Programmatic Differences for Individuals Who are Blind (Refresher Region IV)

Description of training:

This 2-part series is designed for Benefits Planners, to enhance awareness of the regulatory differences in both the Title II disability program and the SSI program for beneficiaries who are blind.

Participants will benefit most from this material if they already have a good basic understanding of the Social Security and SSI work incentives as they apply to beneficiaries who are not blind. Part 1 will discuss how work incentives differ for blind beneficiaries, and part 2 will discuss blindness and SSI.

Highlights for Part 1:

• What is blindness under the Social Security disability program?
• How does a blind worker become insured for benefits?
• How do Substantial Gainful Activity determinations differ for blind beneficiaries?
• How do the self-employment work incentives apply to businesses started with the help of VR and the Randolph-Shepherd vending program?
• What happens to benefits if a blind beneficiary who is over age 55performs SGA?
• How does the disability freeze affect reentitlement for blind beneficiaries?

Highlights for Part 2:

• What makes someone eligible for SSI as a blind individual?
• How do Blind Work Expenses differ from IRWE?
• How does an easier standard for insured status for blind individuals affect SSI eligibility?
• How can a blind beneficiary make effective use of a PASS?

Presenters Bios:

Terri Uttermohlen has extensive experience using, teaching, and administering the Social Security Disability work incentive programs. Currently, she is a Technical Assistance Liaison with Virginia Commonwealth University’s Benefits Assistance Resource Center. In this position, Terri provides training and technical assistance as part of a nationwide Benefits Planning and Outreach program. Prior to her move to VCU, Terri designed and coordinated statewide training, technical assistance, and curriculum development for Wisconsin’s State Partnership Initiative project. Terri holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from University of Wisconsin, Madison, and has completed extensive post-masters work in Social Welfare issues. A dynamic presenter and writer, Terri has provided training and conference presentations in many venues. From 1982 to 1991, Terri was an employee of the Social Security Administration, both as a Service Representative and a Claims Representative in Philadelphia, rural Pennsylvania, and in the Chicago metropolitan area. As a person with a disability, Terri’s knowledge of the work incentives is both personal and professional. In the past, she has used the work incentives to assist her in achieving educational or work goals, eventually eliminating the need for benefits. She has assisted many Benefit Specialists in helping their consumers do the same.

Jim McCarthy is a blind lawyer who presently serves as the director of Governmental affairs for the National Federation of the Blind, this nation’s largest organization of blind people. In this position he advocates for changes in federal law to promote expanded opportunities and greater equality for all blind people. He also represents blind individuals who require assistance resolving disputes with state and federal government agencies including the Social Security Administration.

Though Jim’s work today focuses on the unique disability benefit rules applied to people who are blind, he is no stranger to the vast array of disability benefit programs that apply to other individuals with disabilities. Jim first began providing disability benefits counseling in 1997 in Madison Wisconsin. He provided counseling to vocational rehabilitation consumers both on a contracted fee for service basis and as a part of a comprehensive process to address the full range of barriers to employment faced by individuals with primarily physical disabilities. In addition, he offered training and technical assistance largely to employees of mental health agencies learning to provide benefits counseling to residents with disabilities in Wisconsin.

Jim values the benefits counseling and planning that he has done because he has often seen it make a profound difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities. He hopes that individuals with disabilities will gain valuable knowledge that will empower them to achieve their goals. Unfortunately, the disability benefit programs are extremely complicated and require a high degree of expertise, which makes it critical to develop a growing cadre of competent benefits planners.

Register for this Webcast