Interactive information services on disability benefits and related - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

D ISABILITY , BENEFITS A ND W ORK U SING DB101 A S A P LANNING T OOL Alex Ghenis, Policy & Research Specialist

Interactive information services on disability benefits and related work rules Decision support tools when entering the workforce or changing jobs

3 C OMPRE SIVE I NFORM REHENSI ORMATION ON Disability Benefits 101: a one-stop resource with information and tools on government benefits programs and ways to earn and save while on benefits.

4 B ENEFITS FITS P LANNING NNING O BJECTIVES Accessible, real time information:  the right information  in the right hands  at the right time Jobs don’t wait around. Timely planning is critical.

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6 W EB ITE D ES ESIGN AND I NTENT EBSITE  Tools designed with state and local partners serve a range of statewide users.  Breadth and depth: measured, uniform levels of information across many areas engage wide range of stakeholders  The Basics and The Details: plain language text in consistent “registers” to explain legal information  Net result can be “light bulb moments” ~ Job planning using calculator tools can create “aha!” moments.

7 DB1 DB101 B EN ITS P LANNI ENEF EFIT NNING NG F EA EATURES ES  Users can log on to save their benefits situations & work goals  Safe and secure: no private identifying information requested  “Calculators” integrated with nearby DB101 articles  Focus on benefit program interactions with life situations  Capacity for multi-lingual services  Commitment to continuous improvement of services  Screen reader accessible by design

8 C O N S U M U M E R S A N D N D C O U N S E L O L O R S Consumers and family members can use DB101 on their own. In many situations, they will come to “my set of questions” and seek available, local counseling. Counselor use of online tools in everyday business increases the quality and availability of services:  Complex state, federal and private benefit program rules and interactions can be an uncertain topic area for counselors  DB101 can elevate the script, reduce individual counselor bias when applied across program and partner services

E ASY -T O -N AVIG IGATE

L O A D A D S O F O F I N F O R O R M A T IO N O N

L OADS OF I NFORMA DS OF RMATIO ION

12 SSI: Section 4 of 9

13 C LEARLY LY E XPLAIN AINS D IFFE FFERENT P ROGRAM AM R ULES ES Supplemental Security Income (SSI)  $771 fed rate + state extra: $931.72 in CA, $988.23 if blind  $1 reduction for every $2 earned (with $85 “disregard”)  $2000 asset limit ($3000 for a couple)  ABLE Accounts, Special Needs Trusts, etc. for asset limits Medi-Cal  State healthcare for low income & disabled individuals  $2000 asset & income limits ($16,753/year, single person)  Work programs include 250% Working Disabled Program, 1619(b), and more.  ABLE Accounts, Special Needs Trusts, etc. for asset limits

14 C LEARLY LY E XPLAIN AINS D IFFE FFERENT P ROGRAM AM R ULES ES

15 W O R K I N C E N E S G A L O L O R E ! E N T IV E S Work Incentives: programs which enable individuals to work and save while maintaining benefits. For example… Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program  Earn up to $61,740/year while keeping Medi-Cal & In- Home Supportive Services (IHSS)  Small monthly co-pay, on a sliding scale ABLE Accounts  Acquired disability before age 26  Save $100,000 & keep SSI, $300,000+ for Medi-Cal PASS Plans  Build up savings toward targeted, work-related goals

16 M AXIMI MIZING W ORK ORK I NCENTIV TIVES ES DB 101 Provides information & strategies to maximize income potential, benefits and work incentives. For example… “Countable income” is often used to determine eligibility, SSI/SSDI adjustments & Medi-Cal WDP co-pay  Countable income = Earned income – IRWEs – BWEs  Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE)  DB101 includes definition and an IRWE mini-calculator

17 C ALCULA TORS ! LATORS 1 2 3 4

18 M IN INI -C ALC LCULA LATORS TORS Mini-Calculators located throughout the website make an “interactive” experience and allow users to understand their current and future situations, looking at work and income.  SSI and work  Medi-Cal Working Disabled program copay  Countable income & countable earnings for SSI, SSDI, Medi-Cal and more

19 SSI SSI M M IN INI -C ALCULA LATOR TOR

20 SSI SSI M M IN INI -C ALCULA LATOR TOR “Impairment-Related Work Expenses”???

21 SSI SSI M M IN I -C A L A L C U L A T A T O R

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23 B ENEFITS FITS & W & W ORK ORK C ALCULATOR Consumers can lay out their current benefits, income & expenses – then create a plan for success!  Enter current situation: benefits, income, general living expenses and disability–related expenses  Creating a plan: hourly & monthly pay, and work goals  Enter other vital information: potential impairment-related work expenses (IRWE), blind work expenses (BWE), etc.  Links to info, counseling/government resources & mini-calculators  Calculator provides an outlook of future earnings, work incentives & benefits: now, 6 months out and 2 years out  Can create a username and save info & plans for later.  Easy-to-understand information through the process!

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27 Current Status

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30 Your Plan

31 “Help Me Calculate This”

32 Job & Income Details

33 Results!

34 Disability Benefits 101: a one-stop resource with information and tools on government benefits programs and ways to earn and save while on benefits. http://www.db101.org

Q & A

F OR M ORE I NFORMATION : Alex Ghenis alex@wid.org World Institute on Disability http://www.wid.org