We really did tweet the SRS budget hearing in social services budget comm. this afternoon, yet somehow the tweets disappeared. Sorry!
Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)
Posted On: January 13, 2012
Categorized: Consumer Opportunities, Independent Living
Tagged: assistance, Budget, Disability, Independent Living, LIEAP, SRS
Do you need assistance to pay your utilities bills? Starting January 18, 2012 The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) applications will be available at your local Social Rehabilitation Services (SRS) office and on the SRS website through March 30, 2012.
LIEAP is a federally funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of their home energy costs by providing a one-time per year benefit. You will receive a paper application in the mail if you are a 2011 LIEAP applicants and December recipients of food, cash, or medical assistance. LIEAP applications can be submitted online or by mail starting January 18th through March 30th.
The following summary describes basic LIEAP eligibility provisions. If you need additional information you can contact SRS at 1-800-432-0043.
In order to qualify, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- An adult living at the address must be personally responsible for paying for heating costs incurred at the current residence, payable either to the landlord or to the fuel vendor.
- Applicants must demonstrate a recent history of payments toward purchase of the primary heating energy.
- The combined gross income (before deductions) of all persons living at the address may not exceed 130% of the federal poverty level according to the guidelines listed below:
|
Persons Living |
2012 Maximum Allowable |
|
1 |
$1,180 |
|
2 |
$1,594 |
|
3 |
$2,008 |
|
4 |
$2,422 |
|
5 |
$2,836 |
|
6 |
$3,249 |
|
7 |
$3,663 |
|
8 |
$4,077 |
|
9 |
$4,491 |
|
10 |
$4,905 |
|
11 |
$5,319 |
|
12 |
$5,732 |
2012 Legislative Session
Posted On: December 28, 2011
Categorized: Advocacy, Consumer Opportunities, Legislative Updates
Tagged: advocacy, brownback, CIL, Disability, Independent Living, Individual Advocacy, Legislature, Systems Advocacy
With the new year comes a new Legislative session in Kansas. The 2012 Session starts on Monday January 9th at 2:00pm and promises to be a busy one.
The disability community will be closely watching as the Administration and the Legislature take on huge items including an expected Executive Order re-organizing SRS, the Medicaid overhaul into a managed care system, an anticipated move to do away with income tax, Education finance reform, and KPERS reform.
The Resource Center for Independent Living will be working to make sure our consumers and community partners stay updated on the goings on within the Statehouse. We’ll utilize this blog, our Twitter and Facebook pages, as well as our existing NetPals email service.
Something new that we plan on introducing this session are video updates from the Statehouse from our advocates on the front lines, our consumers giving testimony, and others. These will be posted to our YouTube stream as well as on our blog and other social media outlets.
2012 will be a year of big changes for the disability community in Kansas and for the State as a whole. Join us in getting our updates and information out to our friends, families, Legislators, and community partners.
Let us know if you would like to share your story with your Legislators or the media. We are looking for individuals who utilize services or who are on waiting lists for services, people who are working or who are struggling to find employment. Contact us today and share your voice.
You May Qualify for a Free Lifeline Cell Phone
Posted On: December 23, 2011
Categorized: Consumer Education, Consumer Opportunities, Programs and Services
Tagged: Communication, consumer opportunity, Disability, Independent Living, Lifeline, ReachOut Wireless, Telephone
In Kansas (and several other states), certain people may be income-eligible to receive a free cell phone and limited minutes at no cost.
If you are not currently enrolled in another Lifeline program (meaning discounted land-line service, NOT the Personal Emergency Response System) and you, or someone in your household, receive any of the following services you will probably qualify.
- Food Stamps
- Medicaid
- Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- National School Free Lunch Program
- Temporary Assistance for Need Families (TANF)
The ReachOut Wireless program offers a Free cell phone and Free minutes automatically added each month. The service also includes Caller ID, Texting, and Voicemail. There is NO credit check, NO security deposit, and NO contract. There are no recurring charges, monthly fees, or surcharges.
Unlike traditional cell phone companies, your phone will never deactivate and your minutes will never expire as long as you remain active on the ReachOut program. Every 30 days minutes are added and any unused from the previous month simply carry over. If you need additional minutes they can be purchased from a ReachOut Wireless retailer, MoneyGram location, or over the phone.
For more information, visit ReachOut Wireless online or call them at 1-877-870-9444.
**The Resource Center for Independent Living does not endorse or certify in any way the services of ReachOut Wireless.
Are You Ready to File Your Taxes?
Posted On: December 10, 2011
Categorized: Consumer Education, Consumer Opportunities, Independent Living, Programs and Services
Tagged: CIL, consumer opportunity, Disability, Independent Living, Information and Referral, taxes
Starting January 1, 2012 everyone will be busy filing their 2011 Income taxes, Homestead tax refund, and/or Food Sales tax refund. The deadline to file is April 17, 2012. Independent Living Specialists (ILS) at RCIL will be available to teach consumers that are interested to learn how to file their Homestead tax refund and Food Sales tax refund on their own.
There is a resource library in every RCIL office that has a computer and internet access if you prefer to file your tax refunds electronically. You can use the library on your own or with ILS assistance.
If you are a person that would rather have someone do it for you every year there are free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs (VITA) in every local community. They are trained by Internal Revenue Services (IRS) on how to file Homestead and Food Sales tax refunds and Incomes taxes electronically. They will be available on a first come first served basis with evening appointments available. To find out where your local VITA site in your area you can contact your local Department on Aging, Community Action Program, Senior Center, Public Library, or County Clerk.
To prepare your taxes you will need the following information:
- Photo ID
- Social Security cards for all persons claimed on each return
- Birth dates for all dependents
- All documents showing 2011 income such as W-2, 1099’s, Social Security year-end statements, and Unemployment statements
- Interest & dividend statements
- A copy of your 2011 return (if possible)
- Real Estate Property Tax Statements (if applicable)
- Persons claiming childcare expenses should bring name of provider, address, phone number, tax ID number, and amount paid
- If you prefer to receive your refund checks as a direct deposit you should bring bank or credit union routing and account numbers
We Have the Ability to Serve!
Posted On: December 5, 2011
Categorized: Consumer Opportunities, Independent Living, Volunteerism
Tagged: AmeriCorps, KYEA, Volunteerism
This is the time of year that we get so tired of hearing about giving back to the community it makes us want to hurl. Hopefully this won’t be one of those times. Instead of talking about charity, let’s reframe the conversation.
How about becoming active participants in our community? We spend so much of our time and energy fighting for accessibility in our daily lives it’s exhausting! Getting involved in community that supports you may be the last thing on your list. But let’s say for a minute it isn’t. What’s the benefit of volunteering your time?
Volunteering is an easy resume builder and that means employment skills! Do you feel like the place you’re volunteering at hasn’t been using you to your fullest potential? Tell them that, get more experience, and start padding that portfolio for future employment.
Did you know that participating in AmeriCorps will not effect your social security? It’s true! AmeriCorps is a nation-wide program that provides “AmeriCorps members to meet the vital needs of the country through intensive service.” (You can find more information on local AmeriCorps programs at the Kansas Volunteer Commission website at www.kanserve.org). Participating in AmeriCorps not only puts money in your pocket, but it looks great on a resume and broadens your network of colleagues and friends.
AmeriCorps isn’t the only way to volunteer, of course. Maybe you’re not able to make that kind of commitment. What about smaller volunteer opportunities? Think of the agencies and organizations that have helped you in your life. What better way to show your appreciation than donating your time so that others may benefit from the same services you did. Did your local Center for Independent Living help you build a ramp to your house? Did your children meet new friends through their after-school program? Or maybe a domestic violence shelter helped a friend get back on their feet again.
There are countless ways of figuring out where to best use your skills and start becoming an active participant in your community. Not sure where to start? Worried about accessibility and accommodations as a volunteer? Never fear! The Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy’s Ability to Serve program is here to help you start making those connections and solving those problems. Just give me, Rachel, a call at 785-215-6655 or developmentcoordinator@kyea.org and we will get you on your way to making a difference in your community.
**This is a guest post from Rachel Gadd-Nelson, Development Coordinator with Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy
Low Vision Fair Coming Soon!
Posted On: September 16, 2011
Categorized: Blind and Low Vision, Consumer Education, Consumer Opportunities
Tagged: blind, consumer opportunity, Disability, Eye Disease, Glaucoma, Visual Impairment
Do you have questions about low vision? Have you noticed you don’t see like you used to? Have you been diagnosed with low vision and want to see what’s out there to help?
Come to our low vision fair to hear Dr. David Nelson explain low vision and low vision exams, find out what assistive technology is available and learn what services are available in your own home.
The Low Vision Fair will be held on Wednesday September 21 from 1:00pm-5:00pm at the Resource Center for Independent Living office in Topeka. 519 SW 37th Topeka, Ks 66611.
If you have questions please contact Mandy Smith by phone at 785-528-3105.
The Low Vision Fair is brought to you by Dr. David Nelson, OD, Assistive Technology for Kansans, ikan, and RCIL.
Olmstead Anniversary Celebration – You’re Invited!
Posted On: June 15, 2011
Categorized: Advocacy, Consumer Education, Consumer Opportunities, Independent Living
The Kansas Association of Centers for Independent Living (KACIL), which RCIL is a member of, is celebrating the 12th Anniversary of the Olmstead Supreme Court decision Wednesday, June 22 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site.
Twelve years ago, the United States Supreme Court rejected the state of Georgia’s appeal to enforce institutionalization of individuals with disabilities and affirmed the right of individuals with disabilities to live in their community in its 6-3 ruling against the state of Georgia in the case Olmstead v. L.C. and E.W. The Olmstead Decision gave people with disabilities the tools necessary to demand what is rightfully theirs—the right to live independently in their community. The Supreme Court affirmed the ruling of the lower courts that Georgia had violated the integration mandate under Title II of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which states that states must develop comprehensive plans to end unnecessary institutionalization at a “reasonable place” with the goal of integrating individuals with disabilities into mainstream society to the fullest extent possible. As part of the preparation for the anniversary celebration in Kansas, KACIL members have asked Governor Brownback for Kansas’s Olmstead plan.
The celebration will include refreshments and information about the independent living movement in Kansas as well as testimonies from individuals who have been impacted by the Olmstead decision.
Please come out to this great event and support independent living in Kansas!
All About AgrAbility
Posted On: November 19, 2010
Categorized: Consumer Opportunities
Tagged: agribility, agriculture
Information on Agribility courtesy of Kerri Ebert, Kansas AgrAbility Project Coordinator, with the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Kansas State University.
The Kansas AgrAbility Project assists people with disabilities who are employed in agriculture. Its goal is to inform, educate, and assist farmers, farm families, and farm workers who have disabilities, so they can continue to work and thrive in their agricultural career.
Kansas AgrAbility is a partnership between K-State Research & Extension in Manhattan, Southeast Kansas Independent Living, and Assistive Technology for Kansans, both based in Parsons. Contact Kansas AgrAbility by calling 1-800-526-3648 or http://agrability.bae.ksu.edu/. The project is funded by a United States Department of Agriculture grant for the purpose of providing information and resources to help Kansas farmers with disabilities locate and access appropriate assistive occupational technologies. Fostering the ability of farmers to live and work independently is the ultimate goal.
Kansas AgrAbility customers can be owner/operators, farm employees, or family members. AgrAbility services are available at no cost for any type of disability – physical, cognitive, or sensory. Examples of disabilities include, but are not limited to: Amputation, arthritis, back pain or injury, hearing impairment or deafness, head injury, heart problems, neurological disorders, paralysis, Parkinson’s Disease, respiratory problems, stroke, or traumatic brain injury.
Any disability that limits an individual’s capacity to do agricultural work or activities of daily farm living qualifies that person for AgrAbility services. Kansas AgrAbility Agriculture Assistive Technology (AT) Specialists meet directly with farmers. These professionals combine their knowledge of agriculture with disability expertise to provide farmers with the specialized services needed to safely accommodate their disabilities in everyday farm and ranch operations.
AgrAbility provides information and educational materials for farmers, ranchers, their family members , and the professionals who serve them; recommends farm equipment modifications, home modifications, and adaptive equipment; and refers farm families to local service providers.
Call for Applications for Appointments to KCDC
Posted On: August 17, 2010
Categorized: Consumer Opportunities
Tagged: advocacy, consumer opportunity, kcdc
The Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns (KCDC) is taking applications for consideration for appointment. KCDC is an advisory body to state government for changes to state programs, laws and regulations that improve participation of Kansans with disabilities in those programs and their communities. The commission must have representation of a variety of disabilities, geographic locations and organizations. The five positions open for appointment include representation from centers for independent living, K-12 education, respite care, and parents of a child with disabilities. Geographic locations include, Lawrence, Johnson County, Andover, Wichita and Hays. Consideration will be given to filling these gaps first. Others may apply and be considered if too few applications are received that would replace these folks.
A copy of the board roles and responsibilities are located here. If you would like to be considered for appointment, please complete the application and either e-mail, fax or mail it to Martha Gabehart (1-800-295-5232, mgabehart@kcdcinfo.com) by August 27.
Please share this invitation to apply to others you think would be interested.