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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced changes to certain benefits and programs that take effect in 2010. These changes include a delay until June 30, 2010 in out-of-pocket payments for pharmaceuticals. This means the department will delay a scheduled $1.00 increase to $9.00, in the co-payments for each 30-day supply of medicine for the treatment of conditions not related to military service. During this period, VA will also keep $960 as the maximum, annual out-of-pocket payments for pharmaceuticals for non-service-related conditions. For more information visit the VA's Compensation & Pension Services Web site.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has launched the Choose Work web site for people receiving Social Security disability benefits. View short, informative videos; hear powerful stories told by people whose circumstances have led them to explore the Ticket and other Work Incentives; experience a Work Incentive Seminar Event and find local resources and other helpful information for Social Security disability beneficiaries who want to return to work.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has hosted a public hearing on Compassionate Allowances for people living with schizophrenia. SSA heard testimony from some of the nation's leading experts on schizophrenia about possible methods of identifying and implementing Compassionate Allowances for young adults with schizophrenia. "Schizophrenia is a devastating disease that affects more than two million Americans, primarily individuals in their teens and twenties," said Commissioner Astrue. "The onset of schizophrenia has life-changing consequences, which can include unemployment and homelessness."
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has reported that for the first time since 1999 SSA has ended the year with fewer disability hearings pending than in the prior year. Social Security ended fiscal year (FY) 2009 with 722,822 hearings pending compared to 760,813 hearings pending at the start of the year, a reduction of more than 37,000 cases. Over the same period, the average processing time for these cases improved from 514 days in FY 2008 to 491 in FY 2009. Read more about SSA's hearings and appeals process.
Employers that have a demonstrated commitment to hiring people with disabilities are encouraged to consider becoming Employer Partners of the Ticket to Work Program. Being an Employer Partner allows companies to gain exposure to thousands of Americans with disabilities with a link to their career or job posting websites.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has entered into an agreement with Microsoft to test the use of Microsoft's HealthVault application in the disability process. HealthVault is a free online service that enables people to gather, store and manage their families' health information, and share that information with their physicians and healthcare providers. These personal health records contain the same types of information that Social Security generally obtains from people applying for disability benefits.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) heard testimony from some of the nation's leading experts on early-onset Alzheimer's disease and related dementias about possible methods for identifying and implementing Compassionate Allowances for people living with early-onset Alzheimer's.
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