Pretty sure of the following:

Unemployment benefits are reported as income and therefore subject to tax.
The advantage of placing the money in a ABLE account is to avoid ASSET LIMTS in programs like Medicaid and SSI. The limitations related to income still apply. So, you might see your monthly SSI amount go down (but you are still making more overall because of your earnings). But, SSI could not suspend the benefit altogether because you had hit the asset limit of $2000.

Best,

Kirsten

Kirsten Murphy

Executive Director

Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council

xxxxxx@Vermont.gov

CELL PHONE: 603-443-0652

Bringing Vermonters with Developmental Disabilities

Into the Heart of Vermont Communities.

From: xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com <xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com> On Behalf Of Williams, Brett (DHHS)
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2020 8:03 AM
To: Steve Gieber <xxxxxx@kcdd.org>; Kari Horn <xxxxxx@dhhs.nv.gov>; xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com
Subject: RE: DD Councils Re: Unemployment Insurance for Workers with Disabilities

EXTERNAL SENDER: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize and trust the sender.

Good morning everyone:

I am not a tax expert, however, I believe that unemployment benefits may be considered an income, and even though a person deposits this check into an ABLE account, they still will have to be careful not to exceed the asset limits based on monthly income. If someone has any clarity on this, it would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Brett Williams

Public Policy Analyst

Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council

Phone: 517-284-7289

Fax- 517-335-2751

Confidentiality Notice: This message, including any attachments, is intended solely for the use of the named recipient(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution of any confidential and/or privileged information contained in this email is expressly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy any and all copies of the original message

From: xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com <xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com> On Behalf Of Steve Gieber
Sent: Friday, April 10, 2020 5:42 PM
To: Kari Horn <xxxxxx@dhhs.nv.gov>; xxxxxx@nacdd.simplelists.com
Subject: DD Councils Re: Unemployment Insurance for Workers with Disabilities

Most sheltered workshop claim the pay isn’t a wage but a training stipend and don’t pay into unemployment insurance. So the worker wouldn’t be eligible

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 10, 2020, at 3:01 PM, Kari Horn <xxxxxx@dhhs.nv.gov> wrote:

Had a conversation with a stakeholder today and he’s been looking into whether or not workers in sheltered workshops (yes, we still have some) may be entitled to the $600/week in expanded unemployment insurance.

If this is true these folks would have to open ABLE accounts to avoid losing Medicaid/SSI/SSDI. But it might be a good opportunity to get some money in people's pockets and increase their financial independence.

Wanted to see if any of the other DD councils had contemplated this at all?

Kari Horn

Executive Director

Nevada Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities

808 W. Nye Lane, Carson City, NV 89703

Phone: 775-684-8619

Email: xxxxxx@dhhs.nv.gov

Website: www.nevadaddcouncil.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NVGCDD/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/NVGCDD

*Please note that if you are a member of the NGCDD Council or Council Committee, any response to an email in the form of "reply to all" may constitute an open meeting law violation.

This message and accompanying documents are covered by the electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521, may be covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and may contain confidential information or Protected Health Information intended for the specified individual(s) only. If you are not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this document in error and that any review,dissemination, copying, or the taking of any action based on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify sender immediately by e-mail,and delete the message.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Erik Jimenez <xxxxxx@nevadatreasurer.gov>
Date: April 10, 2020 at 12:30:04 PM PDT
To: Kari Horn <xxxxxx@dhhs.nv.gov>
Subject: Unemployment Insurance for Disabled Workers

Hi Kari! I hope you're doing well.

Do you have 5 minutes to hop on the phone today at all? I've been digging around and we think that workers in sheltered workshops may be entitled to the $600/week in expanded unemployment insurance.

If we're right, these folks would have to open ABLE accounts to avoid losing Medicaid/SSI/SSDI. But it might be a good opportunity to get some money in people's pockets and increase their financial independence.

Wanted to see if you or any of the other DD councils had contemplated this at all?