New Federal Funding For Drct
Disability Rights Connecticut was recently awarded a federal grant regarding to provide education to and advocacy for people with disabilities to improve their access to the COVID-19 vaccine and information about the vaccine.
In order to implement the grant, DRCT has recently hired an advocate who will engage with individuals with disabilities throughout Connecticut with a particular focus on outreach to underserved groups who have been, among other things, disproportionately adversely affected by COVID-19 to provide them with information about the importance and availability of the vaccine, how to obtain reasonable accommodations/modifications to obtain the vaccine, and the availability of DRCTs individual advocacy services to assist with obtaining the vaccine.
The new DRCT advocate will also provide direct individual advocacy to persons with disabilities in Connecticut to assist them with obtaining the vaccine. DRCT will also create accessible publications explaining the importance of the vaccine and the availability of direct individual advocacy services provided by DRCT to individuals with disabilities who need assistance with gaining access to the vaccine.
Am I Eligible For Medicaid In Connecticut
Unlike most other states, Medicaid eligibility is not automatic when Connecticut residents who are approved for SSI. To be eligible for Medicaid, you must be disabled and meet the income and asset requirements for “Husky C” of Husky Health Connecticut. Here are the requirements.
Asset limit. An unmarried individual can have no more than $1,600 in assets. A couple can have no more than $2,400 in assets. Some assets, such as your principal residence and a portion of your automobile, are excluded from the asset calculation.
Income limit. Unmarried individuals living in Region A can have no more than $633.49 in net monthly income. Couples living in Region A can have no more than $805.09 in net monthly income.
Unmarried individuals living in Regions B and C can have no more than $523.38 per month in net income. Couples living in Regions B and C can have no more than $696.41 per month in income.
An institutionalized single person can earn no more than $2,250 a month in net income.
However, if you make too much money to be eligible for Medicaid, you may become eligible by deducting medical expenses from your excess monthly income. This is called a spend-down. If you spend down to a certain amount, you are eligible for Medicaid. For more information, contact the Connecticut Department of Social Services.
Replace A Disability Permit In Connecticut
If your handicap parking placard is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can request a replacement by re-submitting the Special Permit Application and Impairment Certificate .
When applying for a replacement:
- If you have a new style permit that has an expiration date, complete ONLY the applicant section.
- If you have an old permit, you must complete the entire application, including medical certification.
For details about replacing license plates that have been lost, stolen, or damaged, see our Connecticut lost registration page.
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Office Of Hearings Operations
The Office of Hearing Operations is responsible for handling all disability appeals. There are two OHO hearing offices in Connecticut that hear cases from the local SSA field offices. The contact information and the local SSA offices that they cover are listed below.
Hartford Hearing Office
135 High Street, Room 331William R. Cotter Federal BuildingHartford, CT 06103-1193Tel: 866-931-2878
Provides services to the following local SSA offices: Bristol, East Hartford, Hartford, Meriden, Middleton, New Britain, Torrington, Waterbury, Willimantic
New Haven Hearing Office
157 Church Street, 7th FloorNew Haven, CT 06510Tel: 866-613-2750
Provides services to the following local SSA offices: Ansonia, Bridgeport, Danbury, New Haven, New London, Norwalk, Norwich, Stamford
Social Security Disability Information/training
- Our phone lines are open for limited hours and are very busy.
- The wait time on the phone can be long.
- You can apply any time of day or night.
- The online application will help you find out if you qualify for our services.
- If you apply online, your phone interview will be shorter when we call you back.
- You can apply online for legal help with family, housing, public benefits, unemployment and other problems.
- You can also apply for bankruptcy, debtors rights and consumer protection only online.
- You can apply online using your computer.
If you have an emergencyyou should call our office.Do not fill out an application online.
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Settlement Reached In Ada Complaint Filed By Disability Rights Ct $10000 In Compensation Revised Practices & Training At Hartford Hospitals Institute Of Living
A complaint filed with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut by Disability Rights Connecticut has resulted in a settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act with the Institute of Living, a department of Hartford Hospital, on behalf of itself and its professional emergency room and managed mental health center within Hartford Hospital. The complainant was filed on behalf of a Connecticut resident who is profoundly deaf.
The settlement agreement requires the Institute to provide free of charge appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including qualified interpreters, at all of its patient facilities to individuals who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or DeafBlind, whenever it is necessary to ensure effective communication for those individuals. The Institute will also provide ADA training to all staff members, and the Institute will compensate the complainant represented by Disability Rights Connecticut in the amount of $10,000.
Disability Rights Connecticut Seeks Expedited Action From Us Office For Civil Rights Says Connecticuts New Covid Vaccine Policy Is Unlawful And Discriminatory Places People At Increased Risk
Disability Rights Connecticut has filed a formal complaint calling on the U.S. Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to require Connecticut to revise its discriminatory plan to allow hospitals to decide, without any uniform statewide policy and procedures, who will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as of April 1.
The complaint, filed today, also calls on OCR to require the state to amend its limited and arbitrary list of which disabilities will allow for eligibility, which is inconsistent with guidelines delineated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
DRCT is also calling on OCR to inform Connecticut that as the regulatory authority overseeing hospitals, it can and should establish a consistent, uniform statewide plan for vaccine eligibility.
Whether or not individuals with disabilities can receive a potentially life-saving vaccine should not depend on which high-risk disability or medical condition they have, where they live, which hospitals jurisdiction they fall under, or the whim of an administrator. This is the State of Connecticut, not TheHunger Games, said DRCT Executive Director Deborah Dorfman. People will be left out and left behind merely because their condition is complicated and not deemed worthy of prioritization by Connecticut, despite the contrary determination of the CDC. That is not, and should not be, an acceptable criteria for healthcare decisions.
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Social Security Disability Insurance For People With Cancer
Social Security Disability Insurance is a federal disability insurance benefit earned by people who have worked and paid into Social Security. Its only available to people who have disabilities that keep them from working. If you have cancer, you may be able to have your SSDI application processed more quickly
Disability Plates And Placards In Connecticut
CT Disability Placards & License Plates Summary:
Details about disability parking placards and license plates, handicapped parking rules and regulations, how to apply for a handicap placard or plate, and renewing and replacing a parking permit.
Disability Placards & Plates in Connecticut
In Connecticut, the Department of Motor Vehicles issues disability placards and license plates to those with qualifying disabilities.
Read below for application information about how to apply what a disability placard or plate entitles you to.
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After Receiving Your Ssn
After you receive your SSN you must visit UConn payroll or your employers payroll department to provide them with your number. Do not mail or email a copy of your card to your employer. Do not provide a copy of your number to ISSS.
It is important that you keep your SSN information private, except when needed to disclose for official purposes, because the number can be used to open up accounts in your name. Do not keep the SSN card in your wallet and try to memorize the number.
Keep the card in a safe place after leaving the U.S. because if you come back in the future, you may need to use the number again.
Apply For A Ct Disability Permit
The CT DMV accepts applications for disability permits in several ways depending on the type of parking permit you are applying for.
You will need:
- Medical certification completed ON the application by one of the following licensed individuals:
- Physician or physician’s assistant.
- Advanced practice registered nurse .
- Ophthalmologist or optometrist.NOTE: You can also submit VA certification in place of medical certification.
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Disability Advocacy Organizations File Federal Complaints Against Ct
HARTFORD – Disability Rights CT, the statewide protection and advocacy system for individuals with a range of disabilities, and CLRP, a nonprofit law firm representing people with psychiatric disabilities, today filed two federal complaints against the State of Connecticut with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.
The complaints allege violations of various federal anti-discrimination laws requiring equal access. DRCT and CLRP allege that Governor Lamonts refusal to require that towns and cities distributing the states essential supplies of COVID-19 test kits and N-95 masks during the Omicron wave prioritize individuals who are at high risk, either because of their health status or because of living in congregate settings, for the limited supplies available, violates federal lawREAD MORE
Category B: Profoundly Or Severely Deaf
If you have hearing loss which is greater than 70dBHL in both ears then you will qualify for a bus pass.
If your hearing loss is in one ear only, or if your better ear is less than 70bDHL then you will not qualify for a bus pass under this category.
Please read our Category B Information sheet before applying. This will tell you which evidence we can accept to demonstrate a qualifying disability.
If you cannot provide any of the pieces of evidence listed in the information sheet then you can ask a medical professional to complete the Evidence form CT-B1 category B profoundly or severely deaf
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The Basics About Disability Benefits
The SSDI program pays benefits to you and certain if you are insured. This means that you worked long enough and recently enough – and paid Social Security taxes on your earnings. The program pays benefits to adults and children with disabilities who have limited income and resources.
While these two programs are different, the medical requirements are the same. If you meet the non-medical requirements, monthly benefits are paid if you have a medical condition expected to last at least one year or result in death.
An Open Letter To Hartford Healthcare Ceo
The family of one of the individuals described in a complaint filed by DRCT with the Office for Civil Rights of the US Department of Health and Human Services has issued an Open Letter to Hartford Healthcare President and CEO Jeffrey Flaks, expressing alarm that the flagship hospital is denying patients with disabilities equity in treatment. See a copy of the Open Letter here.
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Disability Rights Groups Lobby Gov Lamont To Prioritize Vulnerable Residents In Distribution Of Covid
Two Connecticut disability rights groups have written to Gov. Ned Lamont asking him to prioritize people with high risk of severe illness in the process of distributing COVID-19 test kits and masks.
In a letter dated Friday, Disability Rights Connecticut and the Connecticut Legal Rights Project said the states failure to provide equitable access to testing and N95 masks violates state and federal anti-discrimination law. They wrote that disabled people, including those in prisons, psychiatric hospitals and group homes, should receive priority in the distribution processRead More
Summer Camps And The Ada June 2021
From: The U.S. Attorneys Office District of Connecticut
Children with learning, mental health, and/or physical disabilities have the same rights to attend summer camp as their non-disabled peers and cannot be denied admission due to their disability.
Helpful tips for summer camps:
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Camps must consider each childs needs on an individual basis.
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Guardians may seek reasonable modifications of the camps policies, practices, and procedures, if needed for the camper to fully participate in all camp activities.
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Requests for exceptions to COVID-19-related mask-mandates should be evaluated consistent with the ADA.
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Camps should train staff in the requirements of the ADA.
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Camps must train staff to monitor and supervise campers with diabetes just as they do for children with severe allergies.
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Camps must train staff to administer daily medicines required by campers with disabilities, such as insulin and emergency medications, such as glucagon and Diastat, just as they do for the proper use of Epi-Pens.
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The ADA does not require camps to hire a licensed medical practitioner to administer insulin or glucagon to campers.
Questions? Contact the Department of Justice, Disability Rights Section: 800-514-0301 800-514-0383
U.S. Attorneys Office: 203-821-3700
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What Should I Do If I Was In Special Education And Think I May Be Owed Compensatory Education
An award for compensatory education was given to students who were exited from special education because they turned 21 between July 2014 and June 2020. The issue of compensatory education has been referred to a different judge to decide what it will look like and how eligible students will be told about it. Please stay tuned for more information about this. DRCT will share additional information with the public as it becomes available.
Please contact DRCT at 297-4300 | 842-7303 | 509-4992 if you are currently a 21-year-old student who is being exited from special education before your 22nd birthday.
Contribute More With Earned Income
ABLE account owners who earn income may contribute additional funds beyond the annual $16,000 contribution limit. The additional annual contribution amount is equal to the federal poverty level for a one-person household or the account owner’s gross wages, whichever is less. Working account owners are not eligible to contribute the additional funds if they are already contributing to their retirement through:
- a defined contribution plan
- an annuity contract
- an eligible deferred compensation plan
Account Owners should keep adequate records to ensure the limit is not exceeded. Any increase in contributions could impact tax obligations, so consult a tax advisor before making any such increase. If you are eligible, fill out the Self Certification form.
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Open An Account In Minutes
Just tell us a little bit about yourself and select your investments. That’s it. You can easily access your account at any time, from a PC, tablet, or mobile device. Plus, you can get started with as little as $25.
Ways to contribute:
- debit card or check, when you contribute to the Fifth Third Bank Checking Option
Chances Of Approval At A Hearing
In the state of Connecticut, the chances of approval at an appeals hearing with a Administrative Law Judge is a bit lower than the national average . Although, the citizens of Connecticut typically don’t have to wait as long for a hearing or a final decision compared to the national averages. Here are some statistics about Connecticut’s hearing offices.
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State Supplemental Payment To Ssi
The federal SSI payment can be as high as $771 for those without income, and the Connecticut State Supplement Program provides a small supplemental payment to those who receive Supplemental Security Income . The monthly cash award depends on how much rent you pay and what other income you have. Supplemental payments, which are paid through the State Supplement to the Aged, Blind or Disabled program, can be as low as $150 for an individual living independently or as high as the cost of room and board at a residential care home or medical facility. The supplement is administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services.
Disability Benefits For Veterans
You may be eligible for disability benefits if you’re on disability from your service in the Canadian Armed Forces or Merchant Navy.
You may get social assistance payments from:
- your province or territory
- your First Nation
These payments will depend on your household income, savings and investments.
You may also be eligible for health-related benefits from your province or territory. These benefits may include benefits that help cover the cost of:
- medications
- medical aids or devices
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Three Legal Services Programs File Complaint With Federal Office For Civil Rights To Investigate Discriminatory Allocation Of Covid
On March 8, 2021, attorneys with Connecticut Legal Services, Greater Hartford Legal Aid, and New Haven Legal Assistance Association filed a Complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights , on behalf of their low-income clients who are people who are Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian, and all other nonwhite racial identities in CT , including those with disabilities. The complaint requests that OCR investigate Connecticuts COVID-19 allocation plan that was announced on February 22, 2021, which violates Title Vl of Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, Title Il of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, by:
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imposing eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 vaccine that discriminate against and unfairly burden nonwhite individuals protected by law
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refusing to reasonably modify its COVID-19 vaccine policy so that it no longer discriminates against nonwhite individuals
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refusing to reasonably modify its COVID-19 vaccine policy to not discriminate against those with disabilities and pre-existing conditions.