VCU Article "Saving for Post-Secondary Education: Strategies for Individuals with Disabilities
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University have published an article in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation entitled, “Saving for Post-Secondary Education: Strategies for Individuals with Disabilities.” Citing misconceptions among individuals with disabilities, family members, and the disability services provider community, the article clarifies and details saving opportunities for students with disabilities that are in line with the Social Security disability benefit program rules. The provisions covered include: ? Plan for Achieving Self-Support, a Social Security work incentive that allows individuals to set aside income or resources needed to achieve a stated occupational goal; ? Educational Savings Accounts or 529 Plans, which allow individuals to (1) prepay tuition at a qualified educational institution at today’s tuition rates or (2) save money in a tax-deferred account (earnings only) to be used to pay for education at future tuition rates; ? Coverdell Accounts, which enable families to put away $2,000 per beneficiary, per year and use the money—tax-free—to pay for college expenses; ? Educational grants, loans or scholarships, including Pell grants, Federal Educational Loans (Federal PLUS Loans, Perkins Loans, Stafford Loans, Ford Loans, etc.), Upward Bound, and Work-Study programs; and ? Individual Development Accounts, a provision where earnings deposited by an individual are matched at a particular rate, usually between $2 and $4 for every dollar deposited, by a combination of government and private-sector funds. To learn more about these provisions as well as others, read the full article at: http://www.worksupport.com/research/view Content.cfm/847.
Posted On :
03/09/10 08:35AM
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10
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2
Disability Policy Research Brief: Will Health Care Reform Increase the Employment of People with Disabilities
In November 2009, Mathematica Policy Research Inc, issued a Disability Policy Research Brief, Number 09-04, entitled, "Will Health Care Reform Increase the Employment of People with Disabilities?" "Working age people with disabilities in America have a low employment rate and a high rate of dependence on public programs-a situation fueled, at least in part, by the challenges of the current health care financing system." In this Brief, the following misconceptions are dispelled: 1) people with disabilities cannot work; and 2) they are all insured by public programs.
Posted On :
03/01/10 03:07PM
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55
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17
Social Security Disability Benefits to Wounded Warriors
Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors Social Security Administration http://www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors/ Military service members can receive expedited processing of disability claims from Social Security. Benefits available through Social Security are different than those from the Department of Veterans Affairs and require a separate application. The expedited process is used for military service members who become disabled while on active military service on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs. Access the website to link to the following questions that include answers to questions most people ask about applying for disability benefits. • What types of benefits can I receive? • What is Social Security’s definition of disability? I was disabled for a while several years ago and my health has now improved. • Can I receive disability benefits for the time that I was disabled? • How does military pay affect eligibility for disability benefits? • How do I apply? • What do I need to apply? • How does Social Security make the decision? • How long does it take for a decision? • Can I do anything to speed the decision? • Can my family get benefits? • How does Medicare affect my TRICARE benefits? • Contacting Social Security In addition, this website includes links to other useful information.
Posted On :
01/16/10 05:29AM
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100
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28
Ticket to Work / Employment Network 30-Second Training Series
A 6 part series of 30-second trainings that has been developed for DPNs to use with staff and partners in their Local Workforce Investment Areas to increase understanding and promote the use of the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work, Work Incentives and Employment Networks. These 6 Trainings cover the following topics: Working and Social Security Benefits… Work Incentives… What a Ticket to Work is… What an Employment Network is… How an agency can become an Employment Network… What to do when someone wants to assign their ticket…
Posted On :
09/29/09 04:16PM
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278
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80
Increasing Active Participation by the One-Stop Career Center System in the Ticket to Work Program
One-Stop Career Centers and LWIBS should consider becoming ENs because this program is a potential funding source for any entity that provides return-to work services to Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities. It is likely that you are already providing such services to your customers with disabilities. This makes good business sense and will enable you to leverage funding to maximize services to your customers and better respond to the needs of your business customers. ETA has been working with SSA to promote the Ticket Program to One-Stop Career Centers and LWIBs. The DPNs are playing a leadership role in this process. This webinar will highlight two One-Stop Career Center models for becoming ENs. States will have an opportunity to hear first-hand from Iowa and Florida: how their One-Stop Career Centers/LWIBs became ENs; the challenges; milestones of progress; and potential ROI. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a highly interactive discussion of their individual state situations and benefit from the experiences and perspectives of their colleagues in the workforce investment system.
Posted On :
09/29/09 02:40PM
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133
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48
Tax Benefits for Veterans, Including Disabled Veterans: Internal Revenue Services and Department of Labor’s Veterans and Employment and Training Services and Employment and Training Administration Partnerships
The IRS Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC) Organization has a long-term partnership with the DOL/ETA to promote the use of the Earned Income Tax Credit, financial literacy, and asset development of people with disabilities. Disability Program Navigators have facilitated this initiative at the local levels by encouraging the One-Stop Career Centers to become Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. IRS’ SPEC organization realized disabled veterans were not taking advantage of tax benefits as credits, free tax preparation, and asset building services. Therefore, the DPN National Office connected IRS with VETS. Consequently, IRS partnered with several organizations that work with veterans to help get the word out on these services. The Webinar will discuss Ask VetsFirst, which is an exciting new Web-based service and this ground-breaking service will provide large numbers of veterans with an opportunity to get assistance with benefits-related inquiries quickly and efficiently. VETS will discuss its job training, counseling, and placement services (including job readiness and literacy and skills training) services and grants to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force.
Posted On :
09/29/09 02:25PM
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116
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38
Connecting One-Stop Career Centers with the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Ticket to Work Program: Becoming an Employment Network (EN)-A Way to Serve Customers with Disabilities and Generate Revenues for the One-Stop Career Center system
This Webinar will highlight promising practices and lessons learned to facilitate the State and Local Workforce Investment Boards (S/LWIBs) and One-Stop Career Centers connecting with the SSA’s Ticket to Work Program. This Program provides work incentives for beneficiaries with disabilities who want to work. Examples of service coordination among workforce partners utilizing the Ticket to Work incentives will be shared during this Webinar. Learn about how the One-Stop Career Centers that became ENs are generating program income which can be used for their operations. The Webinar will focus on how seven state agency partners, led by the Disability Program Navigator initiative in Iowa’s state workforce agency, became an approved EN in 2007. Revenue is being generated through the EN payment process.