goal is to create a practical and actionable handbook that offers valuable insights into caring for your loved ones facing this formidable condition.  With a 35-year background in the business world as a former IT executive and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), NIcole now aims to channel her skills into a more meaningful endeavor - supporting fellow caregivers.She lives in Virginia and loves teaching fitness, taking care of her family and learning how to be a better caregiver.This book addresses everything from setting up disability support, to legal support (guardianship, conservatorship, or power of attorney), to financial support (Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Insurance), to insurance (Medicaid), to estate planning and trusts. It further provides resources on the role of the government, jails, rehabilitation, housing and homelessness.What was your motivation for writing this?3 moms - what are your favorite sections?Nocole - What's happened since the book has been released?Is there anything I would have done differently, now that it is released?What kind of response have I received, and from whom?What has surprised you most in the responses?What's next?Links:Schizophrenia and Related Disorders: A Handbook for Caregivers: https://www.amazon.com/Schizophrenia-Related-Disorders-Handbook-Caregivers/dp/B0CQMM889HSchizophrenia and Other Related Disorders. Handbook For Caretakers Nicole's  Website, Facebook page; and Tiktok.Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/Randye and her book: https://www.randyekaye.com/Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/Want to know more?Join our facebook page Our websites:Randye KayeMindy Greiling Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

As Palestinian prisoners return as part of the hostage exchange with Israel, The Washington Post's Louisa Loveluck tells us about it. And, Hagai Levine, head of the medical and resilience team for the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, talks about working with the freed hostages. Then, it's been decades since the government set how much money someone with a disability can keep in savings and still be eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits. Now a bipartisan proposal in the Senate seeks to raise asset limits from $2,000 to $10,000. Disability rights advocate Patrice Jetter is supportive of the change, but says it's complicated.

Social Security Administration Senior Advisor Abigail Zapote talks about the expanding of Supplemental Security Income. Get more information here or call 800-772-1213.

Social Security Administration Senior Advisor Abigail Zapote talks about the expanding of Supplemental Security Income. Get more information here or call 800-772-1213.

Earned Income Tax Credit (the refundable portion), Supplemental Security Income (not social security!), and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family program are all programs that provide cash to people in need. Or, sort of. Kind of. Okay, not really. The first part of our Public Health Explained mini-series about the components of our welfare system. -o-Visit our website for more detail and updates! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingispublichealth  Instagram: Everything is Public Health Email: EverythingIsPublicHealth@gmail.com   Twitter: EverythingisPH Mastodon: @everythingispublichealthPhoto credit:Photo by StellrWeb on Unsplashhttps://unsplash.com/photos/djb1whucfBY?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLinkReferences: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/08/07/541609649/how-to-fix-poverty-why-not-just-give-people-moneyhttps://www.ssa.gov/sf/FactSheets/aianssavsssifinalrev.pdfhttps://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-eligibility-ussi.htmhttps://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/what-earned-income-tax-credithttps://federalsafetynet.com/welfare-budget/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earned_income_tax_credithttps://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/programs/tanf/abouthttps://www.cbpp.org/research/family-income-support/temporary-assistance-for-needy-familiesSupport the show

In Episode 35, we continue our series “It Takes a Village” by talking about the ins and outs of Supplemental Security Income or (SSI). SSI is a monthly payment given by the government for children and adults who are considered disabled. We talk candidly about the pros and cons of this service and how God has used it to humble us and teach us it's ok to ask for help. If you'd like more information and want to apply for benefits online visit: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/ If you have a question for our Pinch of Practicality, click here: https://www.jessicahurlbut.com/full-spectrum-parenting

This week, Off-Kilter's taking a quick break from the ongoing series of conversations Rebecca's been having with leaders around the limiting beliefs we as a collective must release and replace to pave the way for economic liberation, to bring you a discussion Rebecca had last week at a virtual event hosted by The Century Foundation and the Disability Economic Justice Collaborative to mark October 2022 as the fiftieth anniversary of Supplemental Security Income, or SSI—a long-forgotten and badly neglected component of our nation's safety net.  For more: Watch the full SSI at 50 virtual anniversary event Read more from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities about the human consequences of decades of federal neglect of SSI Read about updating SSI would mean to its disabled and older beneficiaries, in their own words Learn more about the bipartisan push to update SSI's antiquated $2,000 asset limit Dig into the TCF-Data for Progress polling finding overwhelming bipartisan support for updating SSI

Disability benefits can be absolutely vital for those who are eligible for them. These come in the form of Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance, federal programs overseen by the Social Security Administration. But, applying and re-certifying for these benefits an be complicated, and the benefits themselves are often not enough to live on. To learn more about what it's like to navigate the disability benefits system in Tennessee, we're joined by community members with firsthand experience. Then, we're taking a look at how the system works with an independent living specialist and a state official. But first, it's @Us. Host Khalil Ekulona and senior producer Steve Haruch respond to listener feedback and preview future episodes. Guests:  Rachel Kestner, who lives with cerebral palsy Haizey Peden, who lives with seizures Marissa Smith-Fletcher, independent living specialist at Empower Tennessee Kevin Wright, assistant commissioner of Rehabilitation Services at the Department of Human Services

The podcast is back this week with a look at the historic cost-of-living adjustment in Social Security benefits announced this morning.The Social Security Administration announced that benefits will rise by 8.7% in 2023. That's a big raise for more than 52 million retired Americans, and another 18 million who are survivors of covered workers or recipients of disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income. The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax will increase to $160,200 from $147,000.I published an in-depth story about the Social Security COLA in the New York Times this week that's been drawing a lot of traffic, comments and questions. It answers a variety of questions about the COLA. The story explains why the 2023 COLA will be so high, and it discusses the accuracy of the COLA in tracking inflation for seniors. I even get into how the inflation hike might impact your taxes. For the podcast, I invited a panel of experts on Social Security to join me to talk about the COLA. We took a dive into the history of the COLA and why it is so important to the well-being of seniors. We also got into the question of adequacy of benefits. With such a big headline COLA figure, it's tempting to think that seniors are living on easy street. But keep in mind that the COLA does no more than keep seniors even with inflation. The reality is that about half of seniors struggle to meet their basic living expenses.Joining me are three guests.Nancy Altman is president of Social Security Works, one of the most important advocacy groups working to protect and expand Social Security. Nancy also is an appointed member of the Social Security Advisory Board - a bipartisan, independent federal government agency that advises the President, Congress, and the Commissioner of Social Security on Social Security programs. Ramsey Alwin is president and CEO of the National Coalition on Aging, one of the key organizations that advocates on behalf of seniors. Much of Ramsey's work has focused on economic security and seniors, with a special focus on poverty.Bill Arnone is the CEO of the National Academy of Social Insurance. NASI is a non-profit, non-partisan organization made up of the nation's leading experts on social insurance. Bill's professional background also includes expertise in taxes and employee benefits.Listen to the podcast by clicking the player icon at the top of the newsletter, or check it out wherever you get your podcasts.Also see this Times story on how the COLA will bring relief to millions of seniors.Medicare open enrollment gets underway this weekendOpen enrollment runs from October 15th through December 7th, and my Morningstar column this month examines the barrage of marketing seniors face each fall for Medicare Advantage plans. Some of that advertising has sparked a surge in consumer complaints about deceptive claims, and new rules from Medicare aimed at curbing deceptive advertising practices by third-party marketers of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans.An update on vaccinationI found this update on vaccination in the U.S. from the PBS NewsHour especially helpful. The number of confirmed and reported COVID cases in the U.S. is at its lowest point since last spring. But the average number of deaths associated with COVID remains at more than 350 a day. Public health experts are increasingly concerned that too many Americans are missing out on a chance to get new boosters and avoid a worse winter. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that awareness of the updated boosters is relatively modest, with about half of adults saying they've heard “a lot” (17%) or “some” (33%) about the new shots. About a third of all adults (32%) say they've already gotten a new booster dose or intend to get one “as soon as possible.”What I'm readingCongress may boost catch-up contribution limits . . . A new frontier for hearing aids . . . In-depth guide to over-the-counter hearing aids . . . Older storm victims face an uncertain future . . . Work remotely from anywhere. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit retirementrevised.substack.com

Across many safety net programs, workers with low income and their families face the threat of a sudden and unexpected loss of benefits if their earnings increase too much, sometimes resulting in a net decrease in overall income. Policymakers have long worried that the phenomenon, often described as the cash or benefits cliff, discourages work and reinforces dependence on public assistance. Over the past decade, the Social Security Administration has launched two national demonstrations intended to mitigate this so-called cash cliff effect in the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. The latest episode of On the Evidence explores the results of those demonstrations and what they mean for future efforts to address program cliffs in the SSDI program and many other safety net programs. Our guests for this episode are John Jones, David Wittenburg, and Diane Beaver. Jones is an economist at the Social Security Administration in the Office of Research, Demonstration, and Employment Support who has overseen several large-scale randomized controlled trials testing potential changes to the SSDI program, including two discussed on this episode: the Promoting Opportunity Demonstration (POD) and the Benefit Offset National Demonstration (BOND). Wittenburg is a senior fellow at Mathematica whose research on interventions to promote employment for people with disabilities includes evaluations of POD and BOND. Beaver is an advisory services analyst at Mathematica who spent more than a decade at a community nonprofit counseling people on how work and other entitlements would affect their Social Security benefits. In that role, she played a part in implementing POD and has firsthand knowledge of what beneficiaries experience as they navigate the patchwork of program rules that govern the amount of government aid people can receive for housing, food, child care, health care, and other needs as their work status changes. Find a full transcript of the episode here: mathematica.org/blogs/why-a-national-demonstration-to-mitigate-the-cash-cliff-in-one-safety-net-program-didnt-increase Read the final evaluation report on POD: https://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/documents/POD_Final_Evaluation_Report.pdf Read the final evaluation report on BOND: https://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/documents/BOND%20Deliv%2024e2%20FER%20Vol%201%2020181018.pdf Find a summary of lessons learned from several decades of demonstrations by the Social Security Administration to test policy ideas in the Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs: https://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/demonstrations/lessons.htm Learn more about the Ultimate Demonstration referenced at the tail end of the episode: https://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/documents/Simplification_Demo_TEP_Final_Report_Final%20Remediated.pdf Watch a recorded discussion between Pamela Herd and Sebastian Jilke, professors at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, about administrative burden in the Social Security Disability Insurance program: https://www.ssab.gov/announcements/ssab-to-host-experts-on-researching-and-evaluating-equitable-access-to-social-security-programs/

Please join us on as we welcome two experts in the field of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provide an overview of these public benefits for Mito patients. Topics to be covered in this conference call include: Overview of SSI and SSDI programs; The differences between SSI and SSDI; Social Security’s definition of disability as it pertains to mitochondrial disease; How SSDI is designed to work, eligibility criteria, and the full range of SSDI benefitts; The application and appeals processes for SSI and SSDI; Resources available to support SSI and SSDI applications and appeals processes; Information on SSI and SSDI benefits for adult disabled children; Returning to work after obtaining social security benefits (the "Ticket to Work Program"); Specific challenges for individuals with mitochondrial disease in applying for SSDI and how to address them; and The benefits of professional representation and how to evaluate representation options. About the Speakers: Annette Hines has been practicing in the areas of Special Needs, Elder Law and Estate Planning for over fifteen years. She received her JD from Howard University School of Law, her MBA from Suffolk University and her BA from the University of Vermont. Her clients include individuals and families of children with special needs, the elderly and others in the community. Ms. Hines is the mother of two daughters, one of whom passed away from mitochondrial disease in November of 2013. Her personal experience as the mother of a child with special needs fuels her passion for quality special needs planning and drives her special understanding and dedication to her practice. Prior to practicing law, she founded and directed the nonprofit home care company, Special Families-Special Care, Incorporated which created a new standard for caregiving and a greater pay scale for caregivers. After leading the company to $1.5 million in revenue and 50 employees, she merged it with Shriver Clinical Services Corporation of Natick, Massachusetts and shifted her focus to her law practice. In addition to her membership in the Massachusetts Bar Association, she is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the National Academy of Special Needs Planners (ASNP) and the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers (MAWL), serving most recently as President. Recognized as a Distinguished Citizen by ARC Massachusetts and cited for public service by both the Massachusetts State Senate and House of Representatives, Ms. Hines works tirelessly on behalf of people with disabilities. Ms. Hines served as President of the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers for 2008-2009 and serves on the Board of Directors for a number of local non-profit organizations. Tai Venuti has more than 20 years of health education, marketing, sales, community and public relations experience in nonprofit, government and corporate arenas. As Allsup's manager of strategic alliances, she develops and grows relationships with organizations that share the company's commitment to empowering people with disabilities to live lives as financially secure and healthy as possible. Ms. Venuti is a former journalist and public relations executive. She previously managed national public health campaigns for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She holds a master's degree in public health from St. Louis University, a bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University, and is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America.

There's a lot of talk about budgets in Washington—but budget debates are rarely humanized in ways that people can understand in real life terms. And that's a problem. Because a wide array of critical agencies across the federal government have been getting systematically underfunded over the years, resulting in very real problems for American families. A prime example is the Social Security Administration (SSA)—which oversees retirement, disability, and survivors insurance as well as Supplemental Security Income. Since 2010, SSA's operating budget has been cut by at least 16 percent, adjusting for inflation. Its staffing is down 13 percent, and all while the number of beneficiaries has gone up 21 percent. Why? Because Democrats have failed to get Republicans to join them in increasing SSA's administrative budget, which is so lean already it's just 1 percent of the benefits the agency pays out. What this kind of systematic disinvestment in a key federal agency means in human terms was the subject of a recent congressional hearing held in response to an outcry from constituents across the United States about customer service challenges in accessing Social Security. Hour-plus long waits, dropped calls, and an often simply nonfunctional 1-800 phone line; unconscionable delays for disability determinations that leave thousands dying every year waiting for desperately needed benefits; and a huge problem with overpayments or underpayments that occur through no fault of the beneficiaries because the agency just doesn't have the resources and staffing to process earnings reports on time are just a few examples of how this impacts individuals and families. So for this week's Off-Kilter, Rebecca sat down with two of the other witnesses from that hearing—Bethany Lilly of The Arc and Tracey Gronniger of Justice in Aging—as well as two of the other top experts on the issue: Kathleen Romig of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Kristen Dama of Community Legal Services, for a look at the human toll of defunding SSA.

There's a lot of talk about budgets in Washington—but budget debates are rarely humanized in ways that people can understand in real life terms. And that's a problem. Because a wide array of critical agencies across the federal government have been getting systematically underfunded over the years, resulting in very real problems for American families.  A prime example is the Social Security Administration (SSA)—which oversees retirement, disability, and survivors insurance as well as Supplemental Security Income. Since 2010, SSA's operating budget has been cut by at least 16 percent, adjusting for inflation. Its staffing is down 13 percent, and all while the number of beneficiaries has gone up 21 percent. Why? Because Democrats have failed to get Republicans to join them in increasing SSA's administrative budget, which is so lean already it's just 1 percent of the benefits the agency pays out.  What this kind of systematic disinvestment in a key federal agency means in human terms was the subject of a recent congressional hearing held in response to an outcry from constituents across the United States about customer service challenges in accessing Social Security.  Hour-plus long waits, dropped calls, and an often simply nonfunctional 1-800 phone line; unconscionable delays for disability determinations that leave thousands dying every year waiting for desperately needed benefits; and a huge problem with overpayments or underpayments that occur through no fault of the beneficiaries because the agency just doesn't have the resources and staffing to process earnings reports on time are just a few examples of how this impacts individuals and families.  So for this week's Off-Kilter, Rebecca sat down with two of the other witnesses from that hearing—Bethany Lilly of The Arc and Tracey Gronniger of Justice in Aging—as well as two of the other top experts on the issue: Kathleen Romig of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Kristen Dama of Community Legal Services, for a look at the human toll of defunding SSA. For more: Read Kathleen's new piece on SSA's funding crisis Read Rebecca's, Bethany's, and Tracey's testimony from last week's House Ways and Means Committee hearing Follow @kathleenromig; @bethanylilly; @traceythomgron; @kristendama on Twitter 

Brown v Davenport, (2022), was a case decided by the United States Supreme Court. The case concerned whether habeas relief may be granted if the Brecht v Abrahamson test alone is satisfied, or if the application of Chapman v California by the state courts was unreasonable because of AEDPA. The court held that federal courts can not grant habeas relief when state courts have already ruled on a prisoner's claim, unless the situation satisfies the test laid out in Brecht v Abrahamson, and the test laid out in AEDPA. Background In 2008, Ervine Davenport was convicted of first-degree murder. His conviction was challenged because during his trial he had been placed in shackles. His wrists, waist, and ankles were all restrained, but there was a curtain to prevent the jury from seeing the shackles. The state said that although the shackles were unconstitutional, they did not affect the jury's verdict. Michigan's Court of Appeals agreed with the state. The Michigan Supreme Court disagreed, however, after several jurors testified that they had seen the shackles or heard comments about them, and then sent the case back to the lower courts. The lower court again determined that the shackles did not affect the verdict, and the appellate court agreed with the state once again, and the Michigan Supreme Court denied an appeal. Davenport then challenged his conviction in the federal courts. The district court refused to hear the case. He then petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, which agreed to hear the case. This appeals court cited the Deck v Missouri decision, and quoted from Holbrook v Flynn: "shackling is inherently prejudicial". The court found that the state had not met the burden of proof necessary to show that the jury was not influenced by the shackling, and provided habeas relief. The state attempted to have the decision stayed, but the court declined. … United States v Vaello Madero, (2022), was a United States Supreme Court case related to the constitutionality of the exclusion of United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico from the Supplemental Security Income program. In an 8 to 1 decision, the Court ruled that as Congress had been granted broad oversight of United States territories by Article Four of the United States Constitution, the exclusion of the territories by Congress from programs like Supplemental Security Income did not violate the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Background. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is a benefit for older or impaired citizens that are unable to take care of themselves. As established by Congress, the benefits are available to all citizens of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands, but does not cover residents of the other United States territories, including Puerto Rico. Jose Luis Vaello Madero was a recipient of SSI benefits while living in New York, and then moved to Puetro Rico in 2013. He continued to receive SSI benefits, but eventually the government discovered his new residence, terminated the SSI benefits and sought to recover approximately $28,000 he had improperly received while in Puetro Rico. A federal district judge and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit found that this exclusion violated the equal protection principle of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution's due process clause, which was first established in Bolling v Sharpe.

This episode is a “Sidebar,” which is our term for an episode that is off the timeline of the History of the Americans. This episode centers on a concurring opinion delivered by Justice Neil Gorsuch in a case handed down by the United States Supreme Court only a few days ago, on April 21, 2022. The case, United States vs. Vaello Madero, addresses a pretty unexciting question to most of us -- whether the Constitution requires Congress to extend Supplemental Security Income benefits to residents of Puerto Rico to the same extent it makes those benefits available to the residents of the States. That is not the interesting part. Justice Gorsuch's concurring opinion is, however, very interesting, an eloquent re-telling of the history of a series of cases -- the "Insular Cases" -- handed down in the years following the Spanish-American war, the moment in which the United States started dabbling in the European habit of true empire building. The Insular Cases are both an analytical mess and remain on the books as bad law today, as Justice Gorsuch compellingly argues. Enjoy! Selected references for this episode United States v. Vaello Madero Daniel Immerwahr, How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States Insular Cases (Wikipedia) Plessy v. Ferguson (Wikipedia) "Breaker Morant," epitaph scene

Raising a family often presents financial challenges. That's especially true for parents of kids with special needs. But families with a disabled child now have a special, tax-advantaged savings plan that can help meet those extra expenses. We'll tell you about that account today on MoneyWise. 529-ABLE ACCOUNTS The plan is called a 529-ABLE or 529-A savings plan, and it's a huge help for families caring for a member with special needs. Surprisingly, most families and individuals with special needs aren't taking advantage of 529-A plans. Many parents aren't even aware that these accounts even exist. And those who do know about them still have a lot of questions about how they work. We talk about the 529 education savings plan a lot on the program, and the 529-A plan is nearly identical. Contributions aren't tax-deductible, but they're allowed to grow tax-deferred. Then, when you withdraw money from the account for qualified expenses, that money is not taxed. Both plans are established by the states, and in most cases, the same state agency will administer both programs. The tax benefits are identical. Contributions to a 529A account are made with after-tax dollars and are limited to $16,000 a year (in 2022). You can actually contribute more than that, but you'll have to file IRS Form 709 for reporting gifts. Earnings on those funds are tax-deferred and distributions are tax free for qualified expenses. The IRS refers to these as qualified disability expenses, or QDEs.A QDE is any expense related to the account owner's blindness or disability that assists them in maintaining their health, independence or quality of life. These would include money spent for education, housing, transportation, job training, assistive technology, health care, and financial management. In short, any expensethat the 529-A beneficiary might have as a result of being disabled. You should keep receipts for all disability related spending, but some ABLE programs also have ways to track your spending online. It's a good idea to keep a record of how each expense is related to the disability and how it helped the beneficiary. This could come in handy if you're audited by the IRS. If the money is used for non-qualified expenses, it's taxed at ordinary income rates and is subject to a 10-percent penalty just like the education savings plan. Now, how do the 529 and 529-A plans differ? A major distinction is eligibility. For the 529-A, the beneficiary must meet the Social Security Administration's definition of disabled. In very simple terms, that would be something that prevents the person from being able to earn a living. Another key difference is that there's an age limit for setting up a 529-A plan: 26. The beneficiary must be diagnosed with a qualifying disability before that age. And unlike the education savings version, there can only be one 529-A savings account per beneficiary, and all qualified spending must be within the beneficiary's state of residence. That's very different from the 529 plan, where multiple accounts are allowed, you can choose a plan from any state, and spend the money for school in any state. So there are some restrictions with the 529-A plan. But those limits aren't insurmountable, especially compared to the benefits of the program. In addition to the tax benefits, the beneficiary is still eligible for federal and state aid for the disabled. On the federal level, that aid could be Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid. And states may provide additional benefits. The beneficiary is only denied those benefits if the balance in the 529-A account exceeds $100,000. But even then, the suspension isn't permanent. Once the balance falls below that amount, the beneficiary is again eligible for aid. Now, it would be great if every family with a disabled member could open a 529-A account, but unfortunately not every state offers one. There are still a few hold outs, so you have to check if your state has a plan. But if you're caring for a special needs person and your state has a plan, you need to make the most of it. You want to make sure the disability is diagnosed before age 26, and you want to contribute as much as you can every year up to the limit. You also need to get very familiar with the list of qualified expenses so you can take maximum advantage of the plan. You can go toIRS.govfor more information on that. LISTENER QUESTIONS On today's program, Rob also answers listener questions: ●When does it make sense to pull money out of the stock market and make your investments more conservative? ●What questions should you ask when trying to find the CPA/financial advisor? RESOURCES MENTIONED ●Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them toQuestions@MoneyWise.org. Also, visit our website atMoneyWise.orgwhere you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app. Like and Follow us on Facebook atMoneyWise Mediafor videos and the very latest discussion!Remember that it's your prayerful and financial support that keeps MoneyWise on the air. Help us continue this outreach by clicking theDonate tab on our websiteor in our app. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1085/29

On this week's episode, We the People examines United States v. Vaello-Madero, a case involving U.S. citizen Jose Luis Vaello-Madero who claims the exclusion of Puerto Ricans from the Supplemental Security Income program violates the Constitution. Vaello-Madero began receiving Supplemental Security Income while living in New York but then moved back to Puerto Rico. When the government found that out, it cut off Vaello-Madero's benefits and sued him because SSI is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands, but not in Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories. Host Jeffrey Rosen is joined by Neil Weare, president and founder of Equally American who was raised in the U.S. territory of Guam and previously worked for Guam's non-voting Delegate Madeleine Bordallo, and Christina D. Ponsa-Kraus, the George Welwood Murray Professor of Legal History at Columbia Law School who was raised in Puerto Rico and specializes in studying the legal issues surrounding Puerto Rico. Weare and Ponsa-Kraus explain the case, recap its oral argument at the Supreme Court, and walk us through the history of how Puerto Rico and its residents have been treated under the Constitution and by the U.S. government. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org. Additional resources and transcript available in our Media Library at constitutioncenter.org/constitution.

On this week's episode, We the People examines United States v. Vaello-Madero, a case involving U.S. citizen Jose Luis Vaello-Madero who claims the exclusion of Puerto Ricans from the Supplemental Security Income program violates the Constitution. Vaello-Madero began receiving Supplemental Security Income while living in New York but then moved back to Puerto Rico. When the government found that out, it cut off Vaello-Madero's benefits and sued him because SSI is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands, but not in Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories. Host Jeffrey Rosen is joined by Neil Weare, president and founder of Equally American who was raised in the U.S. territory of Guam and previously worked for Guam's non-voting Delegate Madeleine Bordallo, and Christina D. Ponsa-Kraus, the George Welwood Murray Professor of Legal History at Columbia Law School who was raised in Puerto Rico and specializes in studying the legal issues surrounding Puerto Rico. Weare and Ponsa-Kraus explain the case, recap its oral argument at the Supreme Court, and walk us through the history of how Puerto Rico and its residents have been treated under the Constitution and by the U.S. government. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org. Additional resources and transcript available in our Media Library at constitutioncenter.org/constitution.

QUESTION PRESENTED:Whether Congress violated the equal-protection component of the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment by establishing Supplemental Security Income — a program that provides benefits to needy aged, blind and disabled individuals — in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, and in the Northern Mariana Islands pursuant to a negotiated covenant, but not extending it to Puerto Rico.DateProceedings and OrdersSep 04 2020 | Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 9, 2020)Sep 11 2020 | Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 9, 2020 to November 9, 2020, submitted to The Clerk.Sep 14 2020 | Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including November 9, 2020.Oct 29 2020 | Brief amicus curiae of Carlos Delgado Altieri, Mayor of the Municipality of Isabela, Puerto Rico filed.Nov 06 2020 | Brief amicus curiae of Gregorio Igartua (11/17/2020) filed.Nov 09 2020 | Brief amici curiae of Plaintiffs in Peña Martínez v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services filed.Nov 09 2020 | Response to petition from respondent Jose Luis Vaello-Madero filed.Nov 09 2020 | Brief amicus curiae of Virgin Islands Bar Association filed.Nov 09 2020 | Brief amicus curiae of Commonwealth of Puerto Rico filed.Nov 24 2020 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/11/2020.Nov 24 2020 | Reply of petitioner United States of America filed. (Distributed)Jan 04 2021 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/8/2021.Jan 11 2021 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/15/2021.Jan 19 2021 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/22/2021.Feb 12 2021 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/19/2021.Feb 22 2021 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/26/2021.Mar 01 2021 | Petition GRANTED.Mar 17 2021 | Joint motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.Mar 22 2021 | Joint motion to extend the time to file the briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including June 1, 2021. The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including August 16, 2021.May 27 2021 | Motion for a further extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.May 28 2021 | Letter of supplement to request for further extension of time filed.May 28 2021 | Motion for a further extension of time to file the briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is further extended to and including June 7, 2021. The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is further extended to and including August 30, 2021.Jun 07 2021 | Brief of petitioner United States of America filed.Jun 07 2021 | Joint appendix filed. (Statement of cost filed.)Jun 07 2021 | Brief amicus curiae of Interamerican Institute for Constitutional Rights in support of neither party filed.Jun 14 2021 | Informative of Gregorio Igartua not accepted for filing. (July 23, 2021 - not type of document to be submitted electronically).Aug 21 2021 | Brief amici curiae of Plaintiff in Ruiz-Aviles v. SSA, et al. filed.Aug 30 2021 | Brief of respondent Jose Luis Vaello-Madero filed.Aug 31 2021 | Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, United States of AmericaSep 02 2021 | Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, Jose Luis Vaello-MaderoSep 02 2021 | Brief amicus curiae of Commonwealth of Puerto Rico filed.Sep 03 2021 | Brief amici curiae of AARP, AARP Foundation, Justice in Aging, National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives filed.Sep 03 2021 | Brief amici curiae of The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), et al., filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amici curiae of Plaintiffs in Peña Martínez v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amici curiae of Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi and the New Progressive Party filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amici curiae of The District of Columbia, Guam, and 16 other states and territories. filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amicus curiae of University of Puerto Rico Amicus Justitiae Probono Project filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amici curiae of American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, et al. filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amici curiae of National Disability Rights Network, et al. filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amicus curiae of Hon. Jenniffer A. Gonzalez Colon, Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amicus curiae of U.S. Citizens for Equal Protection, Inc. filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amicus curiae of Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amicus curiae of Medicaid and Medicare Advantage Products Association of Puerto Rico filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amicus curiae of Senate of Puerto Rico filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amicus curiae of League of United Latin American Citizens filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amicus curiae of Diálogo Por Puerto Rico filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amici curiae of LatinoJustice PRLDEF, et al. filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amici curiae of Public Benefits Scholars filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amicus curiae of Virgin Islands Bar Association filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amici curiae of Puerto Rico House of Representatives filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amicus curiae of American Bar Association filed.Sep 07 2021 | Brief amicus curiae of Members of the Congressional Shadow Delegation of Puerto Rico filed. (Distributed)Sep 08 2021 | ARGUMENT SET FOR Tuesday, November 9, 2021.Sep 21 2021 | CIRCULATEDSep 29 2021 | Reply of petitioner United States of America filed. (Distributed)Oct 22 2021 | Motion for leave to file amicus brief out of time filed by Gregorio Igartua.Nov 08 2021 | Motion for leave to file amicus brief out of time filed by Gregorio Igartua DENIED.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In today's update, Joel breaks down the major issues facing the Supreme Court this week. In Ramirez v. Collier, the Court debates whether a prisoner facing capital punishment can have a spiritual adviser present during the time of execution. In United States v. Vaello-Madero, the Court discussed Puerto Rico's ability to receive Supplemental Security Income payments. Lastly, Joel reviews the missteps in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial.

A case in which the Court will decide whether Congress violated the equal-protection component of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment by establishing Supplemental Security Income—a program that provides benefits to low-income people aged 65 or older who have disabilities—in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, and in the Northern Mariana Islands pursuant to a negotiated covenant, but not extending it to Puerto Rico.

Transcripts and Resources available at: https://disabilityrightstoday.org/episodes/episode-4/ Case Summaries (1) CVS v. Doe concerning whether Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973—and by extension Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—provides a disparate-impact cause of action for plaintiffs alleging disability discrimination. (2) Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller addresses whether the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the statutes that incorporate its remedies for victims of discrimination, such as the Rehabilitation Act and the Affordable Care Act, include compensation for emotional distress. (3) United States v. Vaello-Madero. The question before the court is whether Congress violated the Fifth Amendment by establishing the Supplemental Security Income program in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands, but not in Puerto Rico. Our distinguished guests for this episode are Arlene Mayerson J.D. (Directing Attorney Emerita and Of Counsel, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF)), Victoria Rodriguez Roldan, J.D. (Senior Policy Manager, AIDS United), and Claudia Center, J.D. (Legal Director DREDF). Our host is Dr. Peter Blanck, J.D., Ph.D., University Professor and Chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University. Key Words: Fifth Amendment, Supplemental Security Income, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Affordable Care Act, Disability Discrimination, Civil Rights Act of 1964

About 70 million Americans will see a 5.9% increase in their Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits next year due to inflation. Reset brings on an expert to discuss what the increase means for recipients and share tips on retirement savings and decisions.

Michael Beloff, CFP®, ChSNC®, CAP®, ChFC®, RICP® Founding Partner, Wealth Advisor Belvedere Wealth Partners - www.belvederewealthpartners.com Phone: 203-418-4069 | Email: mbeloff@belvederewp.com In this interview, Michael and I discuss the role of Social Security when you are planning for the future of a child with disabilities. We start with an overview of Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Michael explains how disability is defined and what tests must be passed to qualify, including a 3-year look back for assets. To make things harder, Social Security has different rules for “earned” and “unearned” income. If you want a calculator to help you figure out how much SSI you or your child may qualify for click on the link below. https://truenorthdisabilityplanning.com/calculators/2022-ssi-calculator Michael leaves us with these parting thoughts. First, it's important that your child has less than $2,000 in their name by the time they turn 18. Look for hidden assets, like US Savings Bonds, which their grandparents or other family members may have gotten for them. And second, familiarize yourself with Social Security's asset and income rules. Additional Resources: Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) - https://www.copaa.org/ Social Security's Program Operations Manual System (POMS) - https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/ Special Needs Alliance - https://www.specialneedsalliance.org/ Academy of Special Needs Planners - https://specialneedsanswers.com/ MICHAEL BELOFF is a Wealth Advisor with Belvedere Wealth Partners and offers securities and advisory services through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC Belvedere Wealth Partners and LPL Financial do not offer legal advice or services. Please consult your tax and/or legal advisor regarding your specific situation. Content in this material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. You are under no obligation to use the services of any of the entities shown and may choose any qualified professional to provide any of the services described above. These entities and their services are not affiliated with LPL Financial and Belvedere Wealth Partners. More information about Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Income can be found at the Social Security website at www.SocialSecurity.gov As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions from qualifying purchases. For more information about True North Disability Planning you can find us here: Web: https://truenorthdisabilityplanning.com/ Blog - https://ejorgensenwordpresscom.wordpress.com Podcast (ABC's of Disability Planning) - https://anchor.fm/abcs-disability-planning Waypoints - https://waypoints.substack.com/ Facebook: @TrueNorthDisabilityPlanning Twitter: @NeedsNavigator Resource store (free downloads too) - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/True-North-Disability-Planning --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abcs-disability-planning/message

A month ago, a podcast listener asked us a series of detailed questions about self-settled SNTs (special needs trusts). We tackle the questions in this episode. Actually, the listener's questions didn't specify whether their questions were about self-settled special needs trusts or third-party trusts. And the answers differ quite a bit depending on which trust type is involved. So in two earlier podcast episodes (here and here), we addressed the questions for third-party SNTs. Those trusts hold a third-party's money -- like an inheritance set up by a parent of grandparent, for instance. When the money was once directly available to the beneficiary, though, the trust has to be different. This comes up with personal injury settlements, direct inheritances (money left outright to a beneficiary with a disability) or accumulated wealth. It is harder to qualify for Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid benefits, and when a trust is created the options tend to be more restrictive. So we back up and tackle the same questions, about self-settled SNTs. We do love to hear/read questions from our listeners. Of course, we can't give individualized legal advice based on those questions. But they often give us an opportunity to explain a key part of the elder law that we practice -- and love.

9.8.21 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: Roland LIVE from Fisk University! NYPD investigates Michael K Williams' death; Opioid crisis hits Black America; Boost to Supplemental Security Income program would lift over 3.3M out of poverty; Corporations who donated money to Texas Republicans that supported the state's controversial abortion bill have been exposed; Ten Black-owned newspapers unite to create 'Word In Black'; CEEK founder and CEO talks NTFs #RolandMartinUnfiltered partner: CEEK CEEK is a streaming platform for virtual events and Virtual Reality experiences featuring the biggest names in music, sports, and entertainment from around the globe. Check out the VR headsets and 4d headphones. Visit http://www.ceek.com and use the discount code RMVIP21 Support #RolandMartinUnfiltered via the Cash App ☛ https://cash.app/$rmunfiltered or via PayPal ☛ https://www.paypal.me/rmartinunfiltered #RolandMartinUnfiltered is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, joins us to talk about news of the BBC admitting that a radio documentary it aired on Syria last November “failed to meet editorial standards for accuracy by reporting false claims” and that the BBC program was wrong to insinuate that a whistleblower who had doubts about the accepted narrative about a gas attack in Douma, Syria, was motivated by the prospect of a reward when there was none. We also talk about the state of whistleblowers at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and whether the media will take another look at the Douma attack after these recent revelations.Netfa Freeman, organizer at Pan-African Community Action (PACA), member of the Coordinating Committee of the Black Alliance for Peace, and co-producer and host for the radio show and podcast Voices With Vision on WPFW 89.3 FM, talks to us about the military coup that overthrew Guinean President Alpha Condé, who had been in office since 2010, but saw very bloody protests and mass civil unrest during his tenure, and how these could have led to his ousting. We also talk about Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, now in power in the country, and the intersection of extractive industries and globalization, and the connections of the political instability in the country with power struggles in other countries of the region.Jon Jeter, author and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist with more than 20 years of journalistic experience and a former Washington Post bureau chief and award-winning foreign correspondent on two continents, joins hosts Michelle Witte and Bob Schlehuber to talk about the expiration of unemployment benefits for at least 7 million Americans, and the impact this will have on the well being of our citizens, how a new “news website,” The Well News, is actually funded by and editorially directed by two centrist political advocates, consultants and PR professionals, our increasing homeless crisis, and the case for bolstering Supplemental Security Income.

Sam and Emma host Matthew Cortland, Senior Fellow at Data for Progress, to discuss Supplemental Security Income restorative/legislative efforts, and right to repair activist Louis Rossmann to discuss the change in right to repair laws after Biden's competition executive order was signed into law. Sam, Emma, and Matthew cover the structural differences in disability social securities, such as SSI versus SSDI, and the importance of SSI in helping folks without income. They then move onto the crippling drawbacks to SSI, stemming both from the US' cultural aversion to social safety nets and recent targeting from the right, including a maximum monthly supplement at a rate well below the poverty line and absurd qualifications that prevent disabled folks from saving assets for a rainy day or accepting help from friends unless they are willing to sacrifice their social security, before discussing what legislators are working to bolster SSI, and what number to text to push Schumer to include it in reconciliation (SIGN SSI NOW to 50409). Next, Louis Rossmann hops on to chat about the importance of the right to repair, how the issue is wrapped up in monopoly and anti-trust discussions, and what the fight for repair has looked like over the last decade. They cover the importance of the Massachusetts automotive right to repair bill, and the role of federalism in helping achieve targeted advancements in the accessibility of schematics and parts on a greater scale. Sam and Emma also chat Cori Bush success, Nina Turner disappointment, and developments in the new Biden eviction moratorium. And in the fun half Sam and Emma are joined by Sean McElwee, Founding Executive Director of Data for Progress, to discuss the disappointing results for Nina Turner in Ohio's 11th Congressional District primary. Sean and the gang specifically looks into the importance of not giving the democratic establishment material for bad faith attacks that draw away from policy discussion – because the dark money will almost always be there to capitalize on it. Sam and Emma expand the importance of knowing that power will always push back, and emphasize the importance of taking on battles where progress can actually be made, before watching Asa Hutchinson's awkward backtracking on his previous anti-vax mandate legislation, and Ben Shapiro's failure to understand how contagion works. They also chat with Oscar from NoLa on DACA, and another caller takes the wrong route to addressing transphobia and problematic comments from Vaush, plus, your calls and IMs! Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here. Join the Majority Report Discord! http://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ (Merch issues and concerns can be addressed here: majorityreportstore@mirrorimage.com) You can now watch the livestream on Twitch Check out today's sponsors: Tushy: Hello Tushy cleans your butt with a precise stream of fresh water for just $79. It attaches to your existing toilet – requires NO electricity or additional plumbing – and cuts toilet paper use by 80% – so the Hello Tushy bidet pays for itself in a few months. Go to hellotushy.com/majority to get 10% off today! ZipRecruiter sends your job to over 100 of the web's leading job sites. But they don't stop there. With their powerful matching technology, ZipRecruiter scans thousands of resumes to find people with the right experience and invite them to apply to your job. Try ZipRecruiter FOR FREE, my listeners can go to ZipRecruiter.com/majority Support the St. Vincent Nurses today as they continue to strike for a fair contract! https://action.massnurses.org/we-stand-with-st-vincents-nurses/ Subscribe to Discourse Blog, a newsletter and website for progressive essays and related fun partly run by AM Quickie writer Jack Crosbie. https://discourseblog.com/ Subscribe to AM Quickie writer Corey Pein's podcast News from Nowhere, at https://www.patreon.com/newsfromnowhere Check out The Letterhack's upcoming Kickstarter project for his new graphic novel! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/milagrocomic/milagro-heroe-de-las-calles Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel! Check out The Nomiki Show live at 3 pm ET on YouTube at patreon.com/thenomikishow Check out Matt's podcast, Literary Hangover, at Patreon.com/LiteraryHangover, or on iTunes. Check out Jamie's podcast, The Antifada, at patreon.com/theantifada, on iTunes, or at twitch.tv/theantifada (streaming every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7pm ET!) Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattBinder @MattLech @BF1nn @BradKAlsop Text SIGNSSINOW to 50409 to further Matthew's SSI restoration/legislative efforts! Call Senator Schumer's Office to press him to support SSI restoration legislation at 212-486-4430/202-224-6542 Check out Louis's YouTube channel here.

Today we are talking about a program that is an important lifeline for people with disabilities, but it simply doesn't work very well.  In fact,  this program prevents people from getting married, discourages them from working, and even prevents them from accepting help from family members.  There are 1,275,932  recipients of Supplemental Security Income (or SSI) in Wisconsin.  SSI provides help to many of the lowest income Social Security beneficiaries who are also disproportionately people of color. Today's guests are experts on SSI policy with two different perspectives and many ideas on what needs to be fixed in SSI. Bethany Lilly is the Director of Income Policy at The Arc where she specializes in public policy related to Social Security, income supports, paid leave, and poverty. She  joined The Arc in 2019 after six years at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, where she worked on public policy impacting people with mental health disabilities. She also was a former was a law clerk with the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in Congress. Jason Endres is president of People First Wisconsin, the state's largest self-advocacy organization, Chair of the state's Independent Living Council and a graduate of partners in policymaking. He lives in Eau Claire his wife Julie and his service dogs Bucky and Pinky. More resources on SSI and the proposed changes discussed in this episode: Easy SSI Action Alert: https://p2a.co/IAFTwCzFind your Member of Congress: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member Letter from the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities: http://c-c-d.org/fichiers/CCD-SSI-Letter_5-20-21.pdfLetter from Members of Congress in Support of SSI Reform: https://bowman.house.gov/_cache/files/b/a/baebc065-38c0-45cd-bcfd-eaedad4c228d/2E60F47C388560A6676B9F80C9B0D938.ssi-letter-final.pdf SSI Background: https://disabilitypolicyseminar.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Social-Security-Fact-Sheet.pdfSSI Reforms Talking Points: https://disabilitypolicyseminar.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Social-Security-Talking-Points-.docxSupport the show (https://arcwi.org/donate/)

Episode 22:  Jeff Roberts, a personal injury attorney in Murray Kentucky, also handles social security disability claims for his clients.  He's handled social security cases since 1992, when he first began practicing.  These cases have to do with disability or SSI, not social security retirement issues.   Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a benefit for those who have met the requirements for work history and what has been paid into the system.  These benefits help people when they become disabled.  Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is paid out based on financial need.  People who receive the SSI benefits typically have little to no income.  The disability requirements are the same for SSDI and SSI.  The non-disability requirements, however, are different. SSDI claims can be filed at the same time as a KY workers' compensation claim, a state disability retirement claim and sometimes a personal injury claim.  Jeff explains that it may be beneficial to have an attorney who can handle these multiple claims from a case expense and an efficiency basis.  The attorney would be familiar with the status of each claim and can manage the overlap so as to maximize the potential financial benefits for the clients.  At times, if the claims are properly managed, the settlement agreement of one of the claims could negatively impact the amount of the benefit of the other, related claims.  Social Security Disability Insurance In a nutshell, to qualify for SSDI, assuming you've met the work history requirement, is that you are unable to currently work a 40-hour work week.  There are Listings of Impairment that can be considered in determining a person's eligibility for disability.  Depending upon the types or number of listings, a person may qualify fairly easily (e.g. inoperable cancer).  You may not need to hire an attorney if you meet the proper criteria. Bi-Polar, Schizophrenia and other Mental Health Impairments People are sometimes surprised to find out that just because they have been diagnosed with a condition doesn't necessarily mean they qualify for SSDI benefits.  It comes back to how the condition impacts the person's ability to perform work.  Medical testing and medical records are important because they provide documented proof of a person's condition.  But again, it's how the condition affects you and other issues.  A person's education level, his/her past work history and other factors are also considered. Age is another determining factor for Social Security Disability Insurance benefit.  The older a person is when they file a claim for SSDI benefits, can have a positive impact on the claim.  There's a break in the decision-making process if the person is age 50 and there's another break at age 55.  This means, one set of work restrictions could be disabling for a 58-year old that would necessarily be seen as disabling for a 48-year old. When reviewing the person's work history, if they've spent their time doing heavy, manual labor, and now they're limited to a low weight restriction, the Social Security Administration (SSA) may say the person qualifies for SSDI benefits because the possibility of retraining the individual for something they've never done is relatively low at 59-60 years of age.  If the person is only 30 year of age, the situation may be viewed differently by the SSA. Cognitive Impairment Some individuals may have very low cognitive abilities, for a variety of reasons.  The Supplemental Security Income benefit provides a social safety net to provide some level of income to help those individuals. If someone has a work history, but later develops a mental health issue, he/she may also qualify for SSI benefits.  For instance, if someone is diagnosed as being bi-polar, but their ability to manage the condition with medication or other treatments becomes less effective, he/she may now qualify for SSDI and SSI benefits. PTSD and Social Security Benefits Some people who have experienced trauma are now no longer able to work in a normal setting due to the noise or the anxiety they experience around other people.  We often think of people who have served in the military who are sometimes likely to suffer from PTSD symptoms.  But, they aren't the only ones. The majority of the PTSD cases Jeff has handled from a Social Security perspective have involved women who have experienced trauma from sexual abuse or physical abuse.  The PTSD of these traumatic experiences can often prevent someone from working in an office or factory setting until they've received significant therapy, counseling and possibly medication, if at all. Social Security Benefits vs. Not Working For the majority of individuals, holding down a job is far better than going on social security disability from a physical, mental and financial perspective.  Most of the people Jeff sees would prefer to work, if it's possible.  There may be an option of the individual returning to work or taking a job.  If this happens, and it seems to be feasible, there are a lot of positive aspects to pursuing the opportunity.  You should let your attorney know this is happening, but again, the opportunity to return to work may far outweigh the money received through disability benefits. Head Trauma and Brain Injuries Consider the possibility that someone fell, was hit in the head or involved in a car accident that resulted on significant head injuries and/or brain trauma.  This person may be able to file a successful claim for Kentucky workers' compensation benefits, file a motor vehicle accident claim and also be eligible to file for social security benefits.  Jeff finds that when head trauma and/or brain injuries are present, it's often beneficial for him to speak with the person's family members or spouse.  Doctors explain that brain injuries may result in a loss of memory, trouble communicating or personality changes.  The injured person may not realize they are exhibiting any of these symptoms.  These conditions and symptoms are often referred to as “hidden injuries.”  It's also another reason the proper medical testing and/or medical records are so important to the success of the social security disability claim.  Jeff understands how to work with physicians to ensure the proper documentation is included in the injured person's file. For more information, visit www.JeffRobertsLaw.com. This podcast is meant to provide information and is not legal advice.  Jeff's principal office is located at 509 Main Street, Murray, Kentucky.  Co-host Jim Ray is a non-attorney spokesperson.  This is an advertisement.  

This week, Off-Kilter’s bringing you a conversation Rebecca moderated at The Century Foundation earlier this week, on the historic opportunity to make long overdue improvements to Supplemental Security Income as part of #BuildBackBetter—featuring Sen Sherrod Brown, Rep. Raul Grijalva, and Rep. Jamaal Bowman, as well as a panel of disability and seniors’ advocates.   Guests: Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH); Congressman Jamaal Bowman (D-NY); Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-CA); Nancy Altman, president, Social Security Works; Matthew Cortland, chronically ill, disabled lawyer and senior fellow, Data for Progress; Kristen Dama, managing attorney for SSI, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia; Tracey Gronniger, directing attorney, economic security, Justice in Aging; Mia Ives-Rublee, director, Center for American Progress Disability Justice Initiative; and Kathleen Romig, senior policy analyst, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.     Show notes: Event video: https://tcf.org/content/event/strengthening-ssi-must-part-building-back-better/ Polling: bit.ly/SSIpolling  Follow #DemolishDisabledPoverty  More on SSI: https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/550027-the-safety-net-program-congress-forgot?rl=1

A special needs trust is a legal arrangement and fiduciary relationship that allows a physically or mentally disabled or chronically ill person to receive income without reducing their eligibility for the public assistance disability benefits provided by Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Medicare or Medicaid. In a fiduciary relationship, a person or entity acts on behalf of another person or people to manage assets. A special needs trust is a popular strategy for those who want to help someone in need without taking the risk that the person will lose their eligibility for programs that require their income or assets to remain below a certain limit. If you would like to follow us on social media or our website, just click the links below. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTfiE1yHE2v9rktymo4GuHg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autismmomandtravel/ Website: www.autismmomandtravel.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/grascia/support

West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy is Now Open! 8am-9am PT/ 11am-Noon ET for our especially special Daily Special; Tarrytown Chowder Tuesdays!Starting off in the Bistro Cafe, after being called out by Trump at CPAC, Rep Kinzinger said that is not a bad enemies list to be on.Then, on the rest of the menu, the GOP is all but extinct in California, and pushing to the right is not likely to do it any favors; the Supreme Court will examine Puerto Rico's exclusion from the Supplemental Security Income benefits program; and, the largest and oldest power cooperative in Texas filed for bankruptcy protection to avoid responsibility for freezing people to death during the Polar Vortex.After the break, we move to the Chef's Table where a Paris court sentenced French former President Nicolas Sarkozy to a year in prison on corruption charges; and, former Pope Benedict has chided conservative Roman Catholics who have not accepted his decision to resign as, “fanatical.”All that and more, on West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy with Chef de Cuisine Justice Putnam.Bon Appétit!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“As I ate the oysters with their strong taste of the sea and their faint metallic taste that the cold white wine washed away, leaving only the sea taste and the succulent texture, and as I drank their cold liquid from each shell and washed it down with the crisp taste of the wine, I lost the empty feeling and began to be happy and to make plans.” ― Ernest Hemingway "A Moveable Feast"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Show Notes & Links: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/3/2/2018877/-West-Coast-Cookbook-amp-Speakeasy-Daily-Special-Tarrytown-Chowder-Tuesdays

What's rules for SSI and Disability? Gregory explains the difference between Supplemental Security Income and Social Security's Disability programs. Bob in Biloxi is thinking about moving the money from his 401k into 2 fixed annuities. What does Gregory think? Bruce in Denham Springs was on Disability, and when he switched to Social Security retirement benefits at his Full Retirement Age, his taxes went up. Can he switch back? Craig in New Orleans asks Gregory's thoughts on investing in crypto. Gregory thinks it's too volatile to take seriously. Tim in New Orleans wants to know how the Required Minimum Distributions are figured for his IRA. Jude Heath joins the show and reviews some recent calls with tax issues. Cindy in Covington asks Gregory and Jude if she can use her own LLC to start a 401k. Pam in Slidell asks when you can start Social Security while still working, and she will also be affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision. Jay in New Orleans has a pension system at his job, and an employee DROP program, too. How can he maximize his options? Bill in Gonzales asks when his wife can turn on a Spousal Benefit from his Social Security record. Christopher in Baton Rouge asks Gregory about his work around to employ his retired mother so she can get money into a Roth IRA. http://www.WinningAtLife.com

This week on the podcast, I examine Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s plan to reform Social Security, with the help of economist Richard Johnson of the Urban Institute. Rich is the co-author of a new Urban Institute report on Biden’s plans for both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income, which provides cash benefits to low-income older adults and people with disabilities. The report relies on DYNASIM, a sophisticated economic model that the Urban Institute has been using since the 1970s to projects the size and characteristics of the U.S. population 75 years into the future. Why focus only on the Biden plan, and not President Trump’s? You could well ask that about Johnson’s analysis - or about this podcast. And the answer is simple - there is no Trump campaign plan for Social Security. So before we get into the Biden plan, I want to offer a few thoughts on what it’s been like to cover retirement policy in what I think it’s fair to call a very asymmetrical election year. The Trump campaign hasn’t offered up detailed policy ideas on Social Security, or really, much of anything else. There’s no GOP platform either - something that typically comes out of a political party’s convention. We do know the history of Republican legislative proposals on Social Security. They typically call for restoring the program’s long-range financial balance by cutting benefits via higher retirement ages, less generous cost of living adjustments. But there’s nothing on the table right now to consider.Frankly, I find any effort to make side-by-side comparisons of these two candidates to be a disservice to readers, because it implies that we’re dealing with two normal candidates who can be covered using traditional journalistic methods and tools. But there’s nothing normal about this situation - only one of the two major party candidates does normal stuff - like, proposing ideas and policies. So, on Social Security, I’m just telling you - there’s only one actual plan to cover, and it’s the Biden plan. And Social Security does need reform. The combined retirement and disability trust funds are on track to be exhausted in 2035 - and probably a bit sooner than that due to the pandemic. Exhaustion means there would be sufficient revenue coming in to pay only about 80 percent of promised benefits. At the same time, most Democrats and all progressives believe benefits should be expanded to improve their adequacy - that is, replace more pre-retirement income to help low and middle class retirees maintain their standard of living in retirement.Biden has offered up a balanced plan that addresses both of these challenges. In a typical Biden approach, his plan is moderate. It doesn’t go as far as the party’s left wing would like, but it marks a shift from where Biden - and most other centrist Democrats - have stood on Social Security over the last decade. Notably, Biden’s plan is much more detailed than the typical policy offerings from presidential candidates - as you’ll learn from my  conversation with Rich Johnson.Listen to the podcast by clicking the player icon at the top of the newsletter. The podcast also can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.Not a subscriber yet? Take advantage of a special offerSign up now for the free or subscriber edition of the newsletter, and I’ll email a copy of my latest retirement guide to you. This one looks at dealing with the Social Security Administration during the COVID19 crisis. Customer service at the Social Security Administration has changed during the coronavirus crisis - the agency closed its network of more than 1,200 field offices to the public in March. Just a reminder- subscribers have access to the entire series of guides at any time. Click on the little green button to subscribe, or go here to learn more.Social Security awards a 1.3% COLA for 2021Seniors will receive a 1.3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in their Social Security benefit next year, the Social Security Administration announced. That’s a $20 monthly raise for the typical beneficiary, to about nearly $1,540.That’s a small increase by historical standards, and it may be smaller still for many after Medicare’s Part B premium hike is netted out. We won’t have a final Part B increase amount until sometime in November, and each enrollee’s final Social Security adjustment will vary accordingly. Social Security will mail COLA notices in December that spells out your net increase. Let’s hope those arrive in a timely manner, since, you know - the Postal Service.This year, Congress has capped the Part B increase at 25% of whatever the increase would have been - so that should help somewhat.The maximum income subject to FICA taxes will increase to $142,800 in 2021 (from $137,700 this year).I’ll have full analysis of this next month, after the Medicare figures become available.Open enrollment: Original Medicare or Advantage?Medicare’s open enrollment season begins today, and runs through December 7th. I’ll have analysis soon on the market for prescription drug and Medicare Advantage offerings for next year soon, but just a couple quick points for now:Review your options. Consider how you will receive Medicare benefits in the year ahead, because fall enrollment is the time when most people will be able to make changes.If you have Original Medicare and a Medigap and are happy with your coverage, there’s no need to makea change.If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, review your coverage options even if you are happy with your current coverage; plans change their pricing and benefits every year.Read the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) that Medicare sent to you in September (via mail or email). This lists the changes in your current plan, such as the premium and copays, and will compare the benefits in 2021 with those in 2020. Premium newsletter subscribers can review my guide to choosing between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage here.Timing your retirementRoughly one-third of workers retire earlier than plan, research shows. The most common causes for unexpected early retirement are health problems and job loss. More Americans are planning to work longer to improve their retirement outlook; in this guide we consider those benefits, and ways to manage late-career work in ways that will help you stay in control of your retirement timeline. Click here to download my guide to timing your retirement (subscribers only).Choosing your Medicare coverageOriginal Medicare, or Medicare Advantage?This is the most basic decision you’ll make about health insurance at the point of retirement.If you opt not to join Original Medicare at that time, you forego the preexisting condition protections offered in Medigap supplemental policies. Medicare Advantage can save you money on premiums, but Original Medicare remains the gold standard for its flexible access to providers and predictability of total costs over your lifetime.Click here to download my guide to choosing Medicare coverage (subscribers only). This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at retirementrevised.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Dr. Bob and Dr. Lanhee Chen have an in depth conversation about children engaging in on line learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss the social, emotional and economic toll that is problematic for families in our country, as children are beginning the school year – many of them at home. A powerful and informative episode – don't miss it. Lanhee J. Chen, Ph.D. is the David and Diane Steffy Fellow in American Public Policy Studies at the Hoover Institution and Director of Domestic Policy Studies and Lecturer in the Public Policy Program at Stanford University. A veteran of several high-profile political campaigns, Chen has worked in politics, government, academia, and the private sector. He has advised numerous major campaigns, including four presidential efforts. In 2012, he was policy director of the Romney-Ryan campaign, and served as Governor Mitt Romney's chief policy adviser, a senior strategist on the campaign, and the person responsible for developing the campaign's domestic and foreign policy. Chen also advised Senator Marco Rubio's 2016 presidential bid, served as Domestic Policy Director of Romney's 2008 campaign, and was a health policy adviser to the Bush-Cheney reelection campaign in 2004. During the 2014 and 2018 campaign cycles, Chen served as a Senior Adviser on Policy to the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). In addition to his academic appointments, Chen is a Senior Counselor at the Brunswick Group, a global business advisory firm; an Operating Partner at New Road Capital Partners, where he helps to direct healthcare investments for the private equity firm's current fund; and Chair of the Board of Directors at El Camino Health in Northern California. He is also a member of the Aspen Economic Strategy Group at the Aspen Institute. From 2014 to 2018, Chen served as a presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed member of the Social Security Advisory Board—an independent, bipartisan panel that advises the president, Congress, and the Commissioner of Social Security on matters related to the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs. He also served in the George W. Bush Administration as a senior official at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Chen's writings have appeared in a variety of outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times. He has been a CNN Political Commentator and provided political analysis and commentary on every other major television network. Chen currently serves as a member of the Editorial Board of the Salem Media Group. Chen was honored in 2015 as one of the POLITICO 50, a list of the “thinkers, doers, and visionaries transforming American politics.” He earned a similar honor in 2012 when he was named one of POLITICO's “50 Politicos to Watch.” In 2017, Chen was the William E. Simon Visiting Professor in the School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University. At Stanford, he also serves on the Faculty Steering Committee of the Haas Center for Public Service, is an affiliated faculty member of the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at the Freeman-Spogli Institute for International Studies and was Lecturer in Law at Stanford Law School. An eight-time winner of Harvard University's Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, Chen's scholarship has appeared or been cited in several of the nation's top political science journals. Previously, Chen practiced law at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and was the Winnie Neubauer Visiting Fellow in Health Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation. Chen serves in a variety of leadership roles in nonprofits and community-based organizations. He is Chair of the Policy Advisory Board of Free the Facts, a policy education group; a Director of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP); a member of the Advisory Board of the Partnership for the Future of Medicare; and a member of the Council of Scholars for the Better Medicare Alliance. He is also a member of the Committee of 100, an organization of prominent Chinese Americans. Chen earned his Ph.D. and A.M. in political science from Harvard University, his J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School, and his A.B. magna cum laude in government from Harvard College. He is a member of the State Bar of California. A native of Rowland Heights, California, he currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and children.

What is SSI? It is Supplemental Security Income. Should you apply for it? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lets-talk-dementia/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lets-talk-dementia/support

Episode 9:  Louisville Social Security Disability Attorney Trevor Smith addresses an important question from parents.  “On his/her 18th birthday, can my child lose SSI Benefits?”  There are a variety of reasons a minor-age child may receive Supplemental Security Income benefits (SSI).  A common reason is ADHD and other learning disabilities.  However, once the child turns 18, he/she legally becomes an adult and the standard to qualify for SSI benefits change. The new standard is whether your young adult can work a 40-hour week.  This is a significant departure from the rationale used to qualify as a minor.  In Episode 6, Trevor discussed how a child may qualify for SSI benefits. Your son or daughter will now be required to undergo a Continuing Disability Review (CDR).  This formal case review will involve school records, medical history and medications, feedback from teachers and the IEP, if it’s being utilized.  A CDR may have previously been requested as the child grew older, now however, it’s more likely to be required.  It’s possible the results of the CDR may substantiate the decision affirming that your child lose SSI benefits. There’s an Important Deadline If there’s a decision to cease the benefits, your attorney can file an appeal.  It’s important to understand there is a brief, 10-day window to decide whether the benefit checks should continue to be sent, during the appeals process.  The letter the you receive will stipulate that you have the option to continue the benefits during an appeal.  The other option is to stop the benefits, until the appeal has been decided. Will I Have to Repay the Benefits? When your child turns 18 and undergoes a CDR to determine his/her qualification status, you can decide to continue receiving the checks.  If the results of the CDR lead the Social Security Administration to decide to cease the payments, your social security attorney can file an appeal.  This appeal can take a year or longer.  If the appeal is unsuccessful, and you decided to continue receiving the benefits, that amount will usually need to be repaid to the government. There’s Another Option You can also decide not to receive the benefit payments, during the appeal.  Should your attorney win your appeal, then you have a right to receive the back-pay of the benefits your child should have received during the appeals window. Will My 18 Year Old’s Benefit Payment Increase? While your child’s legal status changes upon his/her 18th birthday from minor to adult, the amount he/she receives in SSI benefits will not increase.  Even if the appeal is successful, that doesn’t mean there will be an increase in the amount of the benefit payments. The Smith and Wax Law Office is open, during the COVID-19 pandemic.  You can come to the office to meet with Trevor Smith.  Safety procedures including having your temperature taken and wearing masks will be required.  The firm also provides hand sanitizer.  When you come to the office, documents can be easily reviewed and signed.  However, if you prefer not to come to the office, you can always call the firm and handle the situation over the phone.  This will add some time to the process because documents will need to be mailed to you for your signatures and returned.  Either way you decide to proceed is fine. Important Disclaimers:  The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only.  It should not be construed as legal advice and does not constitute an attorney-client relationship.  You should seek the advice of an attorney for guidance related to your specific situation.  This podcast maybe freely shared, but may not be the modified or edited in any way.  This is an attorney advertisement.   Principal office is located in Louisville, KY.  Co-host Jim Ray is a non-attorney spokesperson. 

Episode 6: In today’s episode, Trevor Smith, Louisville SSI attorney, discusses a question he often gets from parents, “Does my child qualify for SSI benefits?”  He’ll explain how the evaluation criteria, issues parents need to consider and how he can assist parents in filing for SSI benefits. There are 6 domains used by the social security administration to evaluate a child for Supplemental Security Income payments:  Acquiring and using information Attending and completing tasks Interacting and relating with others Moving about and manipulating objects Caring for yourself Health and physical wellbeing The child must demonstrate a “marked” limitation in 2 of the above domains or have an extreme limitation in one of them.  The term “marked” falls between medium and extreme.  Evidence will typically come from the school records and information provided by teachers and counselors.  Trevor has a series of forms that he gives to parents for the school to complete.  Judges put a lot of emphasis on the feedback provided by the teachers and counselors. Common Issues Considered Does your child have an IEP at his/her school? Is there a cognitive issue or behavioral issue (including ADHD and /or autism)? Is there a birth defect or physical issue with a limb? Is the child blind? Was the child severely injured? Interestingly, being diagnosed with ADHD or autism does not automatically mean the child qualifies. SSI Benefits can be up to $780 per month.  The child will also get Medicaid.  Remember though, the qualification for benefits involves an income test.  If the family has resources, the child may not qualify for SSI benefits. How Does the SSI Application Work? Trevor cannot file the initial application for a child’s SSI.  The parent needs to apply.  However, if the application is denied, Trevor can then step in and assist the parent, on behalf of the child. Can the Social Security Administration Stop the Payments? Once the child is receiving supplemental security income payments, the social security administration may decide to stop the benefit payments.  This is called cessation.  Trevor can represent the family/child in appealing the attempt to stop the SSI benefits.  During the appeals process, the family can elect to continue receiving payments.  If the appeal is unsuccessful, the family must repay the money received during the appeal.  The family can decide to not receive payments during the appeal.  If Trevor wins the appeal, the payments will be reinstated and the family will receive the back pay (the money they should have received while the appeal was being handled). How Long Does the Process Take? Once the application is filed, they may not receive a decision for 180 days.  If they are denied, they only have 60 days to appeal the decision (“request for reconsideration”).  There can actually be a series of denials.  The key point to remember is that you shouldn’t get discouraged.  Be patient and don’t give up. For information about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the social security benefits process, you can listen to the discussion from Episode 5. You can contact Smith and Wax at (502) 581-1133.  The website is www.SmithAndWaxLaw.com Important Disclaimers:  The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only.  It should not be construed as legal advice and does not constitute an attorney-client relationship.  You should seek the advice of an attorney for guidance related to your specific situation.  This podcast maybe freely shared, but may not be the modified or edited in any way.  This is an attorney advertisement.   Principal office is located in Louisville, KY.  Co-host Jim Ray is a non-attorney spokesperson. 

Are you waiting for an Economic Impact Payment? Will you have to wait until June? September? April of 2021?Expert Dr. Nancy Lottridge-Anderson answers your questions (and learns a thing or 2 from our listeners who share their knowledge).From Social Security:Please note that we will not consider economic impact payments as income for SSI recipients, and the payments are excluded from resources for 12 months. https://blog.ssa.gov/commissioner-of-social-security-shares-update-about-covid-19-economic-impact-payments-for-beneficiaries/Supplemental Security Income recipients and low-income veterans who receive pensions from the Department of Veterans Affairs -- and who don't file returns -- can expect to see the money in May. If they have children, they're due an actual $500 per dependent. But they won't get this money until next year unless they give dependent information to the IRS today, May 5th, 2020 at the website https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-hereFor Social Security recipients, who have children under the age of 17, the date has already passed for getting the additional money for dependents. They'll have to file a full return in 2021 to get the additional money.If you want your check direct deposited and you have had to PAY income tax in 2018 and 2019, you need to go to the Get Your Payment part of the IRS website to put in your Direct Deposit information. Even if the IRS has your bank account information to withdraw your taxes owed it needs you to give it to them again to have your check direct deposited. https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-paymentThe IRS started by sending money to the people it could reach the fastest. This was anyone who had direct deposit information already on file with the agency because they were due a refund on either their 2018 or 2019 federal tax returns.Now, payments are being delivered to millions of Social Security recipients who don't file tax returns. They can expect the money to automatically arrive however they normally receive their benefits, whether by a check in the mail or direct deposit to their bank account or debit card.The IRS began sending paper checks out the last week of April. The IRS has inadvertently sent checks to dead people. Families are expected to send back those checks.If the Economic Impact Payment was sent to closed bank account -- the bank will transferred the money back to the IRS. In that case, the payment will likely come later by a check in the mail.The IRS online tool allows users to input new bank account information -- but only if the agency doesn't already have an account on file from a 2018 or 2019 tax return and hasn't yet processed a stimulus payment. https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-paymentEligibility is largely based on income, and it excludes individuals earning more than $99,000, head of household filers with one child who earn more than $136,500, and married couples without children earning more than $198,000.Families earning a little more may still be eligible if they have children. The phase-out limit depends on how many children they have. For a typical family of four, the amount is completely phased out for those with incomes exceeding $218,000.Those who can be claimed as a dependent for tax purposes, like many college students, are also ineligible for the payments, as well as undocumented immigrants who don't have Social Security numbers.https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/04/29/politics/stimulus-payment-checks-waiting/index.htmlhttps://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-paymentshttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/29/steve-mnuchin-wants-stimulus-given-dead-people-returned/3046434001/https://www.fool.com/personal-finance/2020/04/26/6-reasons-your-coronavirus-stimulus-check-may-neve.aspxCalls: economyMedicaidqualifying for stimulusget my paymentinfo on stimulusSSIMedicaidmoney See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

RadioPublic|LibSyn|YouTube|Patreon|Square Cash (Share code: Send $5, get $5!) If it’s Tuesday, and there is David Waldman, there is KITM. David wouldn’t miss this for all the tea in Texas. It turns out that those hoards of morons at state capitols are pretty small and insignificant. After all, news photographers get lonely and bored just like the rest of us. How big does a nexus of infectious superspreaders have to be, anyhow? Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina hope to find out soon, and will be passing the news to their neighbors without delay. These massages will not end happily. An old hippy tried to throw himself in front of the reopen loons, but was run over. Here is how to reopen America sanely. The problem with reopening is no one knows what’s on the other side of the door. Everybody knows someone sick or dying. But nobody knows the many that are sick but don’t even know they are sick. Nobody yet knows all the ways to become sick with coronavirus. There’s COVID nose, COVID toes, and everything awful in between. There might even be a cure someday. Many people don’t know, many people begged Donald Trump to kill millions, but he instead banned China and invented hydroxychloroquine... remember? Trump continues his fight against the Invisible Brown Enemy, to this day. People with longer memories might recollect 40 years or so of Republicans killing government and infrastructure.  Joan McCarter calls in with potato horticulture tips. (Step one, put them in dirt.) Is Congress not working remotely, or not remotely working? There might be a deal for more money to small businesses and hospitals, but the chances of actual small businesses in blue states getting any are as low as usual. The coronavirus pandemic is ravaging city budgets, with more than 2,100 cities slashing programs and staff. Steven Mnuchin is still letting banks seize people's coronavirus stimulus checks, but those on Supplemental Security Income will have an easier time. Some of the lowest-income Social Security beneficiaries were given less than 48 hours to register their eligible children for an additional $500 coronavirus payment, or wait a year.

4/15/20 UPDATE (MUST WATCH): https://youtu.be/cIBAo_xZ1wkThere has been a lot of misinformation spread right now -- even by other CPAs' YouTube channels as well as the media -- about whether or not SSI recipients have to file a simple tax return to receive their stimulus checks.As of right now, April 8 -- and this could change tomorrow -- the answer is yes, they do.Find out why as I walk you through the IRS and Social Security Administration website, as well as other sources.I also cover Social Security and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) in this video.

The podcast this week is a follow-up to my recent story for The New York Times on Medicare and COVID-19. The topic is important, since older Americans are at a high risk for serious illness from the coronavirus, and most who are over age 65 are covered by Medicare.My guests are two of the top experts in the country on Medicare - Tricia Neuman and Juliette Cubanski of the Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser is one of the nation’s premiere sources of research and information on all aspects of health care and health policy. It’s a non-profit organization, and non-partisan, and it’s been a key go-to source for me for years. Tricia is a senior vice president of the foundation and executive director of its Program on Medicare Policy. Juliette Cubanski is the program’s deputy director.Medicare already covers its enrollees for much of what they might need if they contract the virus and become seriously ill — and it has expanded some services and loosened some rules in response to the crisis.I asked Tricia and Juliette about Medicare coverage of COVID-19 testing and care, as well as what’s going on with skilled nursing care, network restrictions and expanded telehealth options. We also went over a wish list of things Congress should consider adding to Medicare, or reforming, to help meet this crisis.Listen to the podcast by clicking the player icon at the top of this page. The podcast also can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.Social Security field office closingsSocial Security local offices are now closed to the public. Some field office staff are still reporting for work, and others are working virtually. The offices are offering in-person assistance for a short list of crucial services. These include reinstatement of benefits in dire circumstances; assistance to people with severe disabilities, blindness or terminal illnesses; and people in dire need of eligibility decisions for Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid eligibility related to work status. Those seeking these services must call in advance.Another situation that may require you to interact with a local field office is if you are filing for Medicare benefits for the first time and are past the initial filing age of 65. In that situation, call your local office to get the application started, because there will be a couple forms that need to be filed. I describe that in more detail here.If you need to visit a local Social Security office for in-person services, call the office to request an appointment. You can find the closest office using an office locator tool on the Social Security website, where the agency is also providing updates and information on servicesAnswering your questions: RMDs for 2020I’ve been answering listener questions about the COVID-19 crisis here on the podcast. And this week, I received several questions about the new suspension of required minimum distributions for retirement accounts under the CARES Act, passed by Congress last week. No one needs to take an RMD for 2020, and there are a couple little twists and turns for people who may have already taken them. Joining me on the podcast to answer these question is IRS expert Ed Slott; if you are looking for guidance on this issue, just skip ahead to the 44 minute mark. Ed has a useful article on RMDs at the AARP website.Send in your questions on retirement and COVID-19Like everyone else, I’ve been struggling to adjust to the new realities that are dawning in our country and our world. And like a lot of people, I’m trying to figure out how to be useful to others. Fortunately, I practice a craft dedicated to providing quality, fact-checked information - and that can be invaluable in a crisis. I’m pivoting much of my work toward coverage of COVID19 and how it impacts older Americans, and I want to be sure to answer the questions that are on your mind.One way I’m going to be doing that is through a question hotline. You can give me a call and leave a message with your question. I’ll try to answer your question in a future edition of my podcast and newsletter, or in an article for one of the other news outlets that I write for. I’m not an expert on health care, so I won’t be answering questions on that. But I am well positioned to answer questions about this crisis as it relates to topics like Social Security, Medicare and other insurance questions, and personal finance issues related to retirement. I also write about topics like careers in later life and volunteering.If you want to submit a question, call me on this number and leave a message: (847) 238-2015. Please include your name and a phone number where you can be reached if I have follow-up questions for you. If you prefer to remain anonymous, leaving your first name only is fine.You also can use this link to submit a question through my website. Click on “Contact” near the upper right corner of the page.About those $1,200 government checks for Social Security beneficiariesA fracas erupted this week when the IRS indicated that Social Security beneficiaries who don’t file tax returns would need to do so in order to receive their $1,200 stimulus checks. That’s many millions of Social Security recipients, and the IRS stated earlier in the week that these folks would “need to file a simple tax return" to receive their checks.That was at odds with the intent of Congress; the CARES Act gave the U.S. Treasury permission to use Social Security records and payment set-ups to make payments automatically. When I was reporting on this last week, the speculation was that the $1,200 would simply be added to monthly electronic benefit payments. After protests erupted, the government backtracked. The automatic payments will take place after all. Learn more about it here.But the Trump administration is still taking the position that recipients of Supplemental Security Income and veterans pensions file a tax return, unless they are also Social Security beneficiaries:This requirement that a tax return be filed has been used before, and the result was that many miss out on the payment inadvertently. When stimulus checks were distributed in 2008, it seems that about 3.5 million Social Security beneficiaries and veterans never received the checks.Scams continue - be careful out thereFraud watchdogs warn that Social Security and Medicare scammers are taking advantage of the crisis to ramp up identity theft and other fraud schemes. I can’t even begin to fathom the depth of this depravity, but I can pass along warnings to you. Here’s an article from the Associated Press on what’s going on with Medicare fraud. And journalist Mary Beth Franklin notes the latest:COVID-19 and retirement roundup: What else I’m reading The question we should have been asking all along about risk . . . States are beginning to move COVID-19 patients to nursing facilities from hospitals . . . Some older workers who can’t work from home face COVID-19 risks . . . how financial plans must adapt to market crashes. So much for the OK Boomer meme: thousands of retired healthcare workers join the fight against COVID-19 . Subscribe to the newsletterIf you haven’t subscribed to the free edition, give it a try if your finances permit in this tough economy. You’ll be supporting independent journalism dedicated to covering what matters for older Americans. Subscriptions cost $5 per month or $60 year, and you can cancel at any time.If not, no worries - I’m committed to providing everything I’ve got on the coronavirus crisis in the free edition for as long as this lasts. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at retirementrevised.substack.com/subscribe

This week on the podcast, we’re going to talk about stock market volatility and risk with two financial planning experts who deal with both on a regular basis as they work with clients. As of this writing (Wednesday), the S&P 500 is down nine percent - and that’s just today. The S&P is down about 25 percent from its peak in February and there’s no reason to think the market won’t fall further before it stabilizes.In some respects, this episode is about fear. Plenty of retirement investors are experiencing it - fear about the market’s volatility, and the risks that poses to their retirement. And even more important is our fear about the future health of the economy, which is headed toward a steep recession induced by the health crisis.My guests are two experienced financial planners. Allan Roth is the founder of Wealth Logic. Allan has been working in the investment world for decades in both corporate and personal finance. Also joining me is Jay Abolofia, founder of Lyon Financial Planning. Another interesting thing - Jay has an Ph.D. in applied economics. So, he brings a perspective to this that goes beyond just the markets.Listen to my conversation with Allan and Jay by clicking the player icon at the top of this newsletter page. The podcast also can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.Separately, check out my Reuters column this week on the same topic, and this one for The New York Times last week on market risk. The story poses this question: what if you just want to get out of the market entirely? Is that advisable? (Spoiler alert: my answer is “no.”)Coronavirus forces Social Security to close its officesThe coronavirus crisis forced the Social Security Administration to close its network of more than 1,200 field offices to the public this week. The offices help thousands of people every day with applications for retirement, disability and Medicare benefits. Field offices will be closed to the public in most situations until further notice because of the coronavirus public health crisis, administration officials said. Offices that hear disability insurance appeals also are closed.Most employees will be working remotely; service will continue to be available via the agency’s toll-free line, (800) 772-1213, and its website. Payments to more than 69 million Social Security beneficiaries are not affected.Keeping the offices open was a threat to the public’s health and that of the agency’s work force. Visitors often experience long waits in rooms filled with dozens of people — most often, seniors and disabled people, who are among those most at risk from the virus. Cleaning of the offices is minimal.Field offices will only offer in-person assistance for a very short list of crucial services. These include reinstatement of benefits in dire circumstances; assistance to people with severe disabilities, blindness or terminal illnesses; and people in dire need of eligibility decisions for Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid eligibility related to work status. Those seeking these services must call in advance.For all other services, you’ll need to use the toll-free number or the website.In The New York Times earlier this week, I detailed the ins and outs of how business can be conducted going forward with Social Security. A topic of special concern now is scams - it’s sad to say, but fraudsters working identity theft schemes are likly to try to take advantage of the heightened phone traffic that will be going on between Social Security and claimants. So, pay careful attention to the info in that Times story on that subject, and also consult this separate piece about Social Security fraud.Why Coronavirus is nothing like the fluNo serious public health expert thinks that comparisons of COVID19 with garden variety flu are valid. Here’s Charles Ornstein of Propublica:As Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and others have said, COVID-19 is deadlier than the flu. It’s deadlier for young adults. It’s deadlier for older adults. In China, early data shows that it was 10 times deadlier. This chart from Business Insider compares U.S. flu deaths to deaths in China from COVID-19.The flu kills less than 1% of infected people who are over age 65. By comparison, in China, COVID-19 killed 8% of those infected who were 70-79 and almost 15% of those infected who were age 80 or older. A primer on annuitiesThe annuities market is plagued by an assortment of opaque names for its products. Look under the hood of the industry and you will find that some annuities are fairly easy to understand while others are not. Lately, the most complex ones seem to sell best. How to navigate the annuities landscape? Let’s get out the maps.Roundup of important coronavirus developmentsThe risk of contracting the coronavirus and becoming ill with COVID-19 is highest for older Americans. One thing I do every week as a journalist covering retirement aging is to sift through hundreds of articles and research reports, and right now virus news is everything. Each week in the newsletter, I’ll be curating and passing along the best information I can find for readers. My aim here is not quantity, but quality. We’re all being inundated with information right now, so I’m doing my best to send along only the stories I think are must-know and that come from information sources I know are rock solid.This week’s news:NPR: Nursing homes brace for coronavirus threats . . .How well does a particular nursing home stack up on fighting infections? . . . . The Trump administration has been working to relax regulations governing America’s nursing homes, including rules meant to curb deadly infections among elderly residents . . . The federal government has lifted restrictions on telemedicine to make it easier for physicians to interact with patients during the crisis . . . Married couples have different styles of coping with crisis . . . In the age of Covid-19, we’re all getting a taste of social isolation many older adults experience daily . . . As coronavirus surges, programs struggle to reach vulnerable seniors living at home. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at retirementrevised.substack.com/subscribe

A discussion with Attorney David Machek about these benefits, the process to obtain them and what you should do, and not do, to improve your chances of getting them.

Dr. Ippolytos Kalofonos is an assistant professor at the International Institute and Center for Social Medicine and Humanities at UCLA and the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal. I. Kalofonos. Biological Citizenship — A 53-Year-Old Man with Schizoaffective Disorder and PTSD Applying for Supplemental Security Income. N Engl J Med 2019;381:1985-1989.

1. USCIS updated Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, by removing receipt of a means-tested benefit to establish eligibility. 2. Individuals may still request a fee waiver if their documented annual household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or they demonstrate financial hardship. 3. The new policy is effective on Dec. 2.   Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver https://www.uscis.gov/i-912 Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver https://www.uscis.gov/feewaiver Eligibility https://www.uscis.gov/feewaiver#Eligibility What is a means-tested benefit? https://www.uscis.gov/feewaiver#meanstested How to show you are currently receiving a means-tested benefit https://www.uscis.gov/feewaiver#meanstested Federal Poverty Guidelines https://www.uscis.gov/i-912p Financial Hardship https://www.uscis.gov/feewaiver#financial_hardship How requesting a fee waiver affects your current immigration status https://www.uscis.gov/feewaiver#status uscitizenpod: USCIS Updates Fee Waiver Requirements (subtitled video of this podcast episode) Video posted October 28, 2019. http://bit.ly/I-912-2019 uscitizenpod: The USCIS N-400 and Fee Waivers (includes Fee Reduction) Video posted January 13, 2018. Available at http://bit.ly/I-912-2018 10/25/2019 USCIS Press Release I-912 Revised Criteria Provides Clarity for Demonstrating Eligibility https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-updates-fee-waiver-requirements WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has revised Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, by removing the means-tested benefit criteria that was previously used as a factor in determining whether an applicant was exempt from paying for filing fees or biometric services. Individuals may still request a fee waiver if their documented annual household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or they demonstrate financial hardship. A means-tested benefit is a public benefit—offered by federal, state, or local agencies—for which eligibility and amount considerations are based on a person’s income and resources. USCIS formerly considered Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and Supplemental Security Income during eligibility evaluations. USCIS has determined that receiving a means-based benefit is not an appropriate criteria in reviewing fee-waiver requests because income levels used to decide local assistance eligibility vary greatly from state to state. “USCIS relies on fees to cover the costs of adjudicating applications and petitions, implementing operational efforts, and ensuring the nation’s lawful immigration system is properly administered,” said USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli. “USCIS waives hundreds of millions of dollars in fees annually. The revised fee waiver process will improve the integrity of the program and the quality and consistency of fee waiver approvals going forward. Providing clear direction to agency adjudicators for more uniform determinations will help us to uphold our mission of efficiently and fairly adjudicating immigration requests.” USCIS has estimated that the annual dollar amount of fee waivers increased from around $344.3 million in fiscal year 2016 to $367.9 million in FY 2017. In FY 2018, the estimated annual dollar amount of fee waivers USCIS granted was $293.5 million. Fee revenues account for more than 95% of the USCIS budget. Under the revised criteria, individuals may still request a fee waiver if: Their documented annual household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines; or They demonstrate financial hardship. However, USCIS will require applicants to complete Form I-912 and submit supporting documentation, including federal income tax transcripts. USCIS will not accept a letter stating the applicant is unable to afford filing fees or biometric services without a completed Form I-912. As of Dec. 2, those seeking a fee waiver must submit the 10/24/19 version of this form to request a waiver of a required fee for immigration benefits. After Dec. 2, USCIS will reject any Form I-912 with an edition date of 03/13/18 or earlier, a fee waiver request submitted with a letter, or documentation of receipt of means-tested benefit to show eligibility for a fee waiver. USCIS will adjudicate any fee waiver request postmarked before Dec. 2 under the previous policy, AFM 10.9, Waiver of Fees. The new form does not change the applications and petitions that are eligible for a fee waiver. For the list of eligible applications and petitions, see the Form I-912 Instructions. In addition, USCIS has updated policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to accompany this form revision. The updated policy guidance is effective on Dec. 2. For more information on USCIS and our programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), Instagram (/uscis), YouTube (/uscis), Facebook (/uscis), and LinkedIn (/uscis).  

Welcome back to Autism Family Life - bringing you all things autism, family, and life in 30 minutes or less. In this week's episode, we are breaking down the process for obtaining Supplemental Security Income aka SSI. Read the shownotes here: https://koriathome.com/how-to-obtain-ssi-for-your-child/

Social Security is our only universal retirement and disability income program, and the work of the Social Security Administration touches all our lives at one point or another. That’s why I worry so much about the the deterioration of customer service provided to the public in recent years by the Social Security Administration. I’ve been writing about this a great deal over the past year, starting with an expose for the Sunday New York Times last November. That piece looked at how repeated cuts to the agency’s administrative budget over the past decade by Congress has forced the closing of field offices, staff cuts, and long delays on Social Security’s toll-free line -and an unconscionable backlog of people waiting for appeal hearings on disability insurance claims. Here’s one especially onerous statistic: in 2016, nearly 10,000 Americans died while waiting for a disability appeal to be heard and decided. I also recently covered a related story - the cutback of mailings of crucial annual Social Security benefit statements. That also is a budget-related decision, and a really dumb one.Congress cut Social Security’s budget nearly 11% between 2010 and 2019, after adjusting for inflation. During the same time, the number of beneficiaries grew by more than 16 percent. The Social Security beneficiary rolls are growing quickly as the nation ages. This year, the agency will pay more than a trillion dollars in benefits to 69 million Americans. The agency forecasts that the beneficiary rolls will increase 43% over the next two decades. All of this was in the news again this week with the decision of three former commissioners of the Social Security Administration to speak up by writing a letter to leaders in Congress, urging changes in the process used to set Social Security’s administrative budget. The letter was sent to 19 key lawmakers, including the leadership of both parties and the chairs and ranking members of all the key congressional committees controlling budget, appropriations and finance.This was a remarkable, unprecedented step - partly because of its bipartisan nature. The letter was signed by two commissioners appointed in the past by Democratic presidents, and one by a Republican. You can read that story here, and the letter can be downloaded here, along with a list of the key Congressional leaders who received it. One thing that should outrage all of us is that we pay for these services with our payroll tax contributions. The Social Security administrative budget is funded through the same payroll taxes that fund benefits. Currently, workers and employers split a tax of 12.4%.The problem here really is not that there is an anti-Social Security caucus in Congress that wants to chop its administrative budget. If anything, Social Security offices are the kind of thing lawmakers want to protect - losing a field office is a little like losing a military base in your district. The main issue is that the agency’s administrative budget is counted as part of the federal budget due to a somewhat disputed interpretation of federal law by the Office of Management and Budget. That means the Social Security administrative budget must compete with other non-defense discretionary spending needs. And since budget caps were enacted in 2011, that has forced these administrative budget cuts.Joining me on the podcast this week to talk about all this is one of the foremost experts in the nation on the finances of Social Security. Kathleen Romig is a senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, DC, where she works on Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and other budget issues. Earlier in her career, she worked at the Social Security Administration, for the Social Security Advisory Board, and the Congressional Research Service.Listen to the podcast by clicking on the player icon at the top of this page.Subscribe during the Spring sale!This podcast is part of the newsletter I distribute to subscribers to the RetirementRevised newsletter. It’s a listener-supported endeavor, and I hope you’ll consider subscribing. Along with the podcast, you’ll get access to the series of retirement guides that I’m publishing right now - brief, downloadable resources to help you understand challenges like optimizing Social Security benefits, transitioning to Medicare from other types of insurance and how to hire a financial adviser. Each guide is paired with a podcast interview with a top expert in the field. Right now, you can take advantage of the Spring sale - half off your first year. Check it out using the “subscribe now” link at the bottom of this page, or visit the website for more details.If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher, please leave a review and comment to let me know what you think. You’ll be helping me get more visibility for the show. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at retirementrevised.substack.com/subscribe

Social Security Benefits Social Security benefits are not limited to cash transfer or financial support given to its target group of people. The service provided depends on the unique situation of the individual. Some factors such as total retirement income, marital status, lifetime earnings, home state taxes, and retirement age affect the amount of the benefits that an eligible individual will receive. The Social Security Number linked to the person’s Social Security hold these details. The Social Security Administration offers the primary programs. Retirement Benefits Generally, a worker will receive full benefits at the age of 66. However, in some situation, beneficiaries can start to claim their benefits at the age of 62, but at a lower amount. Also, the Social Security Administration will increase its amount by 8% every year from age 62 through 70. It is also crucial to take note that the monetary benefit will stop beyond that age. It is also required that people need to work at least ten years for them to avail the benefits. Some factors affect the payment that the recipient receives. One of the bases is the “average indexed monthly earnings.” It shows the record during the 35 years when you earned most. Survivors Benefits Children and widows of the Social Security beneficiaries are also entitled to receive the survivor's benefits. The survivors will get 75% out of 100% amount of the Social Security benefit of the recipient. Generally, the family will be paid at a limited amount of 150% out of 180% of the deceased benefits. Medicare Medicare is a healthcare insurance program provided specifically to elders 65 and above. People with disabilities, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and permanent kidney failure may also receive the same benefit. There are more than 50 million Americans who are covered by this benefit, and 15% - 20% of the fund comes from federal spending. The premiums gained by the recipient increases with the help of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The payroll taxes are raised as well since it is used to fund the program. Disability Benefits People who have been disabled for at least five months and has not improved for a more extended period are also entitled to receive the disability benefits. Furthermore, those who have been part of this program for 24 months may also obtain Medicare. There are also other medical conditions that may allow the individual to receive disability benefits. Some of them are musculoskeletal problems like back injuries, senses and speech issues like loss of vision and hearing, cardiovascular conditions like heart failure, respiratory illnesses like asthma, and neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease. These health problems prevent the person from performing his/her job, enabling him to be entitled to disability benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Blind or disabled people who are 65 years old and above and have insufficient income can also avail the Supplemental Security Income or commonly called SSI. To prove the individual has a few financial resources, his monthly income must not exceed to $2,000, excluding some financial expenses such as burial plots, car, life insurance, personal residence, and $1,500 dedicated to burial funds.

What is the difference between SSDI and SSI? As I discuss in this episode, SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance. It is an insurance program and the payroll taxes you paid while you were working are the premiums.You earn insurance "credits" based on your gross earnings. In 2018, you earn one credit for every $1,320 of gross earnings. You can earn a maximum of four credits in a calendar year, so once you have earned $5,280, you will have all four possible credits.The earnings requirements for previous years are slightly lower and the earnings requirements for 2019 and beyond will be higher.It does not matter when during the the year that you earn your credits - if you earned $5,280 during the first week of January in 2018 you would be covered for the full year.One thing to keep in mind, however - SSDI requires that you earn 20 credits during the 40 quarters ending the year before you become disabled. This is called the "5 out of 10" rule because it roughly translates into 5 years of earnings during the 10 years prior to the year you became disabled.Example: if you worked full time (and earned $25,000 per year) from 2006 through 2015, you would have earned 40 credits. Since you only need 20 credits you are "fully insured." This also means that your insurance coverage will follow you for about 5 years after you stop working. In our example, if you stopped working in 2015, you would be insured for SSDI until some point in 2020.SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income and is a welfare program for those who don't have enough earnings to qualify for SSI. You don't need any credits but because SSI is a welfare program, your benefit is capped. In 2018, the most you can receive from SSI is $750 per month. By contrast, SSDI pays you based on your earnings record and most claimants are paid between $1,200 and $2,400 per month.=============== FREE SURVIVAL KIT ================Don't know where to begin? Download my free“Secrets of Getting Approved” Survival Kit athttps://bit.ly/SSD-Survival-Kit-2============================================================== FREE CASE EVALUATION =============If you or a loved one would like a case evaluation for yourSSDI or SSI case, please contact me athttps://bit.ly/Contact-Jonathan-2=================================================================== CONTACT ME =================Jonathan GinsbergSocial Security Disability AttorneyWebsite: https://www.ssdAnswers.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GinsbergLaw/Telephone: 800-890-2262https://bit.ly/Contact-Jonathan-2================================================PODCAST: Click to SUBSCRIBE to this podcast on iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/social-security-disability-law-podcast/id1449712246YOUTUBE CHANNEL: Click to SUBSCRIBE to my YOUTUBE Channel for Social Security Disability Videos***https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=ginsbergssd

There are more than 2-thousand youth enrolled in New York State PROMISE, which is a research project. Half of the students and their families are enrolled in an intervention group and receive a coordinated set of services and supports aimed at promoting a successful transition to adulthood. The other half are in a control group. While students in the control group don't receive the same enhanced supports, their participation is critical to gathering accurate data to help bring about future systems change for students with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income or SSI.

There are more than 2-thousand youth enrolled in New York State PROMISE, which is a research project. Half of the students and their families are enrolled in an intervention group and receive a coordinated set of services and supports aimed at promoting a successful transition to adulthood. The other half are in a control group. While students in the control group don't receive the same enhanced supports, their participation is critical to gathering accurate data to help bring about future systems change for students with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income or SSI.

In yesterday’s episode, we discussed several factors that go into determining the amount of child support that will be paid: Relative Income Parenting time Work related child care expenses Health insurance Other children In today's episode, we discuss what happens when one or both parents are receiving Social Security Benefits. There are generally three types of social security benefits that we deal with in child support cases, disability benefits and retirement benefits both of which fall under Title II of the Social Security Act, and Supplemental Security Income benefits received under Title 16 of the Social Security Act. For child support purposes, both disability and retirement under Title II are handled the same.   However, Title 16 Supplemental Security Income benefits are handled differently Amounts received by a parent under Title II of the Social Security Act are considered income and can form the basis of a child support award.  Supplemental Security Income benefits, however, are not included in income and cannot form the basis of a child support award. If a parent is receiving disability or retirement benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act, then the amount received is included in income to determine the child support obligation.  In addition, if the children are receiving money because of a parent’s disability income, that amount is added to the income of that parent.  The amounts received by the children are called derivative benefits. Once the children’s derivative benefits are added to the parent’s disability income, the amount of child support is calculated based on the guidelines.  If the calculation shows the parent receiving disability income should be paying child support, the amount of the children’s derivative benefits are subtracted from that parent’s child support obligation.  If the difference is a positive number, the parent owes the difference.  If the difference is negative, child support will be zero and the parent owes nothing. RESOURCES Social Security Benefits for Children  Supplemental Security Income Benefits    

On Today's show Alex explores the Fiscal Cost of Unlawful Immigrants and Amnesty to the U.S. Taxpayer...Unlawful immigration and amnesty for current unlawful immigrants can pose large fiscal costs for U.S. taxpayers. Government provides four types of benefits and services that are relevant to this issue:*Direct benefits. These include Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation.*Means-tested welfare benefits. There are over 80 of these programs which, at a cost of nearly $900 billion per year, provide cash, food, housing, medical, and other services to roughly 100 million low-income Americans. Major programs include Medicaid, food stamps, the refundable Earned Income Tax Credit, public housing, Supplemental Security Income, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.*Public education. At a cost of $12,300 per pupil per year, these services are largely free or heavily subsidized for low-income parents.*Population-based services. Police, fire, highways, parks, and similar services, as the National Academy of Sciences determined in its study of the fiscal costs of immigration, generally have to expand as new immigrants enter a community; someone has to bear the cost of that expansion.The cost of these governmental services is far larger than many people imagine. For example, in 2010, the average U.S. household received $31,584 in government benefits and services in these four categories.http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/05/the-fiscal-cost-of-unlawful-immigrants-and-amnesty-to-the-us-taxpayer

On Today's show Alex explores the Fiscal Cost of Unlawful Immigrants and Amnesty to the U.S. Taxpayer...Unlawful immigration and amnesty for current unlawful immigrants can pose large fiscal costs for U.S. taxpayers. Government provides four types of benefits and services that are relevant to this issue:*Direct benefits. These include Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation.*Means-tested welfare benefits. There are over 80 of these programs which, at a cost of nearly $900 billion per year, provide cash, food, housing, medical, and other services to roughly 100 million low-income Americans. Major programs include Medicaid, food stamps, the refundable Earned Income Tax Credit, public housing, Supplemental Security Income, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.*Public education. At a cost of $12,300 per pupil per year, these services are largely free or heavily subsidized for low-income parents.*Population-based services. Police, fire, highways, parks, and similar services, as the National Academy of Sciences determined in its study of the fiscal costs of immigration, generally have to expand as new immigrants enter a community; someone has to bear the cost of that expansion.The cost of these governmental services is far larger than many people imagine. For example, in 2010, the average U.S. household received $31,584 in government benefits and services in these four categories.http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/05/the-fiscal-cost-of-unlawful-immigrants-and-amnesty-to-the-us-taxpayer

When an employee has a debilitating accident at work, there are insurance and government benefits available to the employee and his or her family. Among the many benefits included are workers' compensation, Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicare coverage. Despite the different sources and governing bodies, many of these federal, state, and municipal programs are interrelated with offsets and qualifying terms. Since the benefits and qualifications can differ from case-to-case and state-to-state, it can be difficult to figure out the bottom line without a lawyer. In this episode of Workers Comp Matters, Alan Pierce interviews William Troupe, an expert attorney in the field of workers' compensation and Social Security Disability. They discuss Social Security Disability and the interrelationship with workers' compensation, and the varying laws concerning offsets of different benefits. They also discuss the formula of benefits received relative to Average Current Earnings (ACE) and auxiliary beneficiaries such as spouses and children. While this is all information that an employee should know, it is necessary to seek out an expert lawyer in any disability case that prevents someone from returning to work. William Troupe is an attorney and owner of Troupe Law Office in Peabody, MA. He has 40 years experience in representing injured workers and their families both in workers' compensation and Social Security Disability cases. He is intricately involved with various bar associations and frequently lectures at continuing legal education programs. Troupe was recently inducted in the College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers. Special thanks to our sponsor, PInow.

Listen to the interview by clicking the arrow on the audio player below. When I first connected with Beatrice Hogg, she said she wanted to share her story to show people that "being over fifty and long-term unemployed isn't the end of the world." In this interview, she shares the events that derailed her original career, and she discusses her next steps. About Beatrice Hogg: Beatrice M. Hogg was born in Greensboro, North Carolina and raised in the coal-mining town of Lawrence, Pennsylvania. She has a B.A. in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles. Since moving to California in 1988, her articles and essays have appeared in many publications and anthologies. She spent over twenty years working in the social services field, including work determining eligibility for public assistance programs, unemployment insurance benefits, Social Security benefits, and Supplemental Security Income. For five years, she facilitated a writing workshop for women at St. John’s Shelter Program for Women and Children in Sacramento, CA. Genesis Press published her novel "Three Chords One Song" as an e-Book in 2012. She is working on "WTF: Five Years of Bad Decisions," a book about her experiences as a long-term unemployed woman over fifty. Her short essays on family, music, and more can be found on her blog, Marvellaland.

Find out who is eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income program benefits.

Get a benefit verification letter instantly through your own account at the “my Social Security” web portal.

Michael D. Butler Serial Entrepreneur and Personal Development Catalyst, has been called a reinvention specialist and personal branding coach.He is the Owner of TurnkeyTransformations.com, AuthorBookMarketing.com and M3NewMedia.com. He is also a best-selling author  Robert Williams practicing lawyer specializing in disability law. He is based in Chicago, but handles Social Security Disability, Medicare and Supplemental Security Income cases all over the United States  Karla Silver an accomplished entrepreneur, an award-winning bestselling author and a recognized expert in Lifestyle Design.  Karla's passion is helping other entrepreneurs, or would-be entrepreneurs reach their personal and financial goals, sometimes through non-traditional ways.  She's also a powerhouse entrepreneur, coach, speaker and internet marketer    

The two main federal disability programs have experienced rising enrollment and soaring spending in recent years. Indeed, combined outlays on Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income have roughly doubled over the last decade to more than $200 billion annually. The programs distort the economy and are adding to the federal government’s fiscal crisis. Cato senior fellow Jagadeesh Gokhale and budget analyst Tad DeHaven have published recent studies on the programs, and they will discuss the causes of recent spending growth, distortions created by the programs, and prospects for reform. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode of No Fee TV features Attorney Michael Rosenzweig, a partner and litigation manager for the law offices of Edgar Snyder & Associates, and Attorney Dennis Liotta, partner and manager of the firm's Social Security Disability Department. This is a must-see episode for anyone with a disability who can't work. Mike and Dennis discuss eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income.

Dr. Bill interviews Social Security Specialist, Gordon Chan, about the latest changes in Social Security Disability Income and Supplemental Security Income, how to apply, and benefits for the employed.

Ongoing developments with SSI (Supplementary Security Income) and CMS (the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) are important for any attorney to know about in cases that may be settled. Join Ringler Radio host, Larry Cohen and his co-host Tom Murray both from Ringler Associates as they get the latest from the experts, Attorney Jay Sangerman from the firm of Jay Sangerman, PLLC in New York and Attorney Patti Sitchler from the firm of Schoenbaum, Curphy and Scanlon, in San Antonio. When is a Medicare set-aside needed? What's the criteria CMS uses for review? What impact is the Deficit Reduction Act having? Listen to this show for answers that are critical for your clients and much more!