From an announcement to appear in tomorrow's Federal Register for the Interventional Cooperative Agreement Program (ICAP):
We are announcing a newly opened funding opportunity, the fiscal year (FY) 2022 application period of the Interventional Cooperative Agreement Program (ICAP). The purpose of this program is to allow us to enter into cooperative agreements to collaborate with States, foundations, and other non-Federal groups and organizations who have the interest and ability to identify, operate, and partially fund interventional research. ...
We hope to benefit from and collaborate with local, external knowledge about potential interventions relevant to individuals who receive Social Secuity Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. ICAP priority research topics are as follows:
- Eliminating the structural barriers in the labor market, including for racial, ethnic, or other underserved communities, including people with disabilities, in order to decrease the likelihood of people needing to receive or apply for SSDI or SSI benefits;
- Promoting self-sufficiency by helping people, including youth, enter, stay in, or return to the labor force;
- Coordinating planning between private and public human services agencies to improve the administration and effectiveness of the SSDI, SSI, and related programs;
- Assisting claimants in underserved communities to apply for or appeal determinations or decisions on claims for SSDI and SSI benefits; and
- Conducting outreach to people with disabilities who are potentially eligible to receive SSI. ...
It all sounds good, but I predict another waste of money better spent on increasing staff and FO service.
ReplyDeleteRight, these initiatives would make sense if the agency was executing well on its core duties/services, but SSA clearly is not. There are much more obvious fixes that do require outreach or collaboration. Fix those problems first.
ReplyDeleteHere's a tip for TPTB, if you want people to return to work 1) lobby congress for a partial disability option 2) stop penalizing people when they do try to work 3) totally revamp the TWP and make it less cumbersome (4) do the same for the EPE. There, I just saved you billions of dollars. Try not to muck it up.
ReplyDeleteThey won’t change any of that. In fact, I’m assuming it’s only going to get worse as minimum wage increases without equal Increases in work limits.
Delete25 hours per week at $15.00 per hour is over SGA.
I can see SSA using this to their advantage to dwindle those eligible for disability currently and those applying in the future.
@ 11:47 - You are completely right on 25 hours/$15 per hour being over SGA. It's not the loss of cash that's the main problem with that. It's the possible loss of medical benefits that the disabled need. That kind of pay, and low hours, it's unmaintainable to treat a disability. Nor do most companies offer medical benefits at 25 hours a week. Would be a just a matter of time before they fall back on disability. I know this isn't the case in ALL cases, but one making SGA is a good candidate for SSA to take advantage (as you said) to dwindle this on SSDI and SSI.
ReplyDeleteMedicare continues for many years in the EPE.
DeleteIt would probably be beneficial to reduce DIB benefit amounts as wages increase so that someone just over SGA would still get paid some money.
Beneficiaries don’t lose their medical coverage dilute to suspensions for work.
DeleteHowever, if what you’re referring to is that employers won’t be offering health insurance to people working 25 hrs per week because they are part time but still SGA…you’re exactly right.
The employees will use the minimum wage hike to their advantage and so will SSA, leaving the public holding the bag.
Best strategy for those who finally get approved for DIB (and don't die or fully recover if that is possible), is never try to work. Unless SGA and TWP provision change (HA!), there is no upside.
ReplyDeleteUnderserved communities? As long as lawyers and reps can get paid to assist people in getting benefits, there is no such thing as an underserved community. This is politically driven bs. There are billboards and targeted ads all over the “undeserved communities.”Spend the money on processing the claims that the agency already has.
ReplyDeleteDoes SSA have the procurement chops to stand up and run a CRADA?
ReplyDelete