TALLAHASSEE, FL-Florida Governor Rick Scott is recommending additional funding to serve people on the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) waiver waiting list. Governor Scott's proposed 2013-2014 budget, Florida Families First, includes $1.1 billion for APD. A $36 million increase will allow individuals on the waiting list to enroll in the APD Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid waiver so they will receive services in their local communities. Those with the most critical needs will benefit from this new funding. Leaders of organizations that serve people with disabilities unanimously praised the governor's budget proposal. Read more HERE. 

The Children's Movement is a 325,000-strong coalition of Floridians who believe that every child deserves a full chance at the American dream. We know from the research that one profoundly important way to achieve this is to ensure that each child can read at grade level by third grade. That is central to The Children's Movement vision. Those children are far more likely to graduate from high school and college, to have a productive career, to be involved in their communities. Children who cannot read by the end of third grade are far more likely to drop out of high school, be involved in the criminal justice system and be a burden to society. Around the state, communities are embracing this goal and taking action. Never forgetting that families are most central to children's success, the Legislature can do its part by ensuring that these strategic investments are made.

To see The Children's Movement 2013 agenda, please click here.

The 2013 Tax Season has arrived! Join the City of Miami and ACCESS Miami at any of their locations to enjoy FREE tax services for qualifying City of Miami employees and residents. 

The City of Miami is once again joining forces with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and its partners to assist residents with their 2012 income tax preparation. Over 20 City partnered locations are offering free tax preparation services and other important resources such as FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) using the Benefit Bank (TBB) as part of this year's campaign.

Learn about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) at one of their locations. EITC is one of the nation's largest anti-poverty programs, annually lifting 6.6 million people out of poverty; half of these are children. Last year, over 26 million workers received nearly $59 billion in EITC. The average credit was $2,100, but can be as much as $5,891 depending on the worker's income, marital status and whether they have children. More than 60 percent of all tax returns claiming EITC are filed during February.

ACCESS Miami offers its residents programs and services to empower them with access to financial tools and education that are fundamental to economic prosperity. ACCESS Miami uses the Benefit Bank to provide assistance to its residents through the Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET) Offices and other community partners providing the opportunity to apply for Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, among other federal, state and local assistance.

Invite your family and friends to visit also!

Call 311 for the most update tax site list or click HERE. 

Having a disability should not require one to live in poverty. Receiving public benefits should not discourage employment. Yet many Americans with disabilities who receive public benefits feel trapped by the maze of rules and requirements and shy away from work for fear of losing their much needed benefits.

National Disability Institute (NDI), the first national non-profit dedicated exclusively to building a better economic future for people with disabilities, aims to make things a little easier. For more than 10 years, NDI staff members have hosted in-person benefits trainings in Florida, Arizona, New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Texas, Virginia, DC, Maryland, California, Ohio and more. With support from the Florida Development Disabilities Council, NDI has developed a self-paced benefits training entitled The Changing Face of Benefits, available as a downloadable workbook (pdf) or as a self-paced online course (www.floridabenefits.org).

The Changing Face of Benefits was created for:

• Families of Persons with Disabilities
• Disability Service Providers
• Self-Advocates

What you'll learn about in The Changing Face of Benefits - Florida:

• the impact of earnings on public benefits and incentives to work
• opportunities available in Florida to increase income and assets through financial stability programs
• making informed decisions about employment, earning and investment

For your convenience, The Changing Face of Benefits - Florida is divided into 8 Modules, and also includes a Glossary of Terms.

• Module 1: Meet the Players
• Module 2: Being an Advocate
• Module 3: Developing an Initial Application
• Module 4: SSDI and Medicare
• Module 5: Earning Wages and SSDI: More Incentives to work.
• Module 6: SSI and Medicaid
• Module 7: Earning Wages While Receiving SSI and Medicaid
• Module 8: Pathways to Advance Economic Self-Sufficiency for Persons with Disabilities in Florida

National Disability Institute is proud to offer CEUs to those who successfully complete the online version of "The Changing Face of Benefits - Florida" at www.floridabenefits.org