NPN benefitsBlog

Health & Human Services Publishes Strategic Plan FY 2007-2012

The U.S. Administration on Aging has informed the National PASS Network of its publication of the HHS Strategic Plan FY 2007-2012. This document provides a comprehensive overview of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Service's priorities and activities for the next five years, and highlights the significant role the U.S. Administration on Aging is playing within the department to improve the health and well-being of older people and their family caregivers.

Mobility Planning Services (MPS) Institute in April

The 2008 Mobility Planning Services (MPS) Institute will take place from April 21-24, 2008 in Washington, D.C. MPS brings together teams of leaders from the disability community and transportation industry to share information and strategies to improve access to transportation services in their communities. Registration deadline is December 21, 2007. Registration materials.

COLA Edges Up 2.3%

SSA announced on Wednesday, October 17 that the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) increases for next year will increase Social Security and SSI benefit programs by 2.3 percent. In 2008, the average SSDI monthly check for a worker who is disabled will be $1004, up from $981 in 2007. The Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will rise next year to $637 a month for an individual, from $623, and to $956 for a couple from $934.

Several work-incentive related provisions are also indexed to the CPI that is the basis for federal COLA adjustments and will rise. The "SGA level" that indicates so-called "substantial work" earnings has been raised to $940 per month. People who are disabled because of blindness have a higher threshold of $1,570 in 2008.

The amount of earned income that indicates a trail-work-period "service month" is up in the coming year to $670. The trial-work period is 9 "service months" spread over a 5-year period and permits an individual to test their ability to work without losing SSDI benefits.

Students with disabilities on SSI will now be able to deduct significant earnings under the Student Earned Income Exclusion, excluding the first $1,550 of earned income in a month up to $6,240 in 2008 when they work.

Fact sheet is available from SSA

Federal Register Notice/ pdf

© Daniel Scarborough, 2007

Secretary Leavitt Begins A Blog

Secretary Mike Leavitt of the US Dept of Health and Human Services has started writing a blog. It's not clear if this is an official government publication. The Secretary shares his observations and 'hopes to open conversation about health and the related challenges" that face the nation.

National Football League Wants to Use Federal SSA Disability Standards

According to press reports, in an attempt to make the NFL's failing professional football players organization disability process work, Commissioner Roger Goodell Executive and Gene Upshaw, Director of the National Football League Players Association have proposed using the disability determination process used by the Social Security Administration for disabled applicants for SSDI and SSI.

"If Social Security says a player can't work, [ the NFL] should automatically approve him right away," Upshaw said in press reports. "We shouldn't have to have him go through all this other crap." (why is any this not evoking any empathy on my part).

What could these people be thinking? Haven't they been reading the news lately? The Social Security disability determination process is as broken as any public program can be. Nationally nearly 70% of people who apply are initially turned down for disability benefits. The SSA appeals process is a waiting game measured in long years. Many people are winding through this grinding and demeaning process that can last 3 and 4 years. Holding the SSA disability process out as a paragon of any kind of efficiency is just about as uninformed as one could be in these United States. SSA's disability process is certainly not a model for solution to anyone's disability assistance needs with the agency's service problems.

Perhaps all this seemingly intellectual decision is an attempt to avoid Congressional intervention. A House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law hearing is scheduled for June 26 .

Why is any of this important? From a national disability benefit policy standpoint, it is just not wise for private disability providers to set a precedent that includes a prior approval by the Social Security Administration for private disability benefits. The NFL might want to use the SSA standards, but they do not need to pile-on the already overburdened and inefficient Social Security Administration application process with its labor problems.

© Daniel Scarborough, 2007

SSA To Get New Commish White House Says

President Bush, according to a Whitehouse press release today, intends to nominate Michael J. Astrue, of Massachusetts, to be Commissioner of Social Security, for a six year term beginning January 20, 2007. Mr. Astrue previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Transkaryotic Therapies.

Earlier in his career, he served as General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, he served as Counselor to the Commissioner of Social Security at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

He also served as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislation at the Department of Health and Human Services. Mr. Astrue received his bachelor's degree from Yale University and his JD from Harvard University.

A professional bio from Forbes indicates an interesting and varied background.

The announcement is somewhat unusual. First, it was hidden in a announcement of 9 other appointments. Too, the current commissioner, Jo Anne B. Barnhart, has been rumored to be leaving but she has not resigned. SSA has been somewhat evasive about any plans although there is considerable speculation on the issue. One wonders why that is.

Update

Mr. Astrue was sworn in Feburary 12 as the Commissioner of Social Security. He will serve a six-year term that expires on January 19, 2013.

© Daniel Scarborough, 2006