NDI's Real Economic Impact Blog

In my last post, I wrote about some of the part-time jobs I have had while receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). One year-long job particularly stands out in my memory because it was my favorite. Was there ever a job that you really loved? That brought out skills you hardly knew you possessed? That brought unexpected gratification? I suggest you examine that job again and ask why. The answer will tell you what is important to you for any future positions and necessities you may look for while still receiving your SSDI.

I recall working part-time for a gardening supply catalogue company. I started out answering phones, but later moved on to writing sales copy for items offered in the catalogue - interesting items like bat houses and elaborate bird baths. It was fun but very pressured. Sometimes I only was given 15 minutes to type out copy for an item before the publicity department wanted my draft.

But the thing that struck me about this position was the people. The kindness of my co-workers. At this job I found out how important it was for me to click with the people I work with. It made me feel secure and less anxious in my part-time spot. They gave me a giant, thriving purple geranium on my last day for my porch. They were so warm.

I left to work at a job that offered better pay but uncomfortably chilly co-workers. The people at the gardener’s supply company were sweet “crunchy granola types” (the job was in crunchy granola Burlington, Vermont, afterall) and I got to put my untapped writing and promotional skills to use. I was promoted from receptionist to part-time Public Relations Assistant. Sometimes I ever wonder why I left and have a few regrets. But I have good memories.

Last time I wrote about the value of work beyond pay - this job experience was a key example. It helped me find out that I really am a people person! What’s your favorite job? Chances are it will you something about yourself and what you value in the workplace. Look back at your employment past. You’ll find out a lot about yourself that you may just use in your future job hunting.

Cindy Battles is a freelance writer based in Rutland, VT, winner of the National Disability Institute’s 2008 Blog Contest and a regular contributor here on the Real Economic Impact blog.

May 23

The hallmark practices associated with effective school to work transition for students with disabilities include:

While the first five practices have received significant attention in the empirical literature and moderate support in outcome studies, interagency collaboration and service coordination, while widely endorsed, have been neglected in the research literature, even though collaboration is statutorily required in authorizing legislation and is the first step in system reform.

May 22

Created by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), the Financial Workshop Kits contain information needed to create engaging and meaningful financial education programs. Financial Workshop Kits is designed to help effectively teach money management skills in your community. Through this site, you have access to workshops, tools, and other resources that can be used separately or together to empower people to make the best financial decisions for their values and unique circumstances. Of particular interest is the workshop geared toward family members and caregivers of children with disabilities.

May 16

Cover of the Benefits Planning Query Handbook

The Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) is part of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) efforts to inform Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients about their disability benefits and the use of work incentives. A BPQY statement contains detailed information about the status of a beneficiary’s disability cash benefits, scheduled medical reviews, health insurance, and work history. In essence, the BPQY provides a snapshot of the beneficiary’s benefits and work history as stored in SSA’s electronic records.

The BPQY is a tool used by Area Work Incentive Coordinators (AWIC), the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) Cadre members, advocates, beneficiaries, and other individuals. The information contained in a BPQY provides customized information on SSA’s employment support programs to beneficiaries with disabilities who want to start or keep working. Analysis of a beneficiary’s disability and work status is the first step when planning a successful return to work.

This handbook, updated in April 2012, give detailed instructions on how to read, interpret and request BPQY statements from SSA.

May 15

Benefits.gov was launched in an effort to provide citizens with easy, online access to government benefit and assistance programs. The site’s core function is the eligibility prescreening questionnaire or “Benefit Finder.” Answers to the questionnaire are used to evaluate a visitor’s situation and compare it with the eligibility criteria for more than 1,000 Federally-funded benefit and assistance programs. Each program description provides citizens with the next steps to apply for any benefit program of interest.

May 10

The Value of My Work

I need and want the extra income and vital structure of working. Even if I can’t work in a full-time office setting now due to my physical and mental health issues, I can work out of my home on my computer. I get paid per article I research, word process, draft, and polish for publication.

These magazine paychecks are so valuable to me. They are almost symbolic. I feel like, getting paid for my research and writing, I am still contributing to society. And when someone stops me on the street in my hometown and says, “Hey, Cindy, I enjoyed your last article” (for instance, on a pediatric care center) I feel ten feet tall!

Jobs that I have done while on SSDI include tutoring English at the local junior high (still do), working as a phone rep for a Vermont gifts company during fall/winter (seasonal high sales periods), and before my feet developed such severe arthritis, working as a home health care aide sometimes making patients breakfasts and changing their bed sheets. Other times just providing afternoon care and companionship playing cards with an elder confined to their home.

I don’t come anywhere near a level of earnings that would cause me to lose my SSDI, but I find the daily structure of working to be the most important aspect of being a part-time freelance writer. Meeting with interviewees, digging in the Rutland Historical Society archives and the city library’s old newspaper microfiche files, calling my subjects, touching base with town historians, and emailing my editor keep me feeling alive and useful. I get paid for doing what I love. It’s an important piece of my American Dream. That’s why I work on SSDI. How about you? I’d love to hear about your job from you…

Work it!

May 09

Cover of the General Self-Help Resource Guide

The Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology recently published this self-help resource guide, designed to assist students with disabilities who are not in special education. The guide provides students and their families, guardians, advocates and professionals with general information on services that are available pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act (ADA and ADAAA). This guide provides links to informative websites; frequently asked questions (FAQs); factsheets; federal and state laws, regulations, and rules; and other relevant resources. This information will help students with disabilities obtain reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids and services, and physical and program accessibility in the public education system. The information will also be beneficial with transition planning that can lead to post-secondary education and/or employment.

May 08

WorkWORLD is a Decision Support Tool for people with disabilities and families who are receiving public benefits. It represents innovative software for personal computers designed to help people with disabilities, advocates, benefit counselors, and others explore and understand how to best use the work incentives associated with the various Federal and State disability and poverty benefit programs.

WorkWORLD automates the computation of benefits, and takes into account the complex interaction of income, benefit programs, and work incentives. Integrated, synchronized, closed-captioned multi-media demonstrations of WorkWORLD are now available on the website. Tutorial modules explain WorkWORLD’s features and show many aspects of its operation, while presentation modules discuss the software’s use in the broader context of benefits planning and service delivery for individuals.

WorkWORLD is currently free to residents of Virginia. State agencies, community-based organizations, and individuals can help build a state funding pool to make WorkWORLD free to residents of their state by making pledges to support WorkWORLD. Read more at the WorkWORLD website. WorkWORLD is also available for purchase for those outside of Virginia.

May 02

Cover of "Why Assets Matter" Research Brief

CFED’s Policy & Research team created a short fact sheet that provides an overview of research on assets and their effect on financial stability and economic opportunity. Many research studies have shown that:

May 01

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today announced new resources to support small businesses across the nation. FDIC Director for Depositor and Consumer Protection Mark Pearce and SBA’s Deputy Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development Michael Chodos released Money Smart for Small Business, a training curriculum for new and aspiring business owners. Developed in partnership between both agencies, this curriculum is the latest offering in the FDIC’s 10 year old award-winning Money Smart program.

Money Smart for Small Business provides an introduction to day-to-day business organization and planning and is written for entrepreneurs with limited or no prior formal business training. It offers practical information that can be applied immediately, while also preparing participants for more advanced training. The curriculum is designed to be delivered to new and aspiring business owners by financial institutions, small business development centers (SBDCs), among others.

Director Pearce and SBA Associate Administrator Chodos were joined by Training Alliance partners at the launch of Money Smart for Small Business, hosted by the District of Columbia’s Affinity Lab, a small business incubator.

“We are proud to launch Money Smart for Small Business,”said Acting Chairman Gruenberg. “Since 2001,Money Smart has helped individuals build a secure financial future for themselves. I am very pleased that small businesses, which play a vital role in supporting our national economy, will now have access to this resource. The FDIC looks forward to working with the SBA and the Money Smart Alliance, to promote financial literacy among small business owners.”