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Getting My Own Address news - December 2014
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Community Events

  

Special Needs Dance Parties

Friday, December 19, 2014 

6-8 p.m.

Washington Senior Center/Municipal Bldg., 

57900 Van Dyke, Washington, MI 

Come join us in celebrating with food, music and friends! December theme is Christmas Party. Pay $4 at the door. No charge for caregiver. 

For information call: 586-752-6543 or  www.rwbparksrec.org 


FAR's Fantastic Friday Night Parties

Catch the perfect combination of friends, food and fun at the Friday Night Parties! Monthly themed events include games, crafts, dancing, food and more.

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. If you would like to receive email invitations preceding each party, contact Sara Renke by email at [email protected]. The cost of the parties is $10 and can be paid at the door.

Ages 13 years and older

6:30-9 p.m.

New location: Knox Auditorium at First Presbyterian Church1669 W. Maple Road, Birmingham, MI 

 

  • December 19, 2014 - Holiday party
  • January 16, 2015  - PJs and a movie night
  • February 20, 2015 -Snowball/Valentine

 http://www.farconservatory.org/our-programs/far-groups/  


Avondale Activity Night

Friday, January 30, 2015

 7-9:30 p.m.

Avondale Meadows Building 1435 W. Auburn Road Rochester Hills, MI

Ages 16-40 

                         

If your last name begins with A - L please bring a snack to share (no peanut products please.) If your last name begins with M - Z please bring a 2 liter of pop to share. No need to RSVP.  For questions call Annette McAvoy 248-537-6440.

GMOA logo
  

We hope the coming holidays are peaceful and joyful for you and your families. Best wishes for a great year for all in 2015!  

Please contact Linda Ronan Brown at [email protected] or  248-269-1346 to schedule a GMOA Overview presentation or for other information on the GMOA program.
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Social Security and Supplemental Income benefits increase for 2015

 

The Social Security Administration has announced that monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for nearly 64 million Americans will increase 1.7% in 2015.

The 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that more than 58 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2015. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2014.

The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The monthly maximum Federal amounts for SSI in 2015 are $733 for an eligible individual and $1,100 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse.

Public benefits that can help pay for housing: Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

 

The Social Security Administration's Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to adults with disabilities who have limited income and resources. Go here for additional information  

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityssi/ssi.html  

  

For individuals who are eligible, this is a benefit that is meant to assist them in paying for basic needs. This includes shelter costs defined as:

  • Food
  • Utilities (electricity, gas, heating fuel, water)
  • Garbage removal
  • Real estate taxes
  • Rent or mortgage payments

If your son/daughter receives SSI while they are living in the family home, they will receive a higher benefit amount if you have a signed lease between you requiring them to pay you rent for their room and board/food. A standard lease form for your state is sufficient and can be accessed online or through your public library.

Help them to keep track of how their SSI benefit is spent too since this will be reported to Social Security once per year. Having their SSI directly deposited into a checking account and paying by check is one easy way to do this. By law, $44 of each SSI payment must be set aside for use by the SSI recipient for personal expenses.

 

The Social Security Administration does not have an SSI application online, however, you can use this checklist to help you gather the documentation you will need to apply for SSI. http://ssa.gov/hlp/radr/10/ovw001-checklist.pdf

 

Because it will help shorten the length of time before receiving benefits, start gathering this information in the year before the individual's 18th birthday.  However, do not delay applying for benefits because you do not have all the documents. Social Security will help you get them and you do not want to lose benefits by waiting. (Benefits run back to the date of application.) Social Security will accept photocopies of W-2 forms, self-employment tax returns or medical documents, but require the original of most other documents, such as your birth certificate. (They will return them to you.) 

Housing vacancies

 

Oakland County

Community Housing Network has three single vacancies in three scattered-site, residential homes in Oakland County for single adult individuals with a qualifying disability who meet HUD income guidelines.

 

Macomb County

Community Housing Network also has two single vacancies in two scattered-site, residential homes in Macomb County for single adult individuals with a qualifying disability who meet HUD income guidelines.

 

If you are interested in more information, please contact Karla Chambers at 248-269-1321 or [email protected]

Getting My Own Address Support Group 


Note: There is no GMOA Support Group meeting scheduled for the month of December

 

Please join us on Tuesday, January 20, 2015, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Community Housing Network 570 Kirts Blvd., Suite 231, Troy, to hear Thomas F. Kendziorski, Esq., executive director of The Arc of Oakland County speak  about the Etheridge Plan (EPLAN), fiscal intermediary services especially in regards to paying supports, and guardianship/DPOA choices.

 

The EPLAN can ensure consistent follow-up advocacy, in a consultative capacity, for the person with intellectual impairment and/or other developmental disabilities when their parents/families no longer can. Tom will also explain the role of a fiscal intermediary, and guardianship versus durable power of attorney.  

Online transition resources

 

The following resources were developed in Oakland County, but contain good general information about the transition to adulthood - educational rights, public benefits, checklists for turning 18, etc.

 

Transition Planning: A Roadmap to Your Future provides definitions, things to consider and resources.

 

 www.oakland.k12.mi.us 

 

Click on Departments-Special Education, Choose Transition Planning under Publications.

 

Transition Resource Navigator provides links to community agencies, organizations, and resources to assist with planning for transition from school to adult life. 

 

www.oakland.k12.mi.us 

 

Click on Departments-Special Education, Choose Compliance, than Secondary Transition Link can be found under Oakland ISD Resources.

  With support from:
OCCMHA

Community Housing Network | 248-928-0111 | [email protected] | http://www.communityhousingnetwork.org
570 Kirts Boulevard, Suite 231
Troy, MI 48084

www.communityhousingnetwork.org


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