Sheri R. Abrams's Blog, page 22
July 13, 2016
New Intake Information for Services for Persons in Fairfax Virginia with Developmental (Including Intellectual) Disabilities
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board is now the point of entry to apply for services for residents of Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church who have developmental (including intellectual) disabilities.
The term “developmental disability” is now understood to include “intellectual disability,” as well as autism and other developmental disabilities.
To learn more about the application process and to schedule an appointment please call 703-324-4400 to contact an...
July 7, 2016
What is the Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act & How Will it Affect Me in Virginia?
On October 1, 2016, Maryland’s Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act will come into effect, thereby giving a fiduciary (i.e., personal representative, guardian, agent or trustee) the ability to request access to a person’s digital assets in certain circumstances. Digital Assets is defined as “an electronic record in which an individual has a right or interest.” The Act allows an individual to direct whether their digital content is disclosed, to whom and to what extent. This authority can be...
July 6, 2016
Richmond payee service investigated for fraud involving seniors and the disabled
Article byKelly Avellino of WWBT NBC12 News
Henrico Police are investigating a Richmond payee company for potential fraudinvolving senior citizens and disabled clients.
Crossroads Inc. is a payee service that accepts Social Security and disability checks on behalf of clientswho are unable to manage money for themselves.
Family members tell us Crossroads would then pay their clients’ bills and makes sure they have access to funds.
Relatives tell NBC12 that Crossroads Inc. has unexpectedly clos...
June 28, 2016
Can a person get both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability benefits (SSDI) based on their disability?
Many people eligible for Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) may also be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
The disability decision for one program is the same for the other, but a claimant must meet additional resource and income limits to qualify for SSI benefits.
Learn all about SSI and who may qualify by reading the publication, You May Be Able To Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.
Posted by Sheri R. Abrams, Attorney at Law, Fairfax...
June 27, 2016
The Disabled Military Child Protection Act is Great For Virginia Military Families
The Disabled Military Child Protection Act allows Virginia military families with special needs children to protect their children’s eligibility for public benefits while allowing them to participate in their Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP).
The military’s Survivor Benefit Plans permit monthly benefit stipends, up to 55% of the military member’s pension, to be paid for the benefit of a disabled child.Before theimplementationof this Act, benefits were required to be paid directly to thedisabled...
June 22, 2016
Only a Small Increase in Social Security Benefits Expected Next Year
Millions of Social Security beneficiaries can expect only a very small increase in monthly payments next year, the trustees who oversee the retirement and disability program said Wednesday.
The projected 0.2 percent increase in Social Security payments would come a year after beneficiaries received no increase.
By law, increases are based on a government measure of inflation, which has been low.
More than 60 million retirees, disabled workers, spouses and surviving children receive Social Sec...
June 20, 2016
Federal Government Finalizes New Health Care Disability Discrimination Rules
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released final rules implementing the Affordable Care Acts anti-discrimination protections, clarifying and expanding on the obligations of health care providers to accommodate patients with disabilities.
Passed in 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) bars health care providers with 15 or more employees from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability and sex, including discrimination based on pregnancy, gend...
May 17, 2016
Invitation for the YouthACT Transition Truths National Online Dialogue
Press Release:
Are you a young person with a disability or an ally of the disability community? There is an important conversation going on about what youth and young adults with disabilities need to become successful adults, and we’re asking you to join us!
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth warmly invites you to participate in our YouthACT Transition Truths National Online Dialogue...
April 25, 2016
In Virginia do I automatically receive Medicare if I get Social Security Disability Benefits?
I am asked this question frequently:
Do I automatically receive Medicare benefits if I’m approved for Social Security Disability benefits?
Answer: Yes, you receive Medicare after you receive Social Security Disability Benefits for 24 months. When you become eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits, the Social Security Administration will automatically enroll you in Medicare. Social Security will start counting the 24 months from the month you were entitled to receive disability benefi...
April 14, 2016
Good News For Those in Virginia With Disabilities and Student Loans
As part of my practice I assist those with disabilities get their student loan debt forgiven. It has now gotten much easier.
On Tuesday, 4/12/16, the Department of Education announced a new program that will identify hundreds of thousands of borrowers who are eligible to apply for federal student loan forgiveness.
To qualify for this program you must be receiving Social Security Disability benefits and be deemed permanently disabled and unable to ever work again.
Starting on April 18, 2016,...
