World Institute on Disability

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World Institute on Disability
The World Institute on Disability (WID) is a
nonprofit research, public policy, and advocacy
center dedicated to promoting independence and
full societal inclusion of people with
disabilities.
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WIDs Access to Assets Program
Access to Assets (ATA) bridges the asset-building
and disability communities to improve the
economic status of individuals with
disabilities. Toll-Free Information Hotline
18667231201
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Access to Assets Program Services

• Training and technical assistance to the
  asset-building community
• Asset development outreach to the disability
  community
• Information and referral for individuals with
  disabilities seeking services
• Federal and state policy analysis to improve
  inclusion in poverty reduction programs
• EQUITY e-newsletter

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The Asset Development Toolbox

• Banking the Unbanked
• Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
• Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS)
• Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)
• 250 Working Disabled Program
• Special Needs Pooled Trusts

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Banking the Unbanked

• Save 3-5 of gross income
• Avoidance of payday lenders
• Access to low cost checking and saving accounts
• Free bill pay

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Individual Development Accounts

• What are IDAs?
• Matched savings accounts
• Save for education, homeownership, or starting
  their own business
• Accountholders typically receive financial
  education and counseling
• Who Qualifies for an Individual Development
  Account?
• earned income
• 200 of poverty level
• Other requirements (vary by program)

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IDAs Public Benefits The Rules

• Federally Funded
• AFIA or TANF
• Earned Income
• 200 of the Poverty Level
• Save for Big 3
• Not affect asset limits

• Non-Federally Funded
• State or Private
• More flexibility on income level, assets allowed
  what counts as a contribution
• Counts towards SSI Asset Limits

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Earned Income Tax Credit
2007 Center on Budget Policy Priorities EIC
Outreach Kit
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EITC

• Impact of Earned Income Tax Credit on eligibility
  for other benefits
• Federal law generally excludes counting EITC as
  additional income in determining eligibility for
  other federal public benefits, including SSI,
  Medicaid, Veterans Benefits, Head Start, etc.
• EITC refunds are not considered employment income
  and have no impact on substantial gainful
  activity (SGA) levels
• For resource testing, generally EITC and CTC
  refunds, if saved, are not counted toward dollar
  limits on resources during the month received and
  the following month
• For SSI purposes, EITC and CTC refunds are
  excluded from resources for nine months following
  the month the refund is received

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Family Self-Sufficiency Program

• Eligibility
• HUD Housing Choice Voucher recipients
• Earned Income
• Requirements
• Financial Literacy Classes
• 5 year FSS contract
• Seek and maintain employment
• Become independent of welfare
• Advantages
• Money from voucher placed in escrow account
• No limitations on usage of money

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Plan for Achieving Self-Support

• Purpose
• Assist SSI recipients in obtaining items,
  services, or skills for employment needs
• Requirements
• written plan
• vocational goal
• reasonable time frame for meeting a vocational
  goal
• explanation of the necessary expenses
• Advantages
• Work and receive SSI
• Save and Build assets for employment goals

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250 California Working Disabled Program

• Provides full scope Medi-Cal to disabled
  individuals who work and have income that is too
  high to qualify for other Medi-Cal categories.
• You can have up to 250 of the Federal Poverty
  Level in countable income.
• Enrollees pay a monthly, sliding-scale premium
  for this health coverage.
• You don't have to be using SSI, SSDI or any other
  benefit program to qualify.

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Special Needs Trusts

• A SNT makes it possible to appoint a trustee to
  maintain assets and retain or qualify for public
  assistance benefits.
• 3 Types
• Family-Type Special Needs Trusts
• Court Ordered Special Needs Trust
• Pooled Special Needs Trust

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Barriers to Asset Building Inclusion...

• Earned Income restriction
• Lack of Program Physical Accessibility
• Limited Use of Funds
• Asset Tests for Public Benefits Programs
• Limited Program Availability

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State or FederalAsset Tests

• STATE
• Medicaid Medicaid Buy-In programs
• TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
• Food Stamps (only eligibility)

• FEDERAL
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Food Stamps (not receiving TANF funds)
• Housing Programs SSDI have no asset restriction

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WIDs Access to Assets EQUITY NEWSLETTER
EQUITY disseminates education and advice about
disability issues to the asset-building community
while simultaneously offering information about
Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) and other
asset-building strategies to the disability
community. To subscribe, email equity_at_wid.org
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WID Access to Assets Program Contacts

• Kathy Martinez, Executive Director
  kathy_at_wid.org, 510-251-4326
• Thomas Foley, Access to Assets Project Manager
  tom_at_wid.org, 510-251-4312
• Toll-Free Information Hotline
• 1-866-723-1201