Skip Navigation

Wisconsin Disability Benefits Network Newsletter For Your Benefits

Vol. 8, Issue 36, February, 2010

| Sign Up for Newsletter Mailing List |

For Your Benefit – Introduction

The Wisconsin Disability Benefits Network (WDBN) is a statewide system that provides direct assistance to benefits counseling practitioners and seeks ways to reach out to and better serve people with disabilities, their supporters, and professional service providers in Wisconsin. This newsletter provides current program news, important notices and updates, and upcoming training and educational opportunities. Check out past editions of this newsletter!

2010 WDBN Calendar

elearning symbolMake sure to mark your calendars!! 2010 will be all about getting Back to the Basics! Look for the elearning symbol for events that will be offered online.

March 3, 2010 – Back to Basics in 2010: Budgeting and Finances 101

Location: Glacier Canyon Convention Center, WI Dells | Time: 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Register for this event.

We are excited to have Ammar Askari, M&I Community Education and Joe Entwisle, National Consortium for Health Systems Development, who will be sharing all you want to know about Budgeting and Finances 101 but were afraid to ask! What is FICA anyway? Is there really a difference between gross and net income? How can I open an Individual Development Account (IDA)? Learn more about VITA and EITC.  This is a “cannot miss” training with valuable take away resources you can use immediately! Register for this event.

March 2010 – Back to Basics in 2010: Health Insurance Tutorial Track

Various Health Insurance related topics will be offered in asynchronous, on-demand training tutorials. This means there is no specific time to login or download the module. You will be able to enjoy the flexibility of working on short, easy to navigate, tutorials when it is convenient for you!

Topics will include MAPP, Long-Term Care, Cat and Med Needy, COBRA, HIPAA and others. Activities will be included specifically designed for WIBS role and development of skills.

July 2010 – Back to Basics in 2010: Social Security Tutorial Track tentative rollout

Various Social Security related topics will be offered in asynchronous training tutorials. Topics will include Trial Work Period, SGA, SSI 1619(a&b), Termination vs. Cessation and others.

July through December – Back to Basics in 2010 Webcasts

Topics and dates, and times to be announced.
Stay tuned for more information!!

June, November and December 2010 - Regional Workgroups (WIBS only)

In Madison, Milwaukee, Fox Valley and Eau Claire for WIBS. These meetings will be held in 4 different locations two times in 2010. This will be an opportunity to review real life scenarios/cases and Q&A time.

Also make sure to watch for the Newsletters throughout the year which will include important updates and informative articles.

***All topics and time/dates are subject to change. Please make sure to check back for updates and additional information.***

Download a printable PDF copy of the 2010 calendar.

What's New


Welcome to 2010

We’ve been talking about taking our benefits related training online over the last few years and we are doing that in a big way this year. Make sure to take a look at our calendar to find these travel and time friendly online events that will keep you in the loop with what’s happening with benefits counseling. Of course, online events are not the only offerings.

In this issue, we take a closer look at some of the most frequent computer questions that come up and provide some tips and resources.

Cool Resources


Taking Care of Business: Computer Malware and Antivirus Tips

Be Tech SavvyBy Phil Goodman, Assistive Technology Consultant | goodman@eri-wi.org | More about Assistive Technology

As an expert in Assistive Technology and Information Technology, Phil encounters the results of what happens when a person does not adequately protect his or her computer on a daily basis. Here he shares some great tips on how to avoid trouble!

It should come as no surprise that keeping one’s computer safe from the outside world is getting more difficult these days. My work with the population that has special computer access needs just emphasizes how quickly a computer can be disabled.  Given the fact that most of the folks who read this article are working in some professional capacity or another, I am choosing to write about taking care of business as it pertains to your own or work computer -- the computer that you rely on every day to get done what you need to get done. It is more important than ever to have both a good antivirus program AND at least one malware cleaning program on your computer.

Is Someone Spying on You?
There was a time when viruses were the most prevalent form of infection and these usually came as email attachments, or from an infected disk. These days, malware (a.k.a. spyware) infections are more prevalent than viruses and you can get both just by visiting a web page. Today’s malware infections can sometimes be worse than a virus and antivirus software often cannot detect them or clean them. What’s worse is sometimes it takes scans by several different programs to get all of the infections cleaned from the computer.

Many of us buy a computer that comes pre-loaded with antivirus software and or some sort of software that is supposed to take care of ALL of our internet security needs. This type of computer is the most at risk for folks who are not computer savvy. Most often the pre-installed antivirus software is a 30 or 90 day trial and when it expires, we either don’t pay attention to the warnings that they get, or we get none at all. This leaves us unprotected. If you have purchased a computer in the last few months, you may want to check and see if your antivirus needs to be relicensed or replaced.

Even computer users who work on computers set up and owned by a business that have a good IT person may not be safe. Usually these computers have a good anti-virus program, but they are lacking in software that blocks malware or spyware leaving them open to malicious attacks. Most free anti-malware programs do not run real time (always on, running in the background) so they have to be run every few weeks to detect any infections.

If you have an IT person or Department, you can check with them on your concerns about computer protection and may need to have them check on updating or installing the proper programs. If you do not have an IT department or have a computer that you use away from work, following are some tools that you can use to keep your computer safe.

Tools You Can Use

These are just a few of the programs I recommend. For dealing with very persistent infections I recommend you visit http://majorgeeks.com (no www in this web address). This site is full of computer maintenance tools and has forums where you can ask questions. In the meantime, be nice to your computer and yourself – make sure you have protection!

Computer Privacy

By Jolene Wanek, Benefits Counseling Project Lead | wanek@eri-wi.org

As a Benefits Counseling Project Lead, Jolene acquired expertise in information management policies and actions that meet applicable federal, state, regulatory, or contractual requirements.  Following are some easy tips on keeping your computer privacy at the forefront.

Most of us use our computers everyday. We use our computers for work, home, and play. Most of the time we prefer to keep our information on those computers private. At work, we run into private, personal information about not only ourselves but the individuals we work with on a daily basis. We don’t want our information public and neither do the individuals we encounter. It is increasingly popular for information to be digitally stored. This is done through the use of databases, contracts, agreements, e-mails from partners and clients, personal data, business correspondence, and so forth.

Data protection and computer privacy is not only imperative for ease of mind but for many agencies, the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) governs agencies to employ some sort of privacy practices. All business related information must be stored with the utmost vigilance to security and privacy. Anything done on your computer can be accessed by an outsider if not protected.

The First Line of Defense: Be Password Savvy
One of the quickest and easiest ways to protect the information stored on your computer is through the use of passwords. 

While You Are Away…You Lock Your Doors Why Not Your Computer?
Passwords are invaluable when protecting information. It is suggested to have your computer require a password upon startup. However, if you only enter your password once a day, your computer is open for viewing all day. If you get up and walk away for any length of time, wandering eyes can see whatever is in your computer. The best way to prevent this is to have your computer set to “lock” after a set number of minutes. This will make it so that when you return to your computer you have to re-enter your password when you are ready to access all that important information.

A day to day reality is that in a world of technology so much of our data can be intercepted with a simple move or click of a mouse. This fact should bring us to understanding that computer security and data protection are a real necessity. Ignoring this reality can be very risky.

Benefits News Roundup

Benefits News Roundup


Did You Know? Quick Facts about Social Security Administration Systems Features

Check out these quick tips on features of the Social Security Administration systems.


Technological Costs for Self-employed SSA Beneficiaries

People who are self-employed are increasingly dependent on the use of technology for both business tasks themselves and record maintenance. A self-employed Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) beneficiary or a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipient is often able to apply certain technological costs used in connection with their work activity as deductible expenses (as allowed by IRS) to arrive at their Net Earnings from Self Employment (NESE.) This is the amount that the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses in determining Trial Work Period (TWP) service months, Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), and countable earned income for SSI.

Computer hardware, software, and supplies and phone equipment are the kind of costs that may be declared as a capital expense or a business deduction if used in a self-employed person’s business. A capital expense is normally the cost of getting started in business before actually beginning operations. A person can then recover the amount spent through depreciation, amortization, or depletion which allows a deduction of part of the cost each year. A person may elect to deduct or amortize certain business start-up costs.

To be deductible as a business expense, an expense must be both ordinary (common and accepted in the business) and necessary (helpful and appropriate for the business.) An expense does not have to be indispensable to be considered necessary. Normally, if an expense is used partly for business and partly for personal purposes, the business part may be deductible.

For specific tax issues a beneficiary should consult with a tax advisor and/or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS.)

Also remember that for SSA programs, an expense may possibly be used as an Income Related Work Expense (IRWE) or for a Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS) but cannot be used more than once.


Did You Miss the BadgerCare Core Webcast?

Part I - BadgerCare Plus CORE and Basic Plan Information, presented by Claire Smith of the Division of Healthcare Access and Accountability at the WI Department of Health Services (34 minutes): http://dhsmedia.wi.gov/main/Viewer/?peid=6e911b23dcf54ca6b5375d25c38a8337

Disability Rights Wisconsin Updates February 2010

Disability Benefit Specialists … Check out the following updates from DRW:

Ben Spec

Aloha, from Kauai, Hawaii

Poor Ben...from sunny Hawii to trapped in D.C. - well, I guess we don't feel too bad since he did have Hawii first! Here's a recent question he received.

Dear Ben,

I receive SSDI based on my own work history (no SSI.) I’ve started a business making and selling jewelry. This is not a hobby, I plan on selling my jewelry at consignment shops and on my own at craft fairs around the state to make a profit. My question is, how does social security treat my self-employment income in deciding if I’m working substantially each month (above SGA)? Someone told me they just take my entire yearly income and divide by 12; is that right?

Jerry
Goodman, WI

Check out Ben's response in his blog! (Ask Ben a question: askben@eri-wi.org | Visit Ben's Blog )

Training and Educational Opportunities:


Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI) Trainings

The Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI) offers online training opportunities with preapproved CRC credits. Courses currently offered 2–3 times per year include the following:

Additional courses including vocational evaluation, cognitive disabilities, and job placement are in development. Please see the website at http://www.uwstout.edu/svri or contact April Pierson at piersona@uwstout.edu for dates, costs, and course descriptions.

2010 Rehabilitation & Transition Conference

Date: March 24–26, 2010.
Location: The American Club, Kohler, WI.
REGISTER TODAY as the Early Bird pricing is available through February 23rd only!

Hotel accommodations at The American Club starting at just $68!

A selection of featured speakers:

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Educators, mental health & DD professionals, job placement specialists, rehabilitation counselors, frontline workers, people with disabilities and their family members, and government staff concerned with improving education, community integration and work opportunities for all people.

Seven learning tracks in the areas of:
• Behavioral Health • Employment • Management • Transition • Legislative issues • Ethics • Hot Topics

Education Credits
Viterbo Master’s Credits, CEUs, and CRCs offered through UW-Stout.

The Rehabilitation & Transition Conference is sponsored by Rehabilitation for Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Rehabilitation Association.

APSE 21st Annual National Conference

Date: Tuesday, Jun 8 – Thursday, Jun 10, 2010.
Location: Loews Atlanta Hotel, Atlanta, GA.
The sponsors for this conference.
Register Now because the Discounted Early Bird Rate ends January 3, 2010.
Please contact Jenny at National APSE if you have any questions at jenny@apse.org or 804–278–9187.

National Summit on Disability Policy 2010 Website

National Council on Disability
Date: July 25–27, 2010
Location: Renaissance Hotel, Washington, DC

This event is hosted by the National Council on Disability. The theme, ADA 1990–2010 Retrospective and Future Policy Directions, will include a comprehensive dialogue to shape the national disability agenda.

Anyone hoping to become a delegate to the summit in July of 2010 should review the Website and complete the application as quickly as possible. A delegate selection will be done later this fall, but people should assure that they do not miss any deadlines.

ADA Audio Conference Series

The National Network of DBTAC-Regional ADA Centers is pleased to announce that registration is open for the 2009–2010 ADA Audio Conference Series.

Visit the website at www.ada-audio.org and click on the ADA Audio Conference Series, to view the complete schedule for 2009–2010 and register for sessions.

The 2009–2010 series will begin with a session on October 20th 2009 on the ADA Amendments Act Proposed Rules – Q&A with EEOC.

If you have questions regarding the series, please contact us at gldbtac@uic.edu or call our toll free number at 877–ADA–1990 (V/TTY) or 877–232–1990 (V/TTY).

Ongoing Training:

| Back to Top |