Vol. 8, Issue 37, April, 2010
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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
Make 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.
2010 – Back to Basics in 2010: Health Insurance Tutorial Track (DBS & WIBS Only)
The WDBN invites you to enroll in the Back to Basics in 2010: Health Insurance Tutorial Online course. This course is only for DBS and WIBS.
This is an asynchronous, on demand training. This means you can choose which modules you want to take and complete them at your own pace. This course will be open for completion for the remainder of the year.
This first segment of the course focuses on Health Insurance. Topics such as Categorically Needy Medicaid, Medically Needy Medicaid and MAPP are just a few of the modules. Additional modules will be added to the course as those are developed throughout the rest of 2010.
The first round of registration will only be open until April 29, 2010. After you register, you will receive a username, password and instructions to access the training via email.
Watch for information on how to register coming soon!
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!!
Regional Workgroups (WIBS Only)
Join your Work Incentive Benefits Specialist peers for a regional workgroup meeting.
Make sure to take advantage of this small group setting time to discuss any current cases, ask questions and work through real life scenarios! This will be a great opportunity to come together to problem solve and share experiences!
We will be focusing on the topic of Health Insurance and putting our knowledge to the test as we work through various activities.
These workgroups are being offered in four (4) locations. If you cannot make it to the group nearest to you, feel free to attend one of the other meetings. The same topic, activities and information will be offered at each workgroup.
June 8, 2010 – Appleton, WI – from 10am to 2pm with a working lunch provided
Country Inn and Suites
355 Fox River Drive
Appleton, WI 54913
1-800-596-2375 or 920-830-3240
http://www.countryinns.com/appletonwi
June 9, 2010 – Milwaukee, WI – from 10am to 2pm with a working lunch provided
M&I University – South Building – Room 112
401 North Executive Drive
Brookfield, WI 53005
June 10, 2010 – Madison, WI – from 10am to 2pm with a working lunch provided
Warner Park Community Recreation Center – Meeting Room
1625 Northport Drive
Madison, WI 53704
1-608-245-3694
http://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/warnerpark/
June 10, 2010 – Eau Claire – from 10am to 2pm with a working lunch provided
Galloway Grill – Back room reserved for meeting
409 Galloway Street
Eau Claire, WI 54703
1-715-514-0751
http://www.gallowaygrille.com/
Make sure to watch for your invitation to register for one of the workgroups coming soon!!
***All topics and time/dates are subject to change. Please make sure to check back for updates and additional information.***
Find more training information and updates on the Training webpage.
What's New
What's Your Opinion?
There are many misconceptions about Work Incentives Benefits Counseling. We want to hear from the consumers, benefits specialists, and stakeholders what your opinions are. Here are some of the things we have heard.
- Work Incentives benefits counseling is a disincentive to working because people find out they will lose their benefits when they work.
- People are less likely to work if they receive benefits counseling because the information is too confusing.
- Some work incentive benefits specialists are counseling people not to work in the process.
Let’s generate a conversation to addressed some of these issues. We want to hear from you. Do you agree with these statements? What can benefits specialist do to dispel the myths? Let us know about your experiences with work incentives benefits counseling. How can this service assist with employment goals and achievements?
We have started a discussion in the Benefits Talk Ning Group. Putting your comments and sharing your stories here will give you an opportunity to have your voice by some of the major players in supportive employment. Let’s join Benefits Talk!
Helping People with Disabilities in a Unique Way
The
Wisconsin Pooled and Community Trust program (WisPACT) allows
for people with disabilities to place assets in a trust allowing those assets
to be exempt from being counted by such programs as Supplemental Security Income
and Medical Assistance. This can safeguard those and other government benefits
and placement on government waiting lists while having those assets available
for the person with a disability who needs them. Parents, and others-including
individuals with disabilities, can place money and other assets into a trust
account, which is pooled with other people’s funds,
and is invested and managed by a professional trustee. Trust funds can be used
to improve and maintain the quality of life and independence of people with
disabilities, again without jeopardizing eligibility for many government programs.
Under this program, a person with a disability no longer needs to face the difficult choice of either spending an asset or having an additional source of income beyond a government disability payment or become ineligible for important government benefits. With WisPACT the asset can be saved and used when needed for the beneficiary’s well-being. Trusts can be opened with as little as $750 in the account and there are numerous features that are described further at the WisPACT website. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact the WisPACT Executive Director, Jack Longert, at (608) 268-6006 x201 or jlongert@wispact.org. He can explain the process and program in more detail.
See WisPACT Document for more information.
Health Insurance Reform
On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordability Act. This health reform legislation has many people wondering – how will this affect me. For many of us, we might be thinking – how will this affect the people I provide services to?
As early as this year, there will be coverage for people with pre-existing coverage through high risk pools. This could become a part of the existing HIRSP program. More information will be available at an upcoming webcast.
Stay educated and informed - Below are some resources that outline information about the new law, including timelines for implementation.
Health Reform.gov: www.healthreform.gov
Kaiser Family Foundation Overview: http://healthreform.kff.org/
Kaiser Family Foundation Timeline: http://www.kff.org/healthreform/8060.cfm
A Medicaid Purchase Plan (MAPP) Success Story
An ES Worker from Sheboygan County referred Tracy to a MAPP/HEC Specialist. Tracy has Multiple Sclerosis and suffered a setback requiring intensive treatments. Tracy is receiving SSDI but is still in the two-year waiting period for Medicare. She was in need of health insurance to help pay for the necessary treatments in order to improve her health status. After being on HEC for six months, she worked out an in-kind work agreement with her mom, which was approved by the County. Tracy’s health continues to improve. She is able to focus on other goals. Tracy plans to continue her education to complete her art degree. Tracy also looks forward to finding employment in an art museum, local art center or hair salon.
Why Belong to a Professional Association
By the WIBSA leadership implementation team:
Char Guehrer, Milwaukee
Ethan Hayes, Independent Living Resources, Lacrosse
Terri Lannan, DHS, Madison
Jolene Wanek, Employment Resources, Inc., Madison
All Wisconsin work incentive benefit specialists (WIBS) now have the opportunity to be a part of the growth and development of a professional association focused on the issues and needs of work incentive benefits professionals. All of us have constraints on our time and resources so justifying the commitment it takes to contribute to an association can be difficult. Here are just a few reasons why belonging to a professional association strengthens you both professionally and personally.
Many are stronger than few
The word “profession” at its very core implies belonging and a group culture. Many professions have gained stature and position by having individual practitioners choose to connect with each other and share resources to build a stronger future: by identifying useful practices and methods, developing standards of professionalism, building a stronger future for the profession and documenting its legacy, and giving voice to the profession’s goals and values.
The Wisconsin Work Incentive Benefits Specialist Association (WIBSA) hopes to builds a professional identity by creating a community with strong social ties—online and offline—and by articulating the standards of professional practice developed by community/association members. By uniting as professionals we can speak as a unified group with common goals and outcomes.
Trust and trustworthiness stem from shared connections and expectations
When there is a strong sense of shared and mutual obligation, there is a greater likelihood that professionals will treat their colleagues and competitors with the kind of respect that they wish to receive.
The purpose of WIBSA is not only to create a community and develop connections among members, but to also encourage members to articulate and observe the standards by which they would like to operate, both individually and collectively. While WIBSA seeks to provide an authoritative voice on standards, it is actually the strength of the members of the community that gives those standards authority. The standards are only effective if each member of the community acts in accordance with them, trusting that all WIBS will honor the same code of conduct.
Professional codes of ethics are projected by the group to society at large
An association is an expression of the profession: it codifies and projects the attributes identified as valuable by members. The resulting benefit is a better public understanding of what WIBS do, why it is valuable, and what the expected standards of professionalism should be.
We sometimes forget how young the work incentive benefits counseling profession is. For WIBSA, this creates a special responsibility to encourage its members to commit his or her strengths to enhance the growth of the profession and success of all WIBS, not only themselves.
For those of you who have already joined WIBSA, on behalf of the implementation team, we sincerely thank you for your support and look forward to your contributions. And for those of you who are not currently members, consider how your contributions could strengthen our profession today and in the future: join the Wisconsin Work Incentive Benefits Specialist Association (WIBSA). Registration is open to Work Incentives Benefits Specialists. If you haven’t registered yet, Register Today. Registration is open until April 30th and Elections are coming soon!
More information on Election Nominations.
Cool Resources
Medicaid Eligibility Handbook Updates
The Medicaid Eligibility Handbook updates and adds information about how certain income tax refunds and credits are treated as income and assets.
- Income Tax Refunds - (15.5.8) The updated text in 15.5.8 makes it clear that income tax refunds are disregarded income. There was no change in how Federal and State income tax refunds are counted as assets. They are considered available assets (16.7.7).
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) - (15.5.16) The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is disregarded as income (15.5.16). The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) used to be excluded as an asset for only the month in which it was received and the following month. The MEH update 10-01 changes this rule. The EITC is now excluded as an asset in the month in which it is received and the following 9 months. The amount left after those months is counted as an asset (16.7.8).
- Make Work Pay - (15.5.17) Make Work Pay payments are disregarded as income (15.5.17). Any Make Work Pay payments that an individual receives will be excluded as an asset for the month they are received and for the following two months (16.7.24).
- Special Tax Credits for Certain Government Retirees - (15.5.18) These payments are disregarded as income (15.5.18). Special Tax Credits for Certain Government Retirees are excluded as assets in the month in which they are received and for the following two months (16.7.33).
- First Time Home Buyer’s Tax Credits - (15.4.20) The update also states that the First Time Home Buyer’s Tax Credits do count as unearned income in the month in which they are received by the Medicaid member (15.4.20). The amount of the First Time Home Buyer’s Tax Credit that is remaining after the month in which it is received will count as an asset (16.7.32).
- Medicare Savings Programs - (32.6) You may be familiar with Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) as the Medicare Buy-Ins. You know… QMB, SLMB, SLMB+ and the infamous QDWI. In an effort to align with the language used by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Wisconsin changed the name of these programs officially in the Medicaid Eligibility Handbook.
- Asset Levels Have Increased: Also important, the asset levels have increased. You can see this in the MEH in section 32.6. The asset limits match those of the Low Income Subsidy asset limits for QMB, SLMB and SLMB+ - $6,600 for an individual and $9,910 for a couple. The original asset limits remain for QDWI - $4,000 for an individual and $6,000 for a couple.
- Quick MSP refresher:
- QMB pays all Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles and co-insurance.
- SLMB & SLMB+ pay Medicare Part B premiums ONLY.
- QDWI pays Medicare Part A premiums.
Not signed up for MEH updates? Sign up for Medicaid Eligibility Handbook Updates.
Social Security News
- Social Security shares resources with individuals applying for disability. The website www.healthfinder.gov is specifically highlighted as a helpful resource. View the announcement.
- This just in! Bob Monahan, Area Work Incentive Coordinator, for Social Security sent the updated Work Incentive Liaison contact list. Download a copy of the WIL Contact List.
- The Benefits Offset National Demonstration Project (BOND) is coming soon. As many of you know, Social Security has contracted with Abt and Associates to continue the study of a benefit offset for individuals receiving SSDI who are working. This project is scheduled to begin in the next year. Recently, there has been incorrect information published about the locations for the pilot. Wisconsin professionals and beneficiaries should note that it will not take place in the whole State of Wisconsin. The pilot will only be located in the Chicago Region Area 2 portion of Wisconsin. This means that counties covered by the Superior office are not included. The excluded counties include Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Sawyer and Washburn. Download a fact sheet on the Social Security Website.
Benefits News Roundup
Dual Entitlement: DIB and DAC
When a beneficiary receives two different types of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), it is called dual entitlement, which often involves different initial entitlement dates creating different periods of entitlement for the beneficiary.
When a beneficiary is simultaneously entitled to two or more SSDI benefits, he or she is entitled to a separate Trial Work Period (TWP) on each entitlement or record. If SSA has already charged a beneficiary with TWP service months on one record, and then the beneficiary becomes entitled on another record, the TWP months from the first record cannot be charged to the subsequent record. (POMS DI 13010.035H).
For instance, take someone who is entitled to Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) based on his/her own record and has used all nine TWP months; if the person becomes entitled to Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB or DAC), he/she will still have nine TWP months to use as a CDB. If the DIB benefits stop due to Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), the CDB benefits will continue until nine TWP service months are used on that record. This means the beneficiary could be in separate work incentive categories: TWP on the CDB record and in the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) on the DIB.
As far at the payment amounts are concerned, in the above example the CDB amount is reduced by the amount of the DIB. So if the DIB amount is $400 and then the CDB is $1000, the beneficiary receives $400 on the DIB record and $600 on the CDB record. If the DIB benefit stops due to SGA so that nothing is payable on that record, the CDB amount is no longer reduced and is the full $1000; the beneficiary suffers no reduction. (POMS RS 00203.025B.1).
March 2010 DRW-DBS Program Updates.
SSI Savers Act of 2010 (H.R. 4937)
We are one step closer to reforming federal asset limits for millions of low-income Americans with disabilities.
On March 24th, Congresswoman Tsongas (D-MA), along with Congressman Petri (R-WI), introduced the SSI Savers Act of 2010 (H.R. 4937) proposing to reform the asset test in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, the primary provider of subsistence cash to extremely low-income individuals, seniors, and people with disabilities.
In general, eligibility for SSI is limited to those who have assets of $2,000 or less for an individual and $3,000 or less for a couple. The SSI test generally counts all resources deemed accessible to an individual, including defined-contribution retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s and IRAs, under the asset limit.
H.R. 4937 proposes to remove savings disincentives in SSI by:
- Raising the asset limit to $5,000 for single and $7,500 for joint tax filers and indexing these limits for inflation;
- Excluding retirement savings from inclusion in the asset test for noninstitutionalized individuals under the age of 65;
- Excluding savings in qualified retirement accounts below a specified ceiling of (indexed for inflation) $10,000 for an individual and $15,000 for a couple or household for noninstitutionalized individuals age 65 or older;
- Disregarding one third of the funds drawn down from retirement accounts when calculating household income for noninstitutionalized individuals age 65 or older;
- Removing the requirement that SSI recipients, if eligible, must apply for periodic payments from their retirement savings, and;
- Excluding Education Savings Accounts and Individual Development Accounts funded all or in part with federal dollars or defined in federal programs for those under age 65.
Track this Bill:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-4937
Take Action:
Urge your representative to support reforming the SSI asset test by co-sponsoring H.R. 4937.
ABLE Account Act of 2009 (H.R. 1205 and S. 493)
The ABLE Act of 2009 was introduced into both houses of the U.S. Congress on February 26, 2009. The purposes of the Act are:
- To encourage and assist individuals and families in saving private funds for the purpose of supporting individuals with disabilities to maintain health, independence, and quality of life.
- To provide secure funding for disability-related expenses on behalf of designated beneficiaries with disabilities that will supplement, but not supplant, benefits provided through private insurance, the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act, the supplemental security income program under title XVI of such Act, the beneficiary's employment, and other sources.
ABLE accounts would be tax-exempt, like a retirement account, as long as certain rules are met. The funds could be used for education, transportation, employment support, health, prevention, wellness, life necessities, and other approved expenses.
In the House of Representatives, the Act is H.R.1205. It was sponsored by Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla) and has 32 cosponsors. In the Senate the Act is S.493. It was sponsored by Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-Pa) and has 5 cosponsors. The bill will have to pass both houses of Congress and be signed by the President to become law.
Real Impact Overview:
Includes PowerPoint, FAQs and Sponsor information
http://www.realeconomicimpact.org/Public-Policy/ABLE-Act.aspx
Track this legislation:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-493
Take Action:
- House Bill H.R.1205 – Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009
- S.493 – Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2009
Ben Spec
Here's a clue on what Ben's been up to...here's a recent question he received recently:
Dear Ben,
I recently had a change to my benefits, and I am concerned about my Medicaid. I was getting SSI and a DAC payment concurrently. When my father passed away, my payment of $650 increased to $975. I am working and getting paid about $150 each month.
I was told that I would lose my Medicaid so I should apply at the county economic support office. I did this, but I was not put into a Special Status Medicaid Category as I had assumed I would. The office told me it has something to do with my shelter costs. My mother no longer makes me pay rent because I stopped receiving SSI. I was under the impression that paying shelter costs wouldn’t affect my Medicaid eligibility because it is no longer tied to SSI. Can you please explain to me why I am not eligible for EBD Medicaid with the DAC Special Status Disregard?
I have been enrolled in MAPP, and it’s free. This is great and I don’t mean to complain, but I am still confused about not being placed into the DAC Special Status Medicaid category.
Yours truly,
Sara of Melrose, 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:
Introduction to Disability Benefits
Back by Popular Demand! We will be offering the Introduction to Disability Benefits again starting on June 10, 2010. Tell anyone who is interested in learning the basics of Disability Benefits!!
Register for this Course
Cost to Participate: $259
Course Date: June 10, 2010 – August 6, 2010
Credits and Course Length: This course will take approximately 25 hours to complete. Upon successful completion of all assignments, 25 CRCs or 2.5 CEUs will be earned.
The University of Wisconsin-Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI) and Employment Resources, Inc. (ERI), are partnering to offer the first in a series of online courses, Introduction to Disability Benefits. Our online training series is designed to provide convenient, cost-effective learning opportunities that will accommodate your busy lifestyle as well as your individual learning style. This course was developed specifically for working professionals and is asynchronous which means there are no specific times to login. You can enjoy the flexibility of working on the course when it is convenient for you!
About the course: This course will provide an easy to understand overview of the most common federal benefit systems for people with disabilities such as Title II (SSDI & retirement), Title XVI (SSI), Medicare, Medicaid, TANF, SNAP, COBRA, etc. Participants will gain a basic understanding of the major benefits systems and Social Security work incentives individuals with disabilities can utilize in transitioning to work. The complexities of the various systems will be explored, as well as, the importance in providing accurate information to individuals in order for them to make informed decisions.
Successful completion of this course will not qualify participants as a work incentive benefits specialist.
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:
- Rehabilitation Ethics (fulfills CRC’s entire ethics requirement)
- Physical Disabilities
- Psychiatric Disabilities
- Working with Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- Vocational Services for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- CRC Exam Preparation Workshop
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.
Health Care Reform Bill Webcast
May 18 – 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Access information will be emailed soon!
Due to the volume of questions that have arisen since the health care reform bill was passed, we decided to schedule an additional webcast training on May 18th. Phoebe has reserved a webcast room for May 18th between 9-11.
Many of the provisions of the bill will not be going into effect for several years. We are hoping, however, to be able to offer some basics on the various timelines and to discuss what we know about the few items that will go into effect this year. We are hoping that by May 18th we will know how Wisconsin will be handling the expansion of high risk sharing pools (will this be done through the existing HIRSP program or a new program?). We are also hoping to have some answers as to whether or not the state legislature has approved the proposed BadgerCare+ Basic Plan for those on the CORE waitlist.
EBSs and WIBSs are invited to join us. We will forward the link to the webcast and handouts prior to the webcast.
Meds PDN Medicaid Training
Date: Thursday, May 20, 2010
Location: Sheraton Madison, 706 John Nolen Drive, Madison, WI 53713
Course & Registration Information
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:
- Wisconsin Employment and disability related training calendar – includes Wisconsin, National and Distance learning opportunities
- Money Smart Events: http://www.moneysmartwi.org/events
- Job Accommodation Network Upcoming Webcasts: http://www.jan.wvu.edu/webcast
- ERI Calendar of Events or Training Opportunities
- ADA Audio Conference Series 2009 & 2010: http://www.ada-audio.org
- Worksource Wisconsin Training Calendar
- Cornell University's Online Disability Related Training Calendar
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