The Journey to Community Housing with Supports

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THE JOURNEY TO COMMUNITY HOUSING WITH SUPPORTS

5SING0RIVATE2ESOURCES EMPLOYMENT

ACHIEVING A BETTER LIFE EXPERIENCE (ABLE) ACT The ABLE Act establishes an additional way to save funds for an individual with a disability without jeopardizing some government means-tested benefits. The ABLE Act was passed by Congress in late 2014. In addition to the federal passage of the bill (NJ approved 1/11/2016 P.L.2015,c.185), each state must pass legislation to authorize its guidelines for ABLE Act provisions to be effective in that state. These regulations will more clearly define the benefits and limitation of ABLE accounts. An ABLE account must be established for the benefit of an individual with a disability that manifests itself before age 26. The funds must belong to the individual or their parents, family, or friends. Funds in an ABLE account grow tax-free and funds used from an ABLE account are not taxed so long as they are used for qualified expenses including housing, education, transportation, healthcare, employment supports, therapies, and other similar expenses. Deposits into an ABLE account are limited to $14,000 per year. If the account exceeds $100,000, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will be suspended until the account balance is below $100,000. Funds in ABLE account are subject to a payback to the State for any amount paid for medical benefits after the funding of the ABLE account.

Employment is another important way to increase income and afford independent housing. In April of 2012, Governor Christie announced that New Jersey would be the 14th state to adopt the “Employment First” initiative. The Employment First initiative requires state government to eliminate barriers or practices that prevent persons with physical, developmental, and mental disabilities from being employed and is intended to increase the employment opportunities available to persons with disabilities. Both the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Department of Human Services are tasked with implementing the goals of the Employment First initiative and encouraging private sector employers to improve their efforts to hire persons with disabilities. Competitive employment after high school is the first and preferred activity for everyone, including people with disabilities. Vocational services such as career counseling, job training and losing their benefits, New Jersey’s Medicaid Buy-in Program, NJ WorkAbility, and the Social Security Administration’s Work Incentive programs allow individuals with disabilities to earn more income and still keep their Medicaid benefits. For an overview of the Social Security Administration’s Work Incentives, as they pertain to both SSI and SSDI cash and healthcare benefits go to WWWNJGOVHUMANSERVICESDDD DOCUMENTSSECTION?B?FACTSHEETPDF For information about the NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, go to: WWWCAREERCONNECTIONS NJGOVCAREERCONNECTIONSPLANFORYOUDISABLE VOCATIONAL?REHABILITATION?SERVICESSHTML The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVRS) publishes a Case Services Manual. This guide describes the policies and procedures involved with access vocational services from DVRS. www. CAREERCONNECTIONSNJGOVCAREERCONNECTIONSDOCUMENT PLAN$62?#30-?PDF

It is imperative that families create a comprehensive plan to prepare for the future of an individual with a disability. When establishing an estate plan for a person with special needs, it is advisable to seek the advice of an attorney or financial advisor who has specific expertise in this area of the law.

National Disability Institute: For more information about The ABLE Act visit AUTISMNJORG or WWWREALECONOMICIMPACTORGNEWSID ABLE National Resource Center: WWWABLENRCORG WWWABLENRCORG

INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS (IDA)

In order to save money that may be used to support housing, the Individual Development Accounts Program may help. Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) are matched savings accounts designed to help families of low income and low wealth to accumulate assets of a few thousand dollars to fund investments in their education, homeownership and small business ownership.

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