Moving from SSI to SSDI When a Parent Retires

From Colleen Horton, Program Officer, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, The University of Texas at Austin, Rosemary Alexander, TxP2P Staff, and Debbie Luzzo, TxP2P Parent and Realtor.

I have received a number of calls over the past year from families who have been told that their adult child is no longer eligible for Medicaid when they go from receiving SSI to SSDI. SSI is the Supplemental Security Income for folks with disabilities with low income. Many individuals with disabilities access Medicaid through their SSI eligibility. As parents begin to retire, their "adult child with a disability" often becomes eligible for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) which typically has a higher monthly stipend than SSI. When they lose SSI (can’t receive both SSI and SSDI) they are sometimes told that their family member is no longer eligible for Medicaid because their income is now too high. The fear of losing Medicaid eligibility can cause a family significant stress as there is a two-year wait to receive Medicare services (health coverage available through SSDI).

This is not true. There is a provision in federal law referred to as the "Pickle Amendment" – named after our own Congressman Jake Pickle. This amendment states that if an individual’s monthly income is over the SSI limit simply because they went from receiving the SSI stipend to the higher SSDI stipend, they maintain their eligibility for Medicaid. This is extremely important to know because, as stated earlier, the Medicare coverage under SSDI has a two year waiting period. Read two stories HERE of two parents’ experiences with this important process.

Nominate an educator for a $1,500 gift!

The Mary Claire Phipps Award for Excellence in Education, given annually by The Arc of Dallas, recognizes an education professional who exhibits exceptional dedication to making a difference in the lives of students with intellectual disabilities. The award is $1,500, with a matching gift going to the classroom.

Download the nomination form by clicking HERE.

Announcing a new EXPO!

The Arc of Dallas is excited to partner with seven school districts to bring the first ever EXPO-SOUTH. We are happy to offer this resource fair to families, caregivers and professionals in a new location.

The EXPO will take place on November 6th, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm at Duncanville High School.

Over 80 exhibitors are expected at this event, which includes fun activities for kids and informative sessions and panel discussions!

The following topics will be covered in sessions:

1:15-2:00 pm
“Social Security Income”
Bryan Trevino

2:15-3:00 pm

“Life Planning: Guardianship & Special Needs Trust”
TJ Kroehle

3:15-4:00 pm

“State Assesment & Graduation Requirements”
Rosemary Manges, Cindy Pierce

*Want to be an exhibitor? Contact pr@arcdallas.org.

Last Call for FINDS Survey

The Arc has developed a national initiative to tap into the knowledge and perspectives of individuals and families within the intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) community. This effort, which launched in July, will be coming to a close on October 31st, 2010.

The purpose of this survey is to capture the perceptions of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages,and their families, on issues concerning disability support needs across the life spectrum. Responses will be used to help inform disability organizations, services, policy, and public perceptions on issues related to disability supports that you or your family member has now, needs or is anticipated to need in the future. Your answers will remain completely anonymous and confidential.

Please take a moment to complete this survey. The Arc of Dallas fully supports this initative to bring improved services to our community!

To access the survey, click HERE.

We thank you for your input!.

Action Alert: Write Letters to Governor's Staff by October 15, 2010

The Arc of Texas collected 30 letters over the past three days!

We need more letters—take a few minutes to write your letter today!
Your letters will be read by key legislative staff and members—those who are directly responsible for drafting the state’s budget for the next two years (Fiscal Years 2012-2013).
As of today, state agencies have submitted proposed budgets (“Legislative Appropriations Requests”) to the state’s leadership. Those proposed budgets help key members write the next state budget for 2012-2013.

The Arc of Texas is especially concerned with the proposed budget submitted by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) because it does not include funds to serve 13,368 individuals who are currently receiving Medicaid Waiver services or expected to receive Medicaid Waiver services by the end of FY11. [DADS is not at fault; they were simply following budget writing instructions from leadership offices.] However, the Legislature must fund DADS Exceptional Items #1, 2 and 3 (“wish list” items outside the proposed budget) in order to MAINTAIN CURRENT SERVICES. If these items are not funded, over 13,000 are at risk of losing the precious community based services and supports they receive through the Medicaid Waiver Programs. The next section in this alert provides pointers on writing your letter.

If you are a self advocate or would like to assist self-advocates in writing their own letter, Texas Advocates prepared a form letter you might find helpful. Click here: Letter .

Write Letters to Governor’s Staff by October 15, 2010

DADS Legislative Appropriations Request— the agency baseline request DOES NOT include funds to serve 13,368 individuals who are currently receiving Medicaid Waiver Program and other community-based services or expected to receive services by the end of FY11.

OUR MESSAGE:
“Maintain current DADS services!! Fund DADS Exceptional Items 1, 2 AND 3! Any cuts to DADS services would be DEVASTATING to individuals and families.”

Information to include in your letter:

• Your name and address
  
• Your affiliation with The Arc of Texas (i.e. “I have been a volunteer with The Arc of Texas for 25 years…”)
  
• How long you or your loved one was on the waiting list.
  
• What life was like for you/your loved one during the waiting period (details are important here!)
  
• What program you/your loved one currently receives.
  
• How the program services and supports make your/your loved one’s life more meaningful (details are important here!)
  
• Describe what you/your loved one would have to endure if services were cut after having waited so long; how devastating would it be to you/your loved one (i.e. it would be devastating AND I would go into a more expensive institution, lose my job, lose my home, lose my marriage)

Address your letter to Katherine Yoder (Katherine.Yoder@governor.state.tx.us). In addition, send a copy of your letter to Amy Mizcles at amizcles@thearcoftexas.org.

Call for Advocates!

Update: Restraint and Seclusion

Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) introduced The Keeping All Kids Safe Act, S 3895, an updated version of his earlier bill (S. 2860). Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) is a co-sponsor of S. 3895. The updated version of the bill would allow school districts to include restraint and seclusion in individual education programs (IEPs) only if students had a two-year history of dangerous behaviors that could result in serious bodily injury and a functional behavioral assessment and behavioral intervention plan were developed and implemented by professionals. The bill would prohibit all chemical and mechanical restraints and restraints that restrict breathing. The bill was referred to the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

How Do We Discus This Calmly?

I have been with The Arc for around a quarter of a century and I don’t remember every going into a State of Texas Legislative session without repeating the mantra of “more funding for more and better services.” What else could we say when families and individuals were looking at 10 year-long waiting lists and minimal levels of services and supports.

Well, this year with billions of dollars in short-falls we are hearing of the very real possibility of service cuts and a stops to most efforts for waiting lists reductions. Remember that programs such as Home and Community Based Waivers (HCS) and CLASS are not entitlement programs such as State Supported Living Centers (State Schools) and Medicaid. In other words the State is not compelled or required to provide the service just because a person is eligible.

The Arc will do its best to keep everyone informed as the budget process proceeds. But if you want to become part of the solution please email your contact information to info@arcdallas.org with “Advocacy” in the subject line. The people with disabilities who we care about need “action” not “ah shucks”. They need a core group who will respond to action alerts with calls, letters, visits or email.

To read another perspective on the situation, please click HERE.