The Arc - Advocate Blog

How the Economic Stimulus Plan Affects Individuals with Disabilities

The $789 billion U.S. economic stimulus package, which was signed into law February 17th by President Barack Obama, contains numerous tax provisions including $282 billion in tax cuts. Several of the major tax provisions incorporated in the final bill include:

 

• MAKING WORK PAY TAX CREDIT: Creates a "Making Work Pay" tax credit of $400 or 6.2% of earned income (whichever is less) per individual and $800 for a couple in 2009 and 2010. It is phased out for individuals with adjusted incomes over $75,000 and couples with incomes over $150,000.

 

• ONE-TIME PAYMENT FOR SS BENEFICIARIES: Provides a one-time payment of $250 to Social Security beneficiaries. This is in addition to the Making Work Pay Tax Credit, and there is no tax return filing requirement to access this benefit. Beneficiaries will receive an electronic payment within 120 days of the Secretary of Treasury initiating the benefit. Payment will NOT count as a resource or income for SSI . 

 

• EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT INCREASE: Increases the earned income tax credit for low-income workers with three or more children.

 

• EXPANSION OF CHILD TAX CREDIT: Expands eligibility for the $1000 refundable child tax credit to more low-income workers families that don’t make enough money to pay income taxes, reducing the income floor to $3,000 in 2009 and 2010 from the current floor of $8,500.

Additionally, the stimulus package included several additional forms of assistance beyond tax relief, including the following provisions[ii]:

• EDUCATION EMERGENCY REPAIR & INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS
  • Criterion includes consideration of whether or not current infrastructure is inaccessible to people with disabilities.

• HEALTH INSURANCE:
  • $87 billion to support state Medicaid programs.

• HUD PROVISIONS
  • Gives the Secretary of Housing & Urban Development broad authority to waive legal requirements in the administration of housing programs under the Act, but prohibits the Secretary from waiving requirements related to fair housing, non-discrimination, labor standards, and the environment.
  • Ensures that recipients of HUD assistance via the economic stimulus package must honor Section 8 leases and cannot refuse to rent to Section 8 subpopulations.

• SPECIAL EDUCATION:
  •  
    • $11.3 billion reserved for Section 611 of the IDEA
    • $400 million reserved for Section 619 of the IDEA
    • $500 million reserved for Part C of the IDEA
  • $12.2 billion, of which

• UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE:
  • Individuals shall not be disqualified from regular unemployment compensation for separating from employment if that separation is for any compelling family reason, including the illness or disability of a member of the individuals immediate family (as defined by the Secretary of Labor)
  • Those receiving unemployment benefits this year will not have to pay federal income taxes on the first $2400 they receive.

• VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
  • $680 million

•  
  •  
    • $540 million for part B of Title I of the Rehabilitation Act
    • $140 million for parts Band C of Chapter 1 & 2 of Title VII of the Rehab act
      • $18.2 for state grants
      • $87.5 for independent living centers
      • $34.3 for services for older blind individuals

Visitability Strategy Group

A coalition to improve the availability of accessible, visitable homes in Ohio

Thanks to the leadership of the Columbus City Council, the week of May 18, 2009 was recognized as Visitability Awareness Week.

Visitability is a standard for new home construction that would ensure that all people have equal access to single family homes. Visitability features rely on three basic tenets:

o       An entrance that does not include steps or stairs but is accessible to a person with mobility impairment

o       Main floor doors and hallways that can accommodate a person in a wheelchair

o       An accessible bathroom with enough room to maneuver

Did you miss Visitability Awareness Week? It’s okay --

You can still send this alert to friends and family! Not only do we want to educate policymakers, but also members of the general public about this important feature to improve new home design and construction.

TAKE ACTION NOW -

By clicking on the link, you'll send a letter to your state legislators informing them about Visitability and letting them know you support this standard for homes built in the future.