Chaz Nickolaus, Program Specialist, Missouri Developmental
Disabilities Council Jefferson City, MO Building Assets and
Promoting Choice for Individuals with Disabilities
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What Can you Expect from this Session? The purpose of this
session is to help you understand the tools and strategies that
will help you support others in making good decisions about
working, saving and building assets
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Setting a framework for Asset Development Strategies Passage of
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 brought new hope
and expectations about the possibilities of full participation in
the workplace and community life for millions of individuals with
disabilities and their families The ADA law clearly states the
nations goals regarding individuals with disabilities are to assure
equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living and
economic self-sufficiency for all Americans with disabilities
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Setting a framework for Asset Development Strategies 25 years
later, great efforts have been made to advance opportunities
related to employment and independent living. However we have not
really focused on economic self sufficiency
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What does the term Economic self-sufficiency mean to you?
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Economic Self-Sufficiency Economic Self-Sufficiency is about
making good decisions about working, saving and managing a budget
Its about setting goals to advance employment and economic status
Its about building assets
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Changing Expectations three myths Individuals with
disabilities: Are unable to work: work produces income which is the
first step towards saving and building assets. Have all their needs
met by their special programs: People with disabilities want to
reduce their reliance on government benefits and have more freedom
and independence. Cant be expected to save and build assets: People
with disabilities want a better economic future. They are starting
businesses and becoming home owners
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Why dont we do a better job supporting people in issues like
money and finances ?
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The end goal is not simply employment. The end goal is
financial stability for people with disabilities. Its time to stop
limiting people with disabilities to existing on public benefits
and support them to move out of poverty. Paradigm Shift
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Benefit Questions Will I lose my benefits? Cash payments Health
care How do I get the skills and experience I need? What if I have
to stop working?
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How many other public benefit programs can you name?
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How Does Employment Affect Medicare and Medicaid? The Social
Security Administration recognizes that one of the primary concerns
of someone with a disability is being able to maintain healthcare.
SSA had made provisions for healthcare and employment with various
work incentives such as the Continuation of Medicare Coverage,
Extended Medicaid 1619(b) and the Ticket to Work Health Assurance
Program.
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Where can I find answers? If you get benefits from SSA like
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI), you can get answers to your questions and
guidance specific to your situation by calling the Ticket to Work
Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 (1-866- 833-2967 TTY/TDD) Monday
through Friday from 8:00AM - 8:00PM EST.Supplemental Security
IncomeSocial Security Disability InsuranceTicket to Work Help Line
If you get benefits from FSD like MO HealthNet, Food Stamps, or
Temporary Assistance, you can get help by calling the FSD
Information Center toll-free at 1-855-FSD-INFO (1-855-373-4636).MO
HealthNetFood Stamps Temporary Assistance
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Work Incentive Advantages Provide peace of mind to: Try
different jobs Be trained Build skills Gain confidence Start a new
career
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SSI Work Incentives General and Earned Income Exclusion Student
Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS)
Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE) Blind Work Expense (BWE)
Extended Medicaid 1619 (b)
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SSDI Work Incentives Trial Work Period (TWP) Extended Period of
Eligibility (EPE) Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) Impairment Related
Work Expense (IRWE) Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS)
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Benefits Planning Putting the benefit pieces together
http://mo.db101.org/ Free, on-line, state specific, maintained,
anonymous Benefits and Work Calculator School and Work Content
pages Glossary DB 101 does not replace the need to talk with a
benefits counselor Missouri DB 101
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Free Benefits Planning Work Incentives Planning and Assistance
(WIPA) is a federally-funded program which provides information
about work incentives to individuals who are receiving Social
Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) so they can make informed choices about work.
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Free Benefits Planning MO P&A and Paraquad have trained
Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs) who provide
information and referral, problem solving and advocacy, benefits
analysis, work planning information, and benefits management.
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Contact information for WIPA Missouri Protection and Advocacy:
800-392-8667 Paraquad: 314-289-4200
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Reasons to Work More income Independence Learn New Skills Meet
New People
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Build the Employment Team MO DD Council Vocational
Rehabilitation One Stop Career Center Employment Networks (EN) MO
Protection & Advocacy Mo Dept. Of Mental Health Centers for
Independent Living County Boards for DD services
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www.moddcouncil.org Employment DB 101 Guide to Career Discovery
Small Business training Empowermo training Asset Development
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VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION VR offers a wide range of services
that are individualized for your needs. You and your counselor
decide which services will help you become employed. Some of the
services that may be available are: Guidance and Counseling
Job-Seeking Skills and Job Placement Vocational Training For more
information or to apply for services, contact one of VRs 25
district offices in Missouri. For contact information, call
1-877-222-8963 toll free to find the office in your area.
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DIVISION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (DWD) Department of Economic
DevelopmentDepartment of Economic Development, helps job seekers
find gainful employment by providing a variety of core services at
its various Career Centers www.jobs.mo.gov
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One Stop Career Center Evaluate Skills National Career
readiness Resume Writing Job Search Training Assistance The One
Stop Career Centers and Vocational Rehabilitation both utilize
Missouri Connections. Find your nearest Career Center at: Jobs.MO.
GOV
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Centers for Independent Living 4 Core Services Independent
Living Skills Training Peer Support Advocacy Information and
referral Other Possible Services Transportation Prescription
Assistance Ramps & Home Modifications Adaptive Telephone
Equipment Deinstitutionalization Find your nearest CIL at:
www.mosilc.orgwww.mosilc.org or call 1-800-667-2117
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Earned Income tax credit The EITC is based on your income, even
when you have no tax liability, you will receive a tax refund An
individual with no tax liability must file a tax return, without
filing you cannot receive an EITC tax refund
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Earned Income tax credit EITC does not count as earned income
and does not impact eligibility for SSI benefits EITC does not
count as earned income to determine eligibility for Medicaid
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Must have earned income Must be at least 25 and under 65 Must
have earned no more than $14,340 in 2013 if you are single First
time filers can go back 3 years
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/EITC%2c-Earned-
Income-Tax-Credit%2c-Questions-and-Answers
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Free Tax Return Preparation for Qualifying Taxpayers The
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help
to persons with disabilities who generally make $52,000 or
less,
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Find a VITA Site Near You VITA sites are generally located at
community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping
malls and other convenient locations across the country. To locate
the nearest VITA site near you, use
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparation-
for-You-by-Volunteers
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparation-
for-You-by-Volunteers or call 800-906-9887.
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Resources for Free Tax Preparation
http://extension.missouri.edu/hes/taxed/vitasites.htm
http://dor.mo.gov/contact/assistance.php
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Financial Education Tons of free stuff on the web!
http://www.monetta.com/game-13.htm
http://dfi.wa.gov/financial-education/resources-
games.htmhttp://dfi.wa.gov/financial-education/resources- games.htm
http://www.themint.org/index.html
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Money Smart - A Financial Education Program Money Smart
Computer-Based Instruction (CBI) is an easy-to-use tool to learn
more about basic personal financial management. The CBI features a
game-based learning design and separate learning tracks for adults,
young adults and children.
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Saving Plans/Asset Development Plan to Achieve Self Support
(PASS) Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Property Essential to
Self Support (PESS) Independent Development Living Account (IDLA)
Family Self Sufficiency program (FSS) HUD Earned Income
Disregard
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Individual Development Accounts Saving money from month to
month is hard There are programs that will match dollar for dollar
money you set aside Buying a house Starting a business Continuing
an education
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Assets for Independence (AFI) Program Assets for Independence
(AFI) is a community- based approach for giving low-income families
a hand up out of poverty. Utilizing existing individual and
community assets, AFI strengthens communities from within through
the use of matched savings accounts called Individual Development
Accounts (IDAs).
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Family Development Account promotes self-sufficiency for
low-income Missourians through a matched savings program. Statewide
Education at an accredited institution of higher learning; Purchase
of a primary residence; Major repairs or improvements to a primary
residence; or Start-up capitalization of a small business
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Why is it important? Increase Independence Promotes Job
Retention Improves Personal Health Move Out of Poverty The link
between financial health and personal health!
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Where to start? Get information about how work income will
affect public benefits and what work incentives are applicable.
Connect with your employment team EN or State VR, your local career
center, MO DD Council, etc. Stay positive; look for
opportunities
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What can you do to help? Learn more Share knowledge Advocate
Join others
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www.moddcouncil.org I Charles Chaz Nickolaus Missouri
Developmental Disabilities Council 1706 E. Elm St. Jefferson City,
MO 65102 1-800-500-7878 [email protected]