THE ABLE ACT OF 2014
On Friday, December 19, 2014, the President of the United States signed into law the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014. The ABLE Act would ease the financial burden for individuals with disabilities and their families by creating tax-free accounts that can be used to save for disability-related expenses. These accounts can be created by individuals to support themselves or by families for the benefit of a family member with a disability.
The ABLE Act applies to individuals with significant disabilities whose disability started prior to 26 years of age. SSI and SSDI beneficiaries who meet the age of onset criteria are automatically eligible for the program. Funds set aside in ABLE accounts can be used to cover "qualified disability expenses" which includes any expense related to the designated beneficiary as a result of living a life with disabilities. These include education, housing, transportation, employment training and support, assistive technology, personal support services, health care expenses, financial management and administrative services and other expenses which will be further described in regulations to be developed in 2015 by the Treasury Department.
The ABLE Act offers the opportunity for tax-exempt, state-based private savings accounts to fund disability-related expenses to supplement benefits currently provided by Social Security, Medicaid, employers, and private insurance. The individual and family members can contribute a maximum of $14,000 to the account each year. If the account totals less than $100,000, the funds are exempt for the SSI asset limit of $2,000. ABLE accounts will have no impact on Medicaid eligibility.
ABLE accounts should become available to people with disabilities before the end of 2015.
WISE Guys
Work Incentives Seminar Events by webinar
Social Security likes to promote its programs in some creative ways. They used to make the WIPA programs conduct Work Incentives Seminar Events (WISE) across the state. That wasn’t very cost effective, so they now have WISEs by webinar. Once a month, on the 4th Wednesday of the month, you can log into a webinar and learn the latest that SSA has to promote employment for people receiving disability benefits.
Each month the webinar covers a different topic. Topics can range from Ticket to Work, to choosing an Employment Network, to using work incentives, to choosing a work goal, etc. To see what topic will be discussed each month, you can go online to http://www.chooseworkttw.net/webinars-tutorials/index.html and see what is coming up. If the topic interests you, you can register for it at the same webpage.
The information on these webinars can be very useful, but it is all very general. To learn more about how these programs and work incentives can work for you, call us, the Maryland Work Incentives Network. You can reach us a 1-888-838-1776 or online at www.md-win.org. You can also e-mail the director, David Mitchell: .
BUDGET SEMINAR
May 14th 1 - 3 pm
Taking Control of Your Finances presented by Dan Florea of Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Maryland and Delaware, Inc. This workshop will focus on the beginning of managing your finances. Learning how to create a budget and knowing when to spend and when to save.
Contact Rochelle Harrod at 240-898-2184 or
EMPLOYMENT SEMINAR
June 29th 1 - 3 pm
Facilitator and presenter will share what options you may take if you’ve have not reached your career/employment goal. Consumers will learn about resources, follow-through and follow-up procedures that may help them be successful.
One way travel reimbursement for IN consumers will be provided for Metro Access, Metro bus
or rail.
Contact Kelvin Hawkins at 240-638-0068 or to register or ask questions.
FAIR HOUSING SEMINAR: “Fair Housing and You”
April 30 1 – 3 pm
In the endeavor to provide you with valuable information and in recognition of Fair Housing Month, Kat Taylor, Disability Rights Program Manager from the Equal Rights Center will present “Fair Housing and You”. Everyone who is seeking housing is encouraged to attend this informative event.
Contact: Rochelle Harrod, IL Specialist at 240-898-2184 or to register or if you have questions.
HOUSING ACTION TEAM (HAT)
April 8 10:30am – 12pm
Independence Now’s Housing Advocacy Committee is focused on addressing the housing issues faced by persons with disabilities in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties through the use of advocacy and education. As part of this effort, a Housing Action Team (HAT) was created. This team of consumers serves as advocates to share their experiences, housing needs and voice their perspective on relevant housing issues that arise to significant stakeholders. The HAT members are “called into action” when needed as issues arise.
If you would like to join or learn more about this effort contact, Deborah Jackson, Director of IL Services at 240-638-0066.
HOUSING SEMINARS -- 4th Thursday monthly
April 23 1 - 3 pm
Back to the Basics: Applying for Housing and how to be a good Tenant.
Do you have the items needed to complete the housing application process? Do you know why being a good tenant is essential to obtaining and keeping your home? Attend this event to increase your knowledge.
May 28 1 – 3 pm
First session – “Subsidized Housing Opportunities”, presented by Katherine Carter, Project Manager Community Planning, Prince George's Department of Housing and Community Development.
Second Session – “Safety in the Home and Your Community“, Joy Patil, Community Service Officer, 3rd District, Montgomery County Police Department.
June 25 1 – 3 pm
Enhancing your Housing Search II: How to retrieve up-to-date housing listings from HUD, Maryland housing search and calling to inquire about current housing waitlists.
Contact Rochelle Harrod, IL Specialist at 240-898-2184 or to register or if you have questions.
Many years ago people with disabilities were locked away, kept isolated in the home and institutions. Families had a difficult time accessing resources, a proper education and other accessibility barriers.
Things began to change when people with disabilities joined forces and organized to sit in federal buildings, obstructed the movement of inaccessible buses, and marched through the streets to protest injustice and parents of children with disabilities began to fight against the exclusion and segregation of their children.
Today we can celebrate change, as we mark the 25th anniversary of the American Disability Act (ADA) and Independence Now’s 20 years of service to people with disabilities!
The ADA is the nation's first comprehensive civil rights law addressing the needs of people with disabilities, prohibiting discrimination in employment, public services, public accommodations, and telecommunications. It was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990 and signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush
Independence Now, Inc. (IN) a Center for Independent Living (CIL) is one of over 400 CILs in the United States. Centers for Independent Living are non-residential organizations whose Boards of Directors and staff are comprised predominantly of people with disabilities, providing peer counseling, independent living skills training, information and referral and advocacy and transitional services for people with disabilities.
IN was founded by Cathy Raggio in 1994 as a joint initiative between the Montgomery County Commission on People with Disabilities and the Prince George's County Commission for Individuals with Disabilities.
The Commissions wanted to create an organization operated by and for people with disabilities that would: 1) provide services to people with all types of disabilities in the two counties and 2) unite their advocacy voices.
Not long after, Independence Now was awarded a grant by the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration to become a Center for Independent Living.
With additional assistance from the former Montgomery County Disability Resources Division, Independence Now opened its first office in Silver Spring on April 24, 1995. Independence Now expanded and now serves residents of Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.
Save the date of July 18, 2015 as we come together to honor change and celebrate “20 Years of Empowering Freedom and Independence for People with Disabilities”. Independence Now will be hosting a Craft Beer and Wine Tasting Fundraising Event. For tickets and more information contact Sarah Sorensen at 240-898-2183.
TRANSPORTATION ACTION GROUP NEWS
Dear Members:
I’d just like to take a moment to share the good news with you. WMATA has decided not to go forward with the fare hike for MetroBus, MetroRail, and MetroAcess. They are looking at options to enhance the service that they have, so that all three entities may continue the late night and rush-hour service that customers have become accustomed to.
If you have something to say and you want your voice to be heard, we encourage you to come to the monthly Accessibility Advisory Committee meetings that take place on the third Monday of every month Metro Headquarters is located at 600 5th St. NW, in the Lobby level meeting room. We will no longer be having our monthly meetings, but we will be meeting with consumers individually to address their transportation concerns. If you would like to make an appointment you may contact me at 240-898-2184 or email me at
APRIL 2015
Fair Housing Month
SUN / MON / TUES / WED / THURS / FRI / SAT1 / 2 / 3 / 4
5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11
Easter / HAT
10:30-12:00
Let's get Together
N. H.
Transitioning
2 - 4pm / Stand Up 4 Transportation Day /
12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18
/ Path To Empowerment
11am - 1:30pm
19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25
Housing
Seminar
1 - 3pm
26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30
Fair Housing Seminar
1 - 3pm
· Autism Awareness Month Awareness Month
· National Donate Life Month
· National Parkinson's Awareness Month
· National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month
· National Volunteer Week: April 12-18
MAY 2015
National Mobility Awareness Month
Sun / Mon / Tues / Wed / Thurs / Fri / Sat1 / 2
My Voice
Youth Event
1 - 3pm
3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16
Mother’s Day / Budgeting Seminar
1 - 3pm /
17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23
Path To Empowerment
11am-1:30pm
24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30
30 / Memorial Day / Housing
Seminar
1 - 3 pm
31 / · ALS Awareness Month · Arthritis Awareness Month
· Lupus Awareness Month
· Huntington's Disease Awareness Month
· National Allergy/Asthma Awareness Month
· National Mental Health Month
JUNE 2015
National PTSD Awareness Month
Sun / Mon / Tues / Wed / Thurs / Fri / Sat1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13
Let's Get Together
NH Transitioning
2–4pm / I.N.
Annual Meeting
4:30 pm
14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20
Path To Empowerment
11am-1:30pm
21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27
Father’s Day / / Housing
Seminar
1 – 3 pm
28 / 29 / 30
Employment Seminar
1–3pm
· Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
· Cataract Awareness Month
· National Scoliosis Awareness
· National PTSD/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month