Governor Rell Announces Pilot Program to Help People with Disabilities Earn More and Keep Benefits

GOVERNOR RELL ANNOUNCES PILOT PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES EARN MORE AND KEEP BENEFITS

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that Connecticut has joined a federal pilot program to help low-income people with disabilities move into better-paying jobs without abruptly losing the Social Security benefits they need to live independently.

"Our citizens with disabilities should have more options to join the work force, get promoted and keep earning more without losing their Social Security safety net," Governor Rell said. "This federal initiative is testing an innovative, common-sense approach to changing Social Security. The idea is to avoid penalizing people who have earned Social Security benefits through work history, but who need transitional benefits to live on their own and succeed in the workplace."

Currently, people eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance face a major dilemma when they go to work. If their earnings regularly go over $830 a month (a total of just $9,960 annually), federal cash benefits abruptly end. Under the pilot program, federal cash benefits will gradually decrease as income goes up.

The Governor said the Social Security Administration has selected Connecticut for a demonstration project that will let 150 people with disabilities keep cash benefits while they earn more at work. The project will help federal officials test ways to gradually transition people off Social Security Disability Insurance, instead of suddenly ending their benefits when they get even a small raise at work.

"This has the potential to be a winner for everybody," Governor Rell said. "By transitioning people off cash benefits instead of just dropping them, the Social Security Administration will hopefully help break a debilitating cycle. Employers can hire and promote excellent workers, and people with disabilities can look forward to earning their full potential."

Connecticut joins Vermont, Wisconsin and Utah as pilot states for the Social Security Administration's "Benefits Offset Demonstration Project." The two-year initiative was funded by the federal Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999.

The Social Security Administration awarded a two-year, $799,355 contract to Connecticut for outreach, research and administration of the pilot program. Enrollment of 150 participants will begin in the third week of August, with the Department of Social Services reaching out to disability-service clients with low incomes. The experience of the four states in the demonstration project will help the federal government decide how to implement the program nationwide.

Connecticut's successful application was prepared by the Department of Social Services' Bureau of Rehabilitation Services. With 16 offices statewide, the bureau offers job training and individualized services tailored to meet the unique needs of job-seekers with disabilities. The bureau's Connect-to-Work Center (1-800-773-4636) supports these services with benefits counseling, outreach and training for people who are trying to return to work or advance their careers.

http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=1761&Q=300234