By Guest Blogger Michael R. Roush, M.A., AFC® Director of the Real Economic Impact Network, National Disability Institute (NDI)

Because April is National Financial Literacy Month, we’re thinking about personal finances and encouraging you to do a personal finance checkup. Financial literacy just means having the knowledge and skills to manage our personal finances. Topics to think about include banking, spending plans, debt management, credit, savings, and protecting your identity. Many tools and resources can help you learn more and build skills to keep track of your personal finances. Check out some of the resources below and start your own financial checkup this month!

Money Smart

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) Money Smart provides educational information on personal finance topics, including an introduction to banking services. Learn how to keep track of your money and savings and how credit affects your finances. Money Smart can also show you how to recover and rebuild your credit.

MyMoney.gov

The Federal Financial Literacy and Education Commission created MyMoney.gov to provide tips on handling your money. The website offers an overview of 5 Principles that can help you make decisions about your money: Earn, Save & Invest, Protect, Spend, and Borrow. The website provides resources, tools and money quizzes to test your knowledge.

America Saves

America Saves motivates, encourages and supports low- to moderate-income households to save money, reduce debt and build wealth. The America Saves campaign provides resources and tools on how to save money. America Saves has a page dedicated to savings strategies for people with disabilities.

Additional Resources

As you start learning more about personal finance, you can start making choices to save money and keep your finances in check. The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act offers certain people with disabilities the opportunity to open tax-advantaged savings accounts for disability expenses without affecting their public benefits. You can learn more about ABLE accounts from the ABLE National Resource Center.

To expand your financial options, learn more about credit and its impact on your financial well-being – and even your job search! It’s important to keep track of your credit history and take steps to build good credit, whether you have no credit history or have had problems in the past.

Always keep protecting your identity in mind. Personal identifiable information can be used to identify, contact, or locate a person. Personal identifiable information includes Social Security number, date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, medical information, and employment history. The Federal Trade Commission has a great resource about Privacy, Identity and Online Security.

All these resources can help you build your financial knowledge and skills. Being aware of your finances and taking steps to manage them can positively affect your mental and physical health. In recognition of National Financial Literacy Month, commit to checking out some of the resources in this article.

About Ticket to Work

Social Security’s Ticket to Work program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want to work.

The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.

Learn More

To learn more about the Ticket program, visit www.ssa.gov/work. You can also call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.

On March 22, we hosted a Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE) webinar, Achieving Financial Independence with Ticket to Work and the ABLE Act. The webinar, which is now available in the WISE archive, shared information about the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act and how tax-advantaged ABLE accounts can help certain people with disabilities save money.

During the webinar, attendees asked great questions about ABLE accounts, eligibility requirements and opening an ABLE account. Our answers to the top 3 questions will help you on your own path to financial success!

What are ABLE accounts?

ABLE accounts are investment accounts that help qualified people with disabilities and their families save for disability-related expenses. ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged, which means the funds in them grow tax-free. The funds and payments made from the account for qualified disability-related expenses are also not counted in deciding your eligibility for federally funded means-tested benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid.

ABLE account funds can be used to pay for qualified disability-related expenses. A qualified disability expense is any expense related to the account beneficiary’s blindness or disability that helps them increase or maintain their health, independence and quality of life. These may include expenses related to education, housing, transportation, employment training and support, assistive technology, personal support services, healthcare expenses, financial management and administrative services, and other expenses.

Do all states have ABLE programs?

The ABLE Act allows, but does not require, states to develop ABLE programs. To offer an ABLE program, each state must pass its own laws. More than 45 states have passed ABLE-related laws. As of April 2017, 18 states have started running ABLE programs. To see the status of ABLE programs in your state, visit the State Review of ABLE Programs. When you review the programs, look for a link to the state website along with enrollment information and other details.

Don’t worry if your state decides not to have an ABLE program! Many – in fact, most – states allow qualified people from other states to open accounts. If your state does open its own ABLE program or you find out another state’s program is better for you, you may be able to transfer the money into that state’s program. The ABLE National Resource Center has a useful tool to compare different state programs. This may help you decide which program might work best for you.

Why is an ABLE account better than a savings account?

Many people with disabilities receive public benefits, including:

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as SNAP or food stamps)
• Housing assistance

If you receive any of these benefits, they may be endangered if your savings are above certain limits. The advantage of an ABLE account is that the money saved is not counted when deciding if you qualify for new or continued federal public benefits like those discussed here. You can contribute up to $14,000 each year to your ABLE account without the savings affecting your benefits. Family members, friends and others can also contribute to the account to help you save money to pay for disability-related expenses.

Still have questions about ABLE programs or the Ticket to Work program?

To learn more about the ABLE Act and how ABLE accounts may help you save money, check out the ABLE National Resource Center.

Our free, monthly WISE webinars cover a variety of Ticket to Work (Ticket) program and Work Incentive topics. Register and attend the webinars regularly for Ticket program updates and to find out how Social Security and the Ticket program can help you along your career path.

Join us for our next WISE webinar on Wednesday, April 26, 3 to 4:30 p.m. ET. Ticket to Work: Working with a Federal Contractor will explain what recent regulation changes mean to Social Security beneficiaries, offer tips for self-identification of a disability during the application and hiring process, and tell you how your employment team can help. Register now to attend this free event!

If you missed last month’s webinar or would like to catch up on past events, check out the WISE archives for webinar materials and transcripts.

Throughout April, career fairs will be held nationwide, both in person and online. Career fairs are great places to meet with employers and recruiters who can tell you about their latest job openings. Advance your job search at a career fair this month!

Diversity in Ed (Virtual)

The Diversity Teacher Recruitment Virtual Career Fair is an online recruiting event for educators. The event features jobs within school systems and colleges nationwide.

• April 6: Virtual

Annual Diversity Employment Day (In Person)

Annual Diversity Employment Day (DED) Career Fairs provide the chance for local and national employers to meet and interview qualified candidates from diverse communities.

• April 7: Los Angeles, CA
• April 12: Phoenix, AZ
• April 25: Chicago, IL

Hiring Our Heroes (In Person)

Hiring Our Heroes, a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, helps veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses find meaningful employment. Hiring Our Heroes has hosted hiring fairs in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

• April 12: Chicago, IL
• April 13: Farmingdale, NY
• April 13: Patrick Air Force Base, FL
• April 25- 27: Fort Bragg, NC
• April 26-27: Fort Irwin, CA

DICE Targeted Hiring Fairs (In Person)

This online career fair connects job seekers with top employers in technology industries. Job seekers have the chance to talk with these employers by instant chat during the events.

• April 4: Aberdeen, MD
• April 11: Crystal City, VA / Washington, D.C.
• April 12: Manhattan, NY
• April 20: Orlando, FL
• April 20: Silicon Valley, CA
• April 27: Salt Lake City, UT
• April 28: Denver, CO

Veteran Recruiting (Virtual)

Veteran Recruiting is dedicated to serving the military community, including those with disabilities, by providing access to industry-leading employers through virtual career fairs and live video interviewing services. This event is exclusively for National Guard reservists, veterans and military spouses. You can research potential employers, visit employer booths, chat with recruiters, and browse a wide range of available jobs—all from your home computer!

• April 11: Logistics & Supply Chain (Nationwide)
• April 12: Comcast NBCUniversal (Nationwide)
• April 18: Travelers (Nationwide)

RecruitMilitary (In Person and Virtual)

RecruitMilitary offers transitioning service members, veterans and their spouses the chance to meet with recruiters from dozens of companies. RecruitMilitary has hosted more than 900 events over 11 years.

• April 6: Austin, TX
• April 6: Foxborough, MA
• April 13: Denver, CO
• April 13: Tulsa, OK
• April 20: Chicago, IL
• April 20: Orlando, FL
• April 25: Fort Bliss, TX
• April 25: Virtual
• April 27: Minneapolis, MN
• April 27: Anaheim, CA

Are you a person with a disability who’s graduating from high school soon? Do you need help planning for your future? In January 2017, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) in the U.S. Department of Education published A Transition Guide to Postsecondary Education and Employment for Students and Youth with Disabilities. This guide offers options and supports to consider as you transition into adulthood. It’s also a great resource for families of transition-aged individuals.

What can you learn in the guide?

To help students and youth with disabilities reach their post-high school goals, Congress enacted two key laws to provide transition services: the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended by Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

The new OSERS guide explains the laws noted above and gives guidance on:

• Transition planning, including opportunities and programs
• Transition services and requirements authorized by IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act
• Education and employment options for students and youth with disabilities after leaving high school
• Supporting decisions made by students and youth with disabilities

The guide also includes real life examples, a sample flow chart of the transition process, and a glossary of key terms used in the transition process.

Youth in transition and the Ticket to Work program

The Ticket to Work (Ticket) program is for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits. However, one type of service provider, Work Incentives Planning and Incentives (WIPA) projects, also works with youth with disabilities as early as age 14.

WIPA projects can help you understand the Work Incentives available to you. Work Incentives make it easier for people with disabilities to work and still receive medical benefits and, in some cases, cash benefits from Social Security. Work Incentives can help you through the transition to work and financial independence. Two Work Incentives that can help you save money and afford to pay for employment-related expenses, such as tuition, training programs, job coaches tools, transportation and more include the Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS) and Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE).

It’s never too early to start thinking about your future. The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives can help you transition from school to the workforce!

Additional Resources

Choose Work Blog Series: Help for Young People Considering Their Future

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth

Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE) webinar: Free Employment Support for Young Adults with Disabilities

About Ticket to Work

Our monthly Money Mondays blog series shares information, tips and resources to help you manage money as you look for or return to work. Last month, we talked about credit basics and the effect that credit can have on your job search and financial independence. Today we share ways to help you build or rebuild a credit history and a strong credit score.

Establishing credit and keeping your credit score high will help you on your path to financial independence. During your job search, employers may check your credit. If you’ve started working, strong credit can help you access resources to help you succeed in your transition to work and beyond. With good credit, you may be able to find housing closer to your workplace or buy a car for an easier commute.

Get a fresh start at a credit union

Credit unions are not-for-profit organizations that exist to serve their members. Like banks, credit unions accept deposits, make loans and provide a wide array of other financial services. But as member-owned and cooperative institutions, credit unions provide a safe place to save and borrow at reasonable rates.

Many credit unions offer fresh start programs for people who want to establish or strengthen their credit. Fresh start program is an informal name for any number of programs credit unions offer to people who have never had credit.

The fresh start program lets you deposit money into a savings account at the credit union. The credit union then gives you a credit card with a low credit limit against the money you put in savings. The card can be used anywhere that accepts credit cards. Whenever you open any type of credit card, be sure to check with your financial institution to find out how it will affect your credit. To locate a credit union near you, visit www.mycreditunion.gov.

Rent reporting

If you rent your housing and pay your rent on time, you can ask your landlord to report your on-time rent payments to the credit bureau. Not all landlords will do this, but many may if you ask. With rent reporting, these payments are added to your credit report. On-time payments can help strengthen your credit.

Credit builder loan

Many credit unions and some banks offer special loans for people looking to build their credit histories. These credit-builder loans are usually for a small amount of money, around $500-$1,500. When you take out this type of loan, the bank deposits the loaned money into a savings account. Once you repay the loan, you can access the account and money. Your payments are reported to several credit bureaus, building your credit history. Because you repay the money over time before you can access it, this type of loan is also a great way to set and reach a savings goal.

Maintaining good credit

Once you establish good credit, you’ll need to maintain it. To do this:

• Pay your bills on time.
• Limit your applications for new credit cards (opening several at once can actually lower your credit score).
• Keep old credit card accounts that you’ve paid off open. This can help increase your credit score.
• Keep credit card balances low.
• Check your credit score regularly. You can check your credit report free once a year at www.annualcreditreport.com.

Since the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act passed in December 2014, 18 states have launched ABLE programs, allowing certain people with disabilities to open tax-advantaged savings accounts. Even more states plan to launch programs in 2017.

The Ticket to Work (Ticket) program is pleased to host two events in March to answer your questions about ABLE accounts.

Join us for our free national Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE) webinar on March 22, 2017 and a Twitter chat with the ABLE National Resource Center on March 24, 2017!

Achieving Financial Independence with Ticket to Work and the ABLE Act

Wednesday, March 22, 2017, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m., ET

This month’s WISE webinar will feature experts discussing:

• The ABLE Act, a new option for certain people with disabilities to save for the future while protecting their eligibility for public benefits
• The Ticket program and Work Incentives
• Additional Resources

How to Register:
You can register online at www.choosework.net/wise or call 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY).

Twitter Chat with the ABLE National Resource Center

Friday, March 24, 2017, 12 – 1 p.m., ET

A special guest from the ABLE National Resource Center will join us to talk about the ABLE Act and answer questions about ABLE accounts and eligibility. Join us to learn more about:

• Who qualifies for ABLE accounts
• Advantages of having an ABLE account
• If your state has an ABLE program or if you can enroll in another state

To join the chat and ask your questions, or to share your experience opening your own ABLE account, sign into Twitter and follow the hashtag #DEchat. We look forward to you joining the conversation!

For updates on the Ticket program, follow @chooseworkssa.

On February 22, we hosted a Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE) webinar, “Ticket to Work: Choosing a Service Provider That’s Right for You.” The webinar shared information to help people who want to work and who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) choose a service provider.

During the webinar, many attendees asked great questions about choosing and working with a service provider. Our answers to the top three questions will help you on your own path to work!

What is the difference between an Employment Network (EN) and State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency?

ENs and State VR agencies are both service providers under the Ticket to Work (Ticket) program. Both can offer career planning and help finding work.

VR agencies work with people with disabilities who may need extra help as they start their career path. VR agencies can offer education, training, career counseling and job placement services.

ENs can also help with career planning and job placement services, and can offer eligible people with disabilities ongoing employment support services. If you start your work journey with your VR agency and then begin working, after your case with VR is closed, you can connect with an EN to get ongoing support as you move toward work and build a career.

To learn more about ENs and VR agencies, read our blog post introducing you to the two types of service providers. If you’d like to work with an EN, Finding an EN and Assigning Your Ticket Worksheet can help you keep track of the ENs you’re considering and offer you important questions to ask before you decide if they are a good fit for your needs.

How do I find the service provider that’s right for me?

To find a service provider, call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers to find one that’s right for you. You can also find providers using the Find Help tool. This online resource allows you to search by name, location, services offered, disabilities served or languages spoken.

What if I’m not happy with my EN or State VR agency?

All ENs and State VR agencies have a process to resolve concerns. As a courtesy, you may want to use their process before you stop using their services.

To change ENs, you’ll need to un-assign your ticket. We encourage you to notify your current EN that you plan to un-assign your ticket with them. You’ll then need to submit a ticket un-assignment form. To keep your medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR) protection, it’s important to re-assign your ticket within 90 days of un-assigning it with a service provider.

Still have questions?

Our free, monthly WISE webinars cover a variety of Ticket program and Work Incentives topics. Register and attend the webinars regularly for Ticket program updates and to find out how Social Security and the Ticket program can help you along your career path.

Join us for our next WISE webinar on Wednesday, March 22, 3 to 4:30 p.m. ET. “Achieving Financial Independence with Ticket to Work and the ABLE Act!” will offer details about ABLE programs and how this tax-advantaged savings account can help certain people with disabilities save money for the future without making them ineligible for Social Security disability benefits. Register now to attend this free event!

If you missed last month’s webinar or would like to catch up on past events, check out the WISE archives for webinar materials and transcripts.

By Guest Blogger Chris Rodriguez, Senior Public Policy Advisor, National Disability Institute

In December 2016, we introduced you to the  Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act and shared how ABLE accounts can help you save money without affecting your Social Security benefits.

Since the law went into effect on December 19, 2014, any state can choose to open its own ABLE program. These state-run programs allow eligible people with disabilities and their families to set up tax-advantaged savings accounts for expenses related to disability. Federal public benefit programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid do not count the money saved in a person’s ABLE account when deciding if that person qualifies for benefits.

Qualifying for ABLE

The ABLE Act limits eligibility to people with significant disabilities who had the onset of their disability before they turned 26 years old. If you meet this age requirement and already receive SSI or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you are automatically eligible for an ABLE account. If you are not an SSI or SSDI recipient but meet the age requirement, you may still be eligible to open an ABLE account. To do so, you must meet Social Security’s definition and criteria for significant functional limitations and receive a letter of certification from a licensed physician.

ABLE States

Eighteen states now offer ABLE accounts to eligible people with disabilities. Many ABLE programs are similar, but each state may have different fees, investment choices and other features. Compare different states’ programs to consider which one might work best for you.

At least 10 more states are expected to launch their ABLE programs by the end of 2017. Even if your state decides not to have an ABLE program, you can apply for and open an ABLE account in another state’s program if that state allows non-residents to enroll. The Kentucky, Florida and Vermont ABLE programs are only open to people who live in those states.

States that now have plans include:

•   Alabama
•   Alaska
•   Florida
•   Illinois
•   Iowa
•   Kansas
•   Kentucky
•   Michigan
•   Minnesota
•   Nebraska
•   Nevada
•   North Carolina
•   Ohio
•   Oregon
•   Rhode Island
•   Tennessee
•   Vermont
•   Virginia

Additional Resources

To learn more about ABLE accounts, check out our ABLE events in March. Our March WISE webinar will focus on ABLE accounts and how ABLE and the Ticket to Work program can help you achieve financial independence. Register now and join us on Wednesday, March 22, at 3 p.m. ET. Then join us on March 24, at 12 p.m. ET, for a Twitter chat on ABLE accounts. Follow along on Twitter with #DEchat.

You can also visit the ABLE National Resource Center. You can learn the truth about ABLE Act myths and stay up to date on new programs being launched throughout the country. To learn more about ABLE programs and qualifications for an ABLE account, watch a video about Understanding ABLE. You can activate captioning by selecting “Subtitles/Closed Captioning” in the video toolbar.