Dear NACDD representatives and advocates,
Thank
you to everyone who was able to be on the NACDD Weekly COVID-19 Updates Zoom meeting! Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions and additional advocacy resources
from our coalition partners. Don't forget to calendar our next update meeting on Wednesday, April 15, Zoom
Meeting https://zoom.us/j/216063210, Meeting
ID: 216 063 210 or one tap mobile +13126266799,,216063210#
US (Chicago) +19292056099,,216063210#
US (New York). Donna will be back to lead the call and answer any questions.
Q&A
Most of the questions on the call were about implementation of the Rebate Payments that were passed in the federal response legislation. Please understand that the implementation issues
are happening quickly, so things may change, but here are a few answers to questions raised on the call and through the chat dialogue.
1) Are Social Security beneficiaries (SSI, SSDI) eligible
for Rebate Payments?
Yes. Recipients
of Social Security, disability or veterans' benefits as well as taxpayers who do not make enough money to normally have to file a tax return will receive a payment. This also includes those who have no income, as well as those whose income comes entirely from
certain benefit programs, such as Supplemental Security Income benefits.
The IRS will use the information on the Form SSA-1099 to generate Economic Impact Payments of $1,200 to these individuals even if they did not file tax returns in 2018 or 2019. Recipients
will receive these payments as a direct deposit or by paper check, just as they would normally receive their benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients are also part of this group who don't need to take action.
2) Are adults who are claimed as dependents eligible for Rebate
Payments?
No. You
are not eligible if you can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return. For example, this would include a child, student or older dependent who can be claimed on a parent’s return.
3) Do any Social Security recipients have to file
a tax return even if they are not usually required to file one?
No.
Unless:
a) They do not receive a SS 1099. A small number of SSDI disability recipients either do not get enough income
from these sources or have recently filed in 2020. If you do not get an SS 1099, then you might need to take additional action to get the rebate. IRS promises additional guidance on this issue, and advocates are working hard for clarification.
b) They want to claim a child tax rebate. If Social Security recipients are claiming a child rebate, they
may need to file a tax return for 2020 to get the additional $500. Again, we are waiting from IRS to give additional guidance at this time so this may change.
Additional Rebate Payment resources:
4) PA DD Council: Do
you expect the Heroes Fund to be a part of COVID 4?
Senate
Democrats and House Leadership is calling for a COVID-19
“Heroes Fund” proposal to reward, retain, and recruit essential workers.
It includes: 1) $25,000 premium pay increase for essential workers, equivalent to a raise of $13 per hour from the start of the public health emergency until December 31, 2020, and 2) $15,000 essential worker recruitment incentive to attract and secure the
workforce needed to fight the public health crisis. NACDD is very excited that this proposal
would include home health providers or self-directed care worker as "essential" and eligible for premium pay. This
would help ensure coverage of the 2.2 million home health aides, direct service providers, and personal care workers who provide services to more than 12 million Americans.
Chances for passing really depends on whether the Senate and House can agree to a bill that is broad enough to include this proposal or if they want
to keep the bill narrow. On Thursday, we saw this play out with the McConnell offering to pass an "interim" emergency bill that only included increases to small business loans. That idea failed and we continue to advocate for swift passage of a broader bill
to meet the needs of all people, including people with disabilities!
5) Kate Brady GCDD: Do we know if we've seen hospitals adjust their no-caregiver policies for patients with disabilities? Recognizing
the value of the guidance documents, but not hearing in GA of concessions, so appreciate good news from other places.
I am checking with national groups, but I have not heard any success stories yet. Perhaps someone on this
list was successful? If so, please email me at xxxxxx@nacdd.org and I will share with the group.
6) Teri Morgan: I've recently been hearing of concerns about Medicaid non-emergency
transportation not covering transportation for drive through testing. Have you heard of this issue in other states. Would this be an 1135 waiver amendment?
I know that several states have included this in their waivers, and it would certainly be appropriate for an
1135. (Something I will add to our NACDD "considerations for emergency waivers" list!) But, DD Councils can also quickly reach out to state departments of transportation
to make sure NEMT providers get the advantage of the infusion of $25
billion in formula grants for public transit in the last COVID-19 stimulus package. That money will go fast, so your relationships with DOT and governors office should be
flexed.
On the national level, advocates are also asking for "blanket" Medicaid waivers protect NEMT benefit in the
Medicaid Program and adjusted volunteer driver reimbursement rates. Click
here for a letter from CTAA to Congress asking for additional Medicaid flexiblity. Or cut and paste this web address into your browser: https://ctaa.org/covid-19-resources/ .
Advocacy Resources
Here are the "3 Things You Can Do Now" mentioned on the call:
1) Due today! Share your stories, photos and videos about what home and community support means to people with disabilities and the direct support professionals and personal care attendants
who support them. Senators are collecting stories to use advocating for the next COVID bill. Send an email with your story to xxxxxx@aging.senate.gov by April 10th. You can also share on Twitter #WhatWeNeed.**Remember
that once you share a story online it is public, so please make sure respect the privacy of people in your story.
2) AUCD is also collecting stories from people with intellectual and developmental disabilities about how COVID19 affects them. You can submit stories about HCBS, social isolation,
Click here
to submit your story. Or cut and paste this address into your browser: https://www.aucd.org/template/news.cfm?
3) NDRN is sending messages to Congress telling them not to adopt any waivers for educational services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Secretary
of Education Betsy DeVos will report to Congress in the next few weeks and could recommend education waivers that would allow schools to drop services for students with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click here
to send a message to your senators and representatives or copy and paste this email into your browser:
https://ndrn.salsalabs.org/covidedwaivers/index.html
But because you want to do more.... Please participate and share these action alerts from our coalition partners.
5) The Arc provides templates for social media, phone calls, and email to members of Congress asking them to include
critical needs of people with disabilities, their families, and the direct support professional (DSP) workforce in the next COVID response bill. Click any of the links below
to advocate.
Erin Prangley
Director, Policy
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
1825 K Street, NW, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20006
