Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Richard M. "Mike" DeWine, R-Ohio, Tuesday introduced their third bill aimed at helping people with disabilities work outside the home while still receiving federal benefits. The Community Living Assistance Support and Services Act of 2005 would be a public insurance program, funded by a voluntary payroll tax of $30 per month. Workers who have contributed to the program for at least five years would be eligible to receive $50 to $100 in assistance per day if they became disabled, even if they continued to work.
Mr. Kennedy said the money could be spent as the recipient chooses on services such as transportation or personal home care. Mr. DeWine said many disabled people are unable to purchase private health and disability insurance because of pre-existing disabilities. People who become disabled frequently are "forced to bankrupt themselves" to get federal assistance, according to Jeff Sadosky, a spokesman for the senator. The bill would help disabled people work and be financially independent, he said.
Mr. Kennedy estimated that 7 percent of people with disabilities currently are unemployed and would benefit from the new program. "It's not a perfect bill," he said, adding that the measure is intended to build the concept of helping the working disabled, which could later be expanded to include the unemployed.
The payroll tax would be progressive, with low-income workers receiving a tax credit for a portion of the monthly premium. Unemployed people with disabilities could be covered if they had a working spouse. William Henning, director of the Independent Living Center in Boston, called the current system of aid for the disabled "counter- logical."
"It is a very complex system," he said. If a disabled person goes to work, Mr. Henning said, he or she is considered not to be "house- bound," and will lose eligibility for federal assistance. Mr. Henning said the assumption is that if a person can work and support himself, he must not be disabled. In fact, he said, "you can be quite disabled and still work." Mr. Henning has three employees who require assistance at home with activities such as cooking and bathing. In Worcester, this kind of assistance costs an estimated $22 an hour, or $28,000 a year, according to Mr. Kennedy's office.
Sens. Kennedy and DeWine also sponsored the bill reauthorizing the Rehabilitation Act in 1998, which funds employment training for disabled people, and the "Ticket to Work" Act of 1999, which allowed disabled people to join "employment networks" for placement assistance. Mr. Henning said the second bill helped disabled people gain better access to health insurance, but the job placement component hasn't worked as expected.
Reps. John D. Dingell, D-Mich., and John M. Shimkus, R-Ill., will introduce the bill in the House later this week, Sen. Kennedy said.
Mr. Kennedy said the money could be spent as the recipient chooses on services such as transportation or personal home care. Mr. DeWine said many disabled people are unable to purchase private health and disability insurance because of pre-existing disabilities. People who become disabled frequently are "forced to bankrupt themselves" to get federal assistance, according to Jeff Sadosky, a spokesman for the senator. The bill would help disabled people work and be financially independent, he said.
Mr. Kennedy estimated that 7 percent of people with disabilities currently are unemployed and would benefit from the new program. "It's not a perfect bill," he said, adding that the measure is intended to build the concept of helping the working disabled, which could later be expanded to include the unemployed.
The payroll tax would be progressive, with low-income workers receiving a tax credit for a portion of the monthly premium. Unemployed people with disabilities could be covered if they had a working spouse. William Henning, director of the Independent Living Center in Boston, called the current system of aid for the disabled "counter- logical."
"It is a very complex system," he said. If a disabled person goes to work, Mr. Henning said, he or she is considered not to be "house- bound," and will lose eligibility for federal assistance. Mr. Henning said the assumption is that if a person can work and support himself, he must not be disabled. In fact, he said, "you can be quite disabled and still work." Mr. Henning has three employees who require assistance at home with activities such as cooking and bathing. In Worcester, this kind of assistance costs an estimated $22 an hour, or $28,000 a year, according to Mr. Kennedy's office.
Sens. Kennedy and DeWine also sponsored the bill reauthorizing the Rehabilitation Act in 1998, which funds employment training for disabled people, and the "Ticket to Work" Act of 1999, which allowed disabled people to join "employment networks" for placement assistance. Mr. Henning said the second bill helped disabled people gain better access to health insurance, but the job placement component hasn't worked as expected.
Reps. John D. Dingell, D-Mich., and John M. Shimkus, R-Ill., will introduce the bill in the House later this week, Sen. Kennedy said.
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