Parents of adult children with disabilities know that their child's disability needs may change over the course of their lifetime. Planning for the future well-being of an adult child with disabilities is, therefore, a responsive, ongoing process.
The number of children with developmental disabilities is on the rise with new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that nearly 1 in 11 kids are diagnosed with autism, intellectual disability or developmental delay.
Allegheny County has created a Whole-Home Repairs Program which began taking applications on May 30th, 2023. The program, administered by ACTION-Housing, has $12 million dollars available for grants for eligible Allegheny County homeowners.
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) has designated May "Elder Law Month." NAELA members are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and people of all ages with disabilities.
Each March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and our partners work together to create a social media campaign that highlights the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities.
The Achieva Family Trust Benefits Counseling Program has received calls concerning the 2023 Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustments. Here is what individuals can expect with each benefit.
2023 is an exciting year for Achieva Family Trust. It marks our 25th year serving as corporate trustee for special needs trusts for people with disabilities!
A PA ABLE (Pennsylvania Achieving a Better Life Experience Act) Account is a useful tool that allows individuals with disabilities to save money without jeopardizing receipt of their government benefits.
In December 2022, Social Security COLA notices will be available online to most beneficiaries in the Message Center of their my Social Security account. This is a secure, convenient way to receive COLA notices online and save the message for later.
National Special Needs Law Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is proposing a new rule designed to simplify the application and verification processes for people seeking coverage through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program known as CHIP.
At Achieva Family Trust, we continue to promote the availability and benefits of ABLE accounts as another option for people with disabilities to save for the future. We have many trust beneficiaries who utilize ABLE accounts in conjunction with their Special Needs Trust.
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries could see their monthly payments rise again next year by the largest amount in decades, experts say.
Two years ago, in June of 2020, we introduced you to Ava Allenberg, Amazing Ava as she is called by many. Ava loves to dance! Since Ava started dancing in the fall of 2019, she has inspired a handful of others to start dancing and to express themselves in ways that make them shine.
Our caring staff of Trust Administrators and Regional Trust Liaisons all have significant experience in the social service field, including supporting people with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, Physical Disabilities, and Mental Health diagnoses.
Social Security Administration (SSA) has just released a new online tool to allow individuals to notify SSA that they want to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). It can be found on the SSA website, www.SSA.gov.
Every March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and its partners collaborate to observe Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM).
If you are concerned about how your employment income may affect your government benefits, we can help. Discover how Achieva Family Trust Employment Benefits Counseling Program can assist you to achieve your employment goals.
For the first time in four years, the amount of money that people with disabilities can save without jeopardizing eligibility for government benefits is rising. Starting this month, the Internal Revenue Service said that the federal gift tax exclusion is growing from $15,000 to $16,000 annually.
As we continue with our preparations for celebrating the holiday season, I want to take a look back at 2021 before we close the door on it and welcome in 2022.
People with disabilities receiving Supplemental Security Income and other Social Security benefits are set to see the biggest rise in their monthly payments since 1982. The change is the result of an automatic cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, which is tied to inflation.
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys has designated October as "National Special Needs Law Month." In honor of National Special Needs Law Month, Achieva Family Trust would like to take this opportunity to remind readers of the importance of future planning for individuals with disabilities.