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The Memphis Center for
Independent Living Journal

Index
of the MCIL Journal 1998

5/4/98, 7:11 pm
Grassroots Fighters:

We hope everyone can take the time to respond to the very important Social Security Reform Action Alert.

S. 1858 could really move us forward on work incentive reform, but we're going to need to inform and encourage ourselves and our bipartisan Senators to get it passed.

Call the Senator's office (office search site below.) Ask to talk to staff who work on disability or Social Security issues. If you cannot reach that person, tell the office staff you want your call registered as a constituent who wants Senator X to co-sponsor S.1858 as soon as possible.

FOLLOW-UP YOUR CALL:

• FAX, email or mail your message, addressed and sent to each of your US Senators separately, (carries more weight), with talking points.

• Send them (briefly) your story. This is better than talking points.

If you have personal experience with Social Security and barriers to work, a brief (one paragraph) account of how the bill would help you work and reduce your dependency on benefits is essential. We have also been stressing that removing barriers to work would save taxpayers money and help ensure the long term integrity of the Social Security trust funds.

Please forward the Social Security Reform Action Alert to all the mailing lists you are on, print it out and pass it out to friends, clients, and colleagues. Spread the word that the disability community needs to get behind this NOW and wants Social Security reform NOW!

NCIL ACTION ALERT !!
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON INDEPENDENT LIVING

WE NEED 30 SENATORS TO CO-SPONSOR
WORK INCENTIVES IMPROVEMENT ACT (S.1858) BEFORE JUNE 1 !!

• WHAT DOES S. 1858 DO?

  It provides continuous health care for people who receive SSDI/SSI WHO WORK OR WANT TO GO TO WORK.

• WHAT DO WE NEED YOU TO DO?

  Call, e-mail and fax your senators and ask them to co-sponsor S. 1858. Visit their local offices during the Memorial Day recess to talk about S. 1858 and how it will help people with disabilities go to work.

• WHY DO THIS BEFORE JUNE 1?

  Time is our biggest enemy! We've been told that if this bill doesn't get co-sponsors NOW it may have no chance of passing.

S. 1858 IS A BIG FIRST STEP ON THE PATH TO EMPLOYMENT. WE NEED 30 SENATORS TO COMMIT TODAY TO IMPROVING OUR LIVES - LET'S MAKE CONGRESS PROVE THEY REALLY WANT US TO GO TO WORK !!

TALKING POINTS FOR S. 1858

PROVISIONS

An optional Medicaid buy-in for prescription drugs and personal assistance services. The buy-in would fill crucial gaps in coverage for those on Medicare or employer-sponsored insurance. [S. 1858 provides an increased match rate of 15 points above the current Fed/State match for shared health care programs.]

Continuous health coverage under Medicare through a buy-in when earnings from work rise above 250% of the federal poverty level.

SSI and SSDI beneficiaries will finally be able to work and retain health care.

Establishes a work incentives counseling and assistance program to assist beneficiaries in utilizing work-related benefit programs.

Continuing Disability Review (CDR) protections for working beneficiaries who participate in the bill's proposed "OPTIONS" program.

SSA demonstration projects to test a gradual ramp off cash benefits for SSDI beneficiaries (the "2 for 1 offset").

WHY SUPPORT S. 1858

• First, it does no harm. No individual receiving SSDI or SSI will have their benefits jeopardized by the passage of this bill or by joining the bill's OPTIONS program.

• Second, it moves us forward NOW. This bill addresses the most often cited barrier to work: access to continuous health coverage after employment.

  It represents the important first step to restructure the SSA disability programs to establish a work friendly "fit" between employment and the SSI/SSDI programs. The current laws keep people from working.

• Third, the bill authorizes SSA to conduct employment demonstrations, especially the demonstration of a sliding scale reduction in SSDI benefits.

  Please contact Julie Clark at NCIL if you need more info on the bill or how to contact your Senators: 703/525-3406 (V); 703/525-4153 (TTY); 703/525- 3409 (Fax); juliec0728@aol.com (E-mail).

Join a national Grassroots Organizing Team to restructure the Social Security Work Incentive system. For more information, contact:

Bryon R. MacDonald, Grassroots Team Leader
Community Advocate
Center for Independent Living, Berkeley/Oakland
436 14th Street, Suite 218 
Oakland, CA  94612
VOICE 510 763-9999, ext. 19
FAX   510 763-4910
TDD   510 444-1837
bryosemite@aol.com

Tim Wheat
Memphis Center for Independent Living

The Memphis Center for Independent Living
1633 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 726-6404 v/tty (901) 726-6521 fax
mcil@mcil.org 

MCIL is a United Way of the Mid-South member Agency

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