NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities’ Post

Do you have a disabled family member? There may be a tax-advantaged way for people to save for the needs of family members with disabilities, without having them lose eligibility for government benefits. It’s done though a tax-free ABLE account, which can be used for disability-related expenses. Eligible individuals currently must have become blind or disabled before turning age 26. (However, the SECURE 2.0 law increases the age to 46, beginning Jan. 1, 2026.) ABLE accounts can be created by eligible individuals to support themselves, by family members to support dependents, or by guardians. Contributions up to the annual gift-tax exclusion amount ($17,000 in 2023) can be made to an account each year. Read our blog for more information: https://bit.ly/452wNJu contact your trusted Axley & Rode advisor with questions.

📢 Emergency Budget Rally This Thursday! 📢 June 6th, 11 am 455 Golden Gate, San Francisco California faces a major budget deficit, and the Governor is proposing severe cuts to essential services. These cuts will affect people with disabilities, older adults, immigrants, and working-class communities. The proposed cuts include: * Eliminating IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) for undocumented Californians * Ending IHSS’s back-up provider program * Deep cuts to food programs, housing, and homelessness programs Speak Up for Our Communities! Join us and other organizations supporting disability rights, aging, immigrant, worker, and labor groups. We must make it clear that we will not accept these budget cuts. #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #OurHomesNotNursingHomes #SupportsNotSlashes #DontCutCommunities

Do you have a disabled family member? There may be a tax-advantaged way for people to save for the needs of family members with disabilities, without having them lose eligibility for government benefits. It’s done though a tax-free ABLE account, which can be used for disability-related expenses. Eligible individuals currently must have become blind or disabled before turning age 26. (However, the SECURE 2.0 law increases the age to 46, beginning Jan. 1, 2026.) ABLE accounts can be created by eligible individuals to support themselves, by family members to support dependents, or by guardians. Contributions up to the annual gift-tax exclusion amount ($17,000 in 2023) can be made to an account each year. Read our blog for more information: https://bit.ly/452wNJu contact your trusted Axley & Rode advisor with questions.

Do you have a disabled family member? There may be a tax-advantaged way for people to save for the needs of family members with disabilities, without having them lose eligibility for government benefits. It’s done though a tax-free ABLE account, which can be used for disability-related expenses. Eligible individuals currently must have become blind or disabled before turning age 26. (However, the SECURE 2.0 law increases the age to 46, beginning Jan. 1, 2026.) ABLE accounts can be created by eligible individuals to support themselves, by family members to support dependents, or by guardians. Contributions up to the annual gift-tax exclusion amount ($17,000 in 2023) can be made to an account each year. Read our blog for more information: https://bit.ly/452wNJu contact your trusted Axley & Rode advisor with questions.

We Have the Power to Do What Is Right - BOSS SJC Youth Collective How do you get involved? First and foremost, make sure you are REGISTERED TO VOTE. One of the best ways to get involved is with initiatives like the BOSS Bay Area's Social Justice Collective voting campaign, IMPACT THE VOTE. This campaign mobilizes, educates, and inspires communities to participate actively in the democratic process, emphasizing the importance of informed and engaged voting to enhance social justice. By joining forces with such movements, individuals can amplify their impact by joining a more considerable collective effort. The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them ~ Ida B. Wells https://lnkd.in/grNzQXNy

All this week we will be highlighting how new federal rules will improve help improve practices in Maine's own Child Care Affordability Program which helps pay child care costs for qualified families. Today, we are sharing about how new rules: LOWERS FAMILY COSTS FOR CHILD CARE Reducing child care costs for families increases stable employment and family wellbeing and improves access to child care. The final rule: LOWERS FAMILY COSTS FOR CHILD CARE Reducing child care costs for families increases stable employment and family wellbeing and improves access to child care. The final rule: • Prohibits Family Co-payments Above 7% of Family Income: Prohibits States and Territories from charging family co-payments above 7 percent of a family’s income. • Honors Tribal Sovereignty: Removes co-payment requirement for families served by Tribal Lead Agencies and allows Tribes to decide whether and how to structure co-payments. • Increases Consumer Education: Requires States and Territories to post online current information about their sliding fee scales and policies for waiving parent co-payments. https://lnkd.in/e-FgbETU

Florida's "Father First" initiative, with a budget of 27 million dollars, fails to allocate any funding to mothers who step into the role of primary wage-earners and family leaders after the death of a male spouse. This omission raises concerns about the injustice faced by these mothers, especially considering the historical denial of funding for initiatives focused on supporting widowed female individuals. It's truly astonishing to contemplate that, after enduring a pandemic as a widow—a widow-making pandemic - a monumental experience—they still remain largely invisible within our government systems locally, statewide and federally. Rest assured, I've thoroughly explored every department in Florida in an attempt to find where #widows are acknowledged, and unfortunately, I must report that they are nowhere to be found. https://lnkd.in/e82-y-dZ Promo "Will you choose to be a FATHER FIRST? Welcome to a new statewide and community-driven initiative empowering Florida fathers to embrace their unique roles in their children's lives." #Widows assume the role of both parents when the father passes away. Where is their support on the mother or the father side? #widowadvocate #widowsfirst #familiesfirst #fatherless #invisiblewomen #children #widowsupport #government #neglect #socialimpact #communityhealth #publichealth #awareness #education #vulnerable #families

2/2 No public events are scheduled. Mayor Bass will be in Washington, D.C. pushing to expand veteran eligibility for housing vouchers so that veterans don’t have to choose between their disability benefits and housing, lift the cap on project-based vouchers to provide cities with flexibility to build more affordable and supportive housing, and advocate for increased funding for housing choice vouchers. Read more about the trip here. The delegation will meet with leaders in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives including U.S. Senator (R-KS), U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and other congressional leaders. WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 No public events are scheduled. Mayor Bass will be in Washington, D.C. pushing to expand veteran eligibility for housing vouchers so that veterans don’t have to choose between their disability benefits and housing, lift the cap on project-based vouchers to provide cities with flexibility to build more affordable and supportive housing, and advocate for increased funding for housing choice vouchers. Read more about the trip here. 

Struggling with the complexities of administering a trust when a loved one becomes disabled? 🌟 Watch our latest reel to discover a 3-step overview of determining disability, appointing a successor trustee, and managing the trust for the benefit of the settlor. Don’t navigate this challenging time alone—get the support you need to handle everything with care while abiding by the terms of the trust. Click to watch! 🎥👇

Tax time is an ideal opportunity to introduce ABLE accounts for qualified individuals with disabilities.🧾✅ If a refund is deposited within an ABLE account, the refund will not impact eligibility for most federally funded, means-tested benefits while saved within the account or when those funds are spent on Qualified Disability Expenses (QDEs). Learn more at bit.ly/abletax.