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Tips and Hints (FAQs) AHCCCS told me I no longer qualified to receive attendant care because of the earnings from my new job. What can I do? Arizona passed legislation in 2001 establishing the AHCCCS Freedom to Work program. The Freedom to Work program is an AHCCCS healthcare coverage group specifically for individuals with disabilities who are employed. Under this program, employed people with disabilities can earn over the AHCCCS income limits and still maintain their AHCCCS coverage, including attendant care provided under Arizona Long-Term Care Services (ALTCS). This program has no income limits so you can save money to buy a house or a vehicle without jeopardizing your health coverage. You will have to pay a reasonable monthly premium based on your income. Ask for this program by name. For more information on AHCCCS Freedom to Work, please call AHCCCS at (602) 417-6677. Do you have an ADA complaint? Did you know that you can file complaints locally to the Arizona District of U.S. Attorney’s Office? Let’s not let this remain Arizona’s best-kept secret! If you have complaints about violations of Title II by units of State and local governments or violations of Title III by public accommodations and commercial facilities, you can submit these complaints locally. How? Write a letter to: United States Attorney’s Office, Two Renaissance Square, 40 N Central Ave., Ste 1200, Phoenix, AZ 85004 What? Include details of who, what, where, and how you were discriminated against, or call their toll-free number at 1-800-800-2570. If you wish your complaints to be considered for referral to the ADA Mediation Program, mark “Attention: Mediation” on the outside of the envelope. Where can persons with disabilities find dentists who have the education, equipment and trained staff to serve their needs? A quick glance through the Yellow Pages under “Dentists” found the dentists listed below as advertising experience working with children, elderly and disabled patients.
According to the Arizona Dental Referral organization, the Center for Dental Rehabilitation .... Maureen M. Toal, DMD has practiced in Phoenix since 1990 and specializes in General & Hospital Dentistry.
Two ways a legislator learns about a bill:
Three ways a legislator can effect a bill:
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For those on AHCCCS (Medicaid) and Medicare - They will be automatically enrolled, but they will get that notice in the mail to tell them. It is random, but they can change the following month if it is not a plan they want. Please visit the web site www.medicare.gov or contact them by phone 1-800-MEDICARE. If someone has a Medicare plan they like now, have them call to see if they can keep it under Medicare Part D, ask for any premium change and if their medications are still on the new formulary. If someone has other health insurance or are not using any prescriptions at this time and are wondering whether to enroll in the new Medicare Part D - remember this is an insurance plan. Like house, car or life insurance. The longer you wait to buy it the more it will cost for the premium (1% more for each month you delay enrolling). When you buy life insurance, the older you get, the more expensive it is. Flood and car insurance costs more if you wait until after the flood or car wreck! Ask yourself do you want insurance for prescription drug costs that you might have in the future. Anyone with other health insurance should get a letter telling them if it is "creditable coverage" (equal to) for the Medicare Part D plan. If it is "creditable coverage," then you don’t have to enroll now - and when you do, you will not be charged that penalty on the premium. If you haven’t gotten the letter, call them to get one and keep that letter in case you need it to enroll in Part D later on! ABIL has a grant through the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) to help people enroll in Medicare Part D. Contact us at 602-256-2245.
There are work incentives that can help you start your own small business even if you receive SSI. The Plan for Achieving Self Support, also known as the PASS plan, is a great work incentive for people on SSI who want to set some of their SSI benefit dollars aside for expenses that will help them reach a specific work goal. That way they can continue to get the full SSI benefit plus the Social Security approved PASS plan dollars. PASS plans can be established to pay for computer software or hardware, tuition, modified vehicles, small business start up costs, and other things related to working with a disability. PASS plans MUST be approved by the Social Security Administration (SSA) using their specific application process. The money that is set aside for a PASS MUST be spent on the items approved by Social Security. SSDI beneficiaries under certain conditions may also use a PASS plan.
To learn more about the PASS, and for assistance in the application process, call one of the AZ Freedom to Work Specialists today. Toll Free: 1-866-304-WORK (9675). (Information courtesy ABIL)
Will you have to report disability benefits? Can you deduct work expenses that are related to your disability? Must you pay employment taxes for a home health aide? Listed below are some of the IRS publications and TeleTax Topics* that may be helpful to you.
*TeleTax Topics are prerecorded messages that can be accessed by calling 800-829-4477.
Find out where your voting place is and if it is accessible. If you cannot get into your voting place, you will need to make plans to vote at another location or by absentee ballot. Don’t delay. Make the necessarry arrangements NOW!
Vote EARLY if you need to or would like to. A number of states allow absentee voting by anyone who requests an absentee ballot (you don’t have to be away or unable to go to the polls) and/or allow early voting. Find out what will make it easiest for you to cast your vote, and do it!! For more information on deadlines, regulations, and where to call with questions, please visit: http://www.nass.org/ Go to the polls early on Election Day ... and Remember Your ID. Whatever type of voting machines are being used, there's no excuse for not getting out and casting your ballot. If you cannot get into your voting place, say that you want a ballot brought to you. It’s your right under the law. Be prepared, and be first in line when the polls open!!
If you have any problems at the polling place, call the Election Protection hotline at (866) OUR-VOTE, {866-687-8683}. Election Protection is a nationwide program run by civil rights and voting rights groups to safeguard your right to cast a ballot on Election Day. There are experts and attorneys standing by nationwide, from now until after the Election, to assist you.
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