Spring 2000 ~ Newsletter
Cystic Fibrosis and Reproduction
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Law Passed To Allow CF Patients To Work And Keep Their SSI Benefits
by Brett Vebber
A law passed by President Clinton on December 17, 1999, "Ticket to Work Incentives Improvements Act of 1999" directly affects those on SSA. It provides SSDI and SSI disability beneficiaries with a ticket to work from an employment network of their choice.The program will be phased in nationally over a three-year period beginning 2001. States will have the option to permit working individuals with SSI to be able to make above 250 percent of the federal poverty level (around $35,000) or buy into Medicaid as insurance. This law was created to allow people to work in hopes of reducing SSDI by $1 for each $2 that a beneficiary earns over a certain amount of work. The law establishes a Work Incentives Advisory Panel within Social Security composed of 12 members, half with disabilities.The struggle many adults with Cystic Fibrosis have while being covered by Social Security is trying to be addressed in this bill. Many CF's know that if they work, there is a chance of losing their Social Security benefits needed to cover the essentials like medicine and hospitalizations. This is all explained in different articles that are provided for you through our web site. If you have questions, there is even a specific Questions and Answers article.