Antivaxxer: "The pandemic in many ways played right into our conversation,”

 In The Politics of Autism, I analyze the discredited notion that vaccines cause autism. This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spread.   And among those diseases could be COVID-19.

Antivaxxers are sometimes violent, often abusive, and always wrong. 

Jessica Piper at Politico:

The Covid-19 pandemic has produced a remarkable financial windfall for anti-vaccine nonprofits. Revenue more than doubled for the Informed Consent Action Network and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Children’s Health Defense in 2021 compared to the year prior, according to a POLITICO analysis of tax filings. The nonprofits that survived on operating budgets of around a few million dollars just a few years prior are now raking in more than $10 million each.

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Informed Consent Action Network was among the most well-funded groups in the anti-vaccine movement prior to the pandemic. The nonprofit was pulling in $1.4 million in 2017. By 2021, its annual revenue topped $13.3 million, according to tax documents.

The group’s founder, Del Bigtree, hosts a podcast, The HighWire, where he discusses the group’s work. During the pandemic, the show released near-daily episodes, where Bigtree criticized lockdowns and masks, touted unproven treatments such as the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and questioned the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.

Bigtree told POLITICO that his audience grew over the pandemic, from thousands of weekly listeners to millions. “The pandemic in many ways played right into our conversation,” he said.

The growth came despite major distribution platforms such as Facebook and YouTube removing The Highwire, citing misinformation policies.

It also brought in a rush of grassroots giving. Bigtree said smaller, recurring donors now account for a large share of the group’s funding. Most of the donations to the Informed Consent Action Network documented in tax documents are through donor-advised funds, a setup often used by wealthy benefactors to keep their identities private.

The group was not alone in its pandemic-era growth. A longtime anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, the nonprofit launched in 2011 under the name World Mercury Project, also saw its revenue balloon. The group, which is led by longshot Democratic presidential candidate Kennedy, saw its revenue go from just over $1 million in 2018 to more than $15 million in 2021, according to the nonprofit’s federal tax filings.

New York Legislation on Employment

The Politics of Autism includes an extensive discussion of policy initiatives in the states.

At The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, New York), Asssemblyman Angelo Santabarbara writes that many autistic people face difficulty with employment.

To help alleviate this barrier, we need more than a culture of awareness. We need acceptance and incentives to get us there. The New York State Assembly recently passed a bill establishing a tax credit ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 for small businesses that employ people with disabilities (A.3960 of 2021).

This credit would be available for companies with fewer than 100 employees that employ a disabled person for at least six months for a minimum of 35 hours a week.

To further combat discriminatory employment practices, I have introduced a bill that would seek to award 5% of state contracts to businesses where 15% of the employees are individuals with disabilities (A.2593).

The bill would involve creating a statewide study to determine whether there is a disparity between the number of qualified businesses able to perform state contracts and the numbers actually engaged, and determine any changes needed.

Another bill passed would ensure the rights of state employees to sue New York state for damages due to violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (A.7121).

This will not only give further agency to adults with disabilities, but will also deter employers from using discriminatory hiring and workplace practices.

In addition, this the legislative package included a measure aimed at promoting overall accessibility in the day-to-day lives of individuals with disabilities such as reestablishing the Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities to help those with disabilities receive services and support in order to enable them to make informed choices and decisions (A.3130).

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Disability Community v. Tax Bill

The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of tax issues.

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network:

ASAN strongly condemns the final passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), a tax giveaway for corporations and the wealthiest Americans which comes at great cost to the disability community. This law will take away health care from an estimated 13 million people. By drastically reducing tax revenue, it sets the stage for massive cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, and other essential services that allow people with disabilities to live good lives in our communities. The disability community cannot afford these cuts. For those who will lose access to lifesaving care and basic services, the price of this law is far too high.

Ignoring the clear will of the American people, the final version of TCJA repeals the individual mandate from the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which has helped to make insurance more affordable, especially for people with disabilities. The bipartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that 13 million people will lose access to affordable coverage as a result. Nonetheless, despite the loss of the individual mandate, the Affordable Care Act itself remains the law of the land. ASAN will fight to mitigate the impact of this decision, and will continue to work to implement the Affordable Care Act and ensure that people with disabilities, our families, and all people have access to comprehensive and affordable health care.

Both the Administration and Congressional leadership have stated repeatedly in recent weeks that, to pay for these tax breaks, they will once again move to cut basic programs and services. The disability community is facing a full-scale attack. Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security will all be on the chopping block – but this battle is far from over. We call on the disability community to mobilize for the fight for our lives.

The Autism Society:

Bethesda, Maryland. December 20, 2017 — Today, the House of Representatives and Senate passed a massive tax bill that will have a long-lasting impact on our debt, health care, and long-term services and supports for people with disabilities. The non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that the bill will add nearly $1.5 trillion to the deficit in its first decade. In addition, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill will result in 13 million fewer people being covered by health care and will raise premiums by about ten percent. The President has said he will sign the bill.

Unfortunately, this could be just the beginning. The Autism Society is extremely concerned the Congress will next turn to making massive cuts to safety net programs that are critical to individuals with autism and other disabilities and the families that support them: Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security Income, Disability Insurance, and other supports. The budget resolutions considered earlier by the House and Senate directs committees with jurisdiction over Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security to make cuts in the billions to those programs. It is difficult to imagine how these cuts can be realized without making fundamental alterations and life-threatening cuts to these critical programs.

There are other threats, too, for the disability community, particularly attacks on the Americans with Disabilities Act and other civil rights laws, important guidance and regulations that support people in the community, as well as cuts to other discretionary programs that will impact research, early intervention, education, and employment services that assist people with disabilities to be productive and independent.

The Autism Society will be vigilantly watching and advocating for the protection of the rights and programs that support people with disabilities. We will galvanize our strong grassroots network of individuals with autism, families, and allies to make our voices heard and keep policymakers accountable.
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The Arc:

“Today both chambers of Congress rushed to pass an irresponsible tax plan. By reducing revenue by at least $1.5 trillion, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act increases the pressure to cut Medicaid and other programs that are critical to the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Each vote in favor of this bill was a vote against constituents with disabilities and sets the wheels in motion to quite possibly go back in time to an era when people with disabilities had little opportunity to live a life of their choosing, in the community.

“The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was crafted behind closed doors and the final draft of this bill was only released publicly on Friday. The rush by the Senate to pass this bill mere hours after the House of Representatives vote makes it clear that the architects of this bill were trying to hide something from the American public.

“This year the disability rights community has endured ongoing Congressional attacks that could have jeopardized the health and well-being of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. And now, thanks to the enormous revenue losses that will be created by this bill, we must prepare to protect critical programs like Medicaid which will likely be on the chopping block in 2018. We are grateful to the Members of Congress who stood up for their constituents with disabilities by opposing this bill and we look to them as our greatest allies as our fight continues. While this bill must return to the House of Representatives once more, it is expected to be signed into law. Passage of this bill will not change the resolve of The Arc’s network. As we have shown time and time again, we are a force to be reckoned with. We will remain active in our opposition to attacks on the basic rights and health of people with disabilities and their families,” said Peter Berns, CEO, The Arc.

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities:

 The Fiscal Policy Task Force of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, the nation's largest national organization representing over 56 million individuals with disabilities, is deeply disappointed by the House and Senate passage of the conference agreement on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

This legislation will result in 13 million fewer Americans with health insurance and will cut Federal revenue to such an extent that it will likely lead to huge cuts in Medicaid, Medicare and other programs people with disabilities rely on to live independently in the community.

“The President and Congressional leaders have said they would protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security when they were campaigning for office. We will hold them accountable for those statements,” said Kim Musheno, Chair of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities.

“The public will soon have time to fully understand the impact of this legislation that has been rushed through Congress and whether its many promised benefits ever materialize.”

ABLE Update

The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of the ABLE Act.

From the ABLE National Resource Center:

December 4: Today, the ABLE National Resource Center (ANRC) hosted a congressional briefing at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. The event provided Members of Congress and ABLE related stakeholders with a progress report on the Stephen Beck Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act implementation nationwide. To date, more than 30 states have launched ABLE programs.

The briefing shared key information about ABLE account owner demographics, number of accounts opened, contribution levels and other significant data points. Attendees heard from two sets of distinguished panelists who shared ABLE success stories, examined implementation challenges and looked into the future with respect to legislative recommendations to strengthen ABLE.

The briefing was hosted by the ANRC, sponsored by Senator Robert “Bob” Casey, Senator Richard Burr, Representative Pete Sessions, Representative Tony Cardenas and Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, in collaboration with the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Financial Security Taskforce and the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) ABLE Committee.

During the nearly three years since the ABLE Act enactment, a tremendous amount of work has been done on the local, state and federal levels to ensure that ABLE eligible individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to build a sound financial future, without jeopardizing their eligibility for various supports and services provided by means-tested programs.

Slides from the briefing can be found HERE.
The agenda from the briefing can be found HERE.

The Arc v. Senate Tax Bill

The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of tax issues.

From the Arc:

“Today the Senate took a big and dangerous step closer to cutting the services and supports that people with disabilities rely on to be a part of their community.

“The Arc’s longstanding position on tax policy is that it should raise sufficient revenues to finance essential programs that help people with disabilities to live and work in the community. The Arc also supports tax policy that is fair and reduces income inequality; people with disabilities are twice as likely to experience poverty.

“Both the House and Senate versions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act fail to meet either standard. By reducing federal revenue by at least $1.5 trillion, the Senate bill turns up the pressure on Congress to cut Medicaid and other programs that are critical to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“Additionally, the repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate will have a dire impact on nearly 13 million Americans, including those with disabilities, and will increase premiums for people buying insurance on the health insurance exchange.

“The disability community has fought against threats to vital programs and won several times this year, and we are prepared to do it again. As the House and Senate finalize the bill, we encourage our advocates across the country to act now. We’ve shown again and again this year our strength, and now we have to do it again, or we will be right back where we started in the coming new year,” said Peter Berns, CEO, The Arc.

"National Call-In Day: No Tax on Disability"

The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of tax issues.

From the Autism Society:

Please join the Autism Society and advocates across the country on Wednesday, November 29th for National Call-In Day: No Tax on Disability!

Background
On November 17, the House of Representatives passed its version of a tax bill. The Senate Budget Committee passed their version today. A final vote in the Senate is expected Thursday. Both bills are extremely harmful to people with disabilities. A conference committee may have to work out the differences between the bills, meaning that provisions in either bill could end up in a final tax bill. Both bills are harmful because they:

– Increase the deficit significantly to provide tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Americans and corporations.
– Lead to cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, Supplemental Security Income, and other critical programs for people with disabilities in order to reduce the deficits and debts incurred by tax cuts.

While the House tax bill does not directly cut Medicaid, the actions it takes will have the same or even worse effect on Medicaid and other services and supports for people with disabilities. The House bill that has many provisions that harm people with disabilities and their families by eliminating the following tax deductions and credits:
– Deduction for high medical expenses, which is critical to many people with disabilities and their families
– A $2,400 tax credit businesses can get when hiring someone with a disability
– A $5,000 tax credit for businesses that make their businesses accessible to people with disabilities (Architectural Barriers credit)
– Reduces incentive to contribute to non-profit agencies that often provide support for people with disabilities and their families (charitable giving)

The Senate bill is even worse. It includes a provision to repeal the individual mandate to obtain health insurance. The individual mandate is a central part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which greatly benefits people with disabilities by eliminating pre-existing condition exclusions, banning annual and lifetime limits, prohibiting discrimination based on health status, and much more. Repealing the individual mandate will:
– Result in almost 14 million people losing health care coverage (according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)).
– Increase health insurance premiums for those purchasing coverage on the exchange by at least 10% for the unforeseeable future (also according CBO)·
– The CBO analysis also says the repeal of the individual mandate will save approximately $330 billion (because of the large number that will not be insured) over ten years.
– This money will be used to pay for a making the corporate tax cuts permanent and to cut to the tax rate for corporations and individuals on the upper income scale.
– According to the Tax Policy Center, the Senate plan shows that 87 million households earning less than $200,000 will get a tax increase under the plan

We have a VERY short timeline to stop this very harmful and unpopular legislation.

TAKE ACTION
Contact your Senators NOW. We only have days to defeat this! Autism Society is co-sponsoring a national call in day on Wednesday, Nov. 29. Call your Senators. Use the Capitol Switchboard number 202-224-3121 and ask for your Senators.

National Call-In Day

The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of tax issues.

From the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network:

Right now, Congress is trying to ram through their tax reform bill — and if it passes, it’ll be devastating to people with disabilities. We can still stop this bill from passing, but only if we take action together. This Wednesday, November 29, is a national disability community call-in day. We need your voice.

Here’s a recap of what the bill does:

• Repeals the “affordable” part of the Affordable Care Act. Getting rid of the individual mandate means 13 million people will lose health insurance, and premiums will increase by 10% on average.
• Raises the deficit, creating an excuse to slash Medicaid and more. The tax bill raises the deficit by $1.5 trillion. Congress’ proposed budget tells us exactly how they plan to pay for this: by cutting Medicaid and health care funding by between $1.3 trillion and $1.9 trillion.
• Automatically guts vital services. If this bill passes, it will trigger automatic cuts to services and programs that many people with disabilities depend on, including food stamps, special education funding, and Medicare.

No matter what talking points come out of Congress, their end goal is clear: to give massive tax cuts to billionaires and corporations by decimating basic services that everyday Americans depend on. That’s why we’re participating in Wednesday’s national call-in day. Here’s how to join us:

Use ContactingCongress.org to find your Senators’ phone numbers. When you call, you can use our script below, and if you don’t speak, you can call using your AAC device, or get a friend to call in and read your message.

ALSO SEE THE FACEBOOK PAGE 

Ominous Tax Legislation

The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of tax issues.

At The Hill, Peter Wilderotter writes about tax legislation:

The bill passed on Nov. 16 by the U.S. House of Representatives would eliminate a valuable deduction used by millions of people, including thousands with spinal cord injury, who face high medical bills.This allows taxpayers to deduct medical expenses for themselves and dependents that exceed more than 10 percent of their adjusted gross income.

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About nine million people used the medical expense deduction in 2015 (the latest year information is available), claiming an estimated $87 billion in deductions.

This means that those who utilized the deduction — it’s only available to taxpayers who itemize their deductions — have extraordinarily high out-of-pocket health care costs. Additionally, many disabled Americans who file their own taxes may not realize the deduction even exists and, therefore, have not taken advantage of it.

For those who utilize it, however, the deduction is incredibly important to ensuring their financial well-being. The majority of those who claim the deduction have incomes of less than $75,000. They’re also the most vulnerable Americans: people already carrying catastrophic medical issues and the accompanying expenses, often with this deduction serving as the only barrier between them and poverty.

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Currently, small businesses can get a tax credit — the Disabled Access Credit — on any improvements they make to their facilities to make them more accessible. This credit has been vital for pushing back against (while providing a financial incentive to) businesses that claim it’s too expensive to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), despite having more than 26 years to become compliant.

The House bill eliminates this credit. Even worse, it comes on the heels of the House introducing legislation that would weaken the rights afforded by the ADA.

Autism Society v. GOP Tax Bills

The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of tax issues.

The Autism Society opposes the GOP tax bills:

Background

On November 16, the House of Representatives passed its version of a tax bill. Now the Senate is finalizing its own version. Both bills are extremely damaging because they:
Pave the way for cutting Medicaid, Medicare, Supplemental Security Income, and other critical programs for people with disabilities in order to pay for the tax cuts later.
Increase the deficit significantly to provide tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Americans and corporations.

But the Senate bill is even worse. It also repeals the “individual mandate” for people to have health care coverage. If this happens, nearly 14 million people will lose health coverage and it will increase premiums for people buying insurance on the health insurance exchange by 10% per year. The individual mandate is a central part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which greatly benefits people with disabilities by eliminating pre-existing condition exclusions, banning annual and lifetime limits, prohibiting discrimination based on health status, and much more.

The Senate is scheduled to vote on its Tax Cuts and Jobs Act the week after Thanksgiving.

We must stop this very harmful and unpopular legislation NOW. TAKE ACTION

• Call your Senators. Call the Capitol Switchboard number 202-224-3121 and ask for your Senators.
• Attend a Town Hall Meeting.
• Participate in a Tax Plan Rally Event.

WHAT TO SAY:

• I am a member of Autism Society of America.
• Please vote NO on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
• We cannot afford these tax cuts that go mainly to the wealthiest Americans and large corporations.
• Tax reform should not be rushed. People should have time to understand the bill and how they will be affected.

Senate Tax Bill Would Repeal the ACA Individual Mandate

The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of tax issues.

From the Autistic Self Advocacy Network:

ASAN remains strongly opposed to the elimination of the individual mandate to purchase health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and condemns the inclusion of repeal within the latest versions of the tax bills.

The individual mandate helps make insurance more affordable, especially for people with disabilities. The bipartisan Congressional Budget Office has shown that 13 million people could lose access to affordable coverage if the mandate is repealed, with premiums rising an average of 10%. The American people have strongly rejected such proposals three times in this year alone. Taken in conjunction with the Budget resolution which cut $5 trillion dollars over the next decade from Medicaid, Social Security, and other essential services that allow people with disabilities to live good lives in our communities, the tax bill and the repeal of the individual mandate amount to a full-scale attack on people with disabilities.

It is reprehensible and immoral to take health care away from 13 million people in order to let corporations and the wealthiest Americans avoid paying their fair share of taxes. The lives and liberty of people with disabilities are worth more than this. ASAN urges Congress to heed the clear voice of the disability community–and many others–and abandon this umpteenth attempt to force a destructive and partisan agenda.

House Tax Bill Would Hurt People with Autism and Other Disabilities

The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of tax issues.

At The Daily Beast, Elizabeth Picciuto explains why the House tax bill would hurt people with disabilities.

The provision that will have the most catastrophic effect on disabled people is the removal of the deduction for out-of-pocket medical expenses. Currently, if your out-of-pocket medical expenses exceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income, you can deduct that from your tax bill. In the Jobs and Tax Cuts Bill, that provision is excised completely.

Depending on individual circumstances, people who pay out-of-pocket for personal care assistants and durable medical equipment would be among those experiencing the most calamitous repercussions. Someone who needs a new power wheelchair to get to work and recreational events may have to fork over tens of thousands of dollars. A caregiver who can only maintain a full-time career if she hires a personal care assistant to provide care for an aging parent may be forced to quit her job. A disabled person who can live independently in the community so long as he has a personal care assistant may have to live in a nursing home instead.

“[Disabled people are] a group at a disadvantage that’s been targeted to raise revenue,” says Thomas Cooke, a professor specializing in tax law at Georgetown University. “The broad sweep of this bill is to cut corporate taxes significantly. Somebody’s got to pay for that reduction. And I’m afraid it’s being paid on the backs of individual taxpayers, including taxpayers with disabilities and medical expenses.”
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Another provision that specifically affects disabled people is the elimination of a tax credit granted to businesses to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. Businesses that, for example, wish to build a ramp, hire a sign language interpreter, or make their website more accessible can no longer claim this exemption. “It’s disastrous,” Cooke said.

Concurrently, there is a bill pending in the House, H.R. 620, designed to make it harder for disabled people to sue businesses that do not comply with the ADA. Suing is the primary current enforcement mechanism for failures to comply with the ADA.

In tandem, the tax bill and H.R. 620 would make it more expensive to comply with ADA and less risky to violate it.

Tax Plan Would Hurt Disability Families

The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of tax issues including the ABLE Act.

Many families of people with disabilities face daunting medical bills.  Some use the medical expense deduction.  The Trump-supported tax cut bill would take it away.

Lydia Ramsey reports at Business Insider:

The Republican tax plan repeals an itemized deduction that applies to healthcare expenses. That's key for families with high medical costs, like those dealing with chronic conditions that require medical devices and other expensive equipment. Right now, those expenses can be deducted from their taxes, but under the Republican tax plan, they wouldn't be able to.

Under current law, individuals who spend over 10% of their income on medical expenses are allowed to deduct part of those costs from their taxes. The proposed new bill would remove that deduction. According to the Internal Revenue Service, for 2016 taxes, individuals were able to deduct in an itemized way "only the amount of your unreimbursed allowable medical and dental expenses that is more than 10 percent of your adjusted gross income."

The IRS broadly defines medical expenses as the "costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body," including insurance premiums, devices, and long-term care.

ABLE 2.0

The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of the ABLE Act.

Autism dad Eli Lehrer writes at The Hill:

Many families (mine included) have put money into conventional 529 college savings plans and would now like to move it into the more flexible ABLE Accounts. Under current law, that’s not possible without paying massive tax penalties. Moreover, while one of the law's goals was to help the disabled take jobs and lead more typical lives, the law doesn't raise limits to allow beneficiaries to deposit their own earnings into the accounts. Finally, people who develop severe disabilities later in life from accidents, adult-onset mental illness or conditions like Lou Gehrig’s disease can’t benefit from the ABLE Act at all.

A bipartisan legislative package—styled "ABLE 2.0" and spearheaded by House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-Wash.)—would address each of these flaws. It would allow rollovers of 529 plan balances into ABLE accounts; raise the limits for working disabled people with ABLE accounts to deposit more of their own earnings; and increase the eligible age to open an ABLE account to 45. It’s a package of commonsense measures that will make it easier for special-needs families to save for their children and for special-needs adults to have the resources they need to live better and more independent lives.

ABLE 2.0

The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of the ABLE Act.

From Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers:

Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), along with Congressmen Pete Sessions (R-TX), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Chris Smith (R-NJ), and Jim Langevin (D-RI) today introduced a package of bills to enhance the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014. The package includes the ABLE to Work Act, the ABLE Financial Planning Act, and the ABLE Age Adjustment Act.

“A job is so much more than a paycheck. It’s what gives you purpose and dignity. It’s the opportunity for a better life, and that’s what we’re doing with ABLE 2.0, specifically the ABLE to Work Act,” said McMorris Rodgers, the bill’s lead. “Too often, people with disabilities live in poverty because the current system forces them to make a choice between disability benefits and work. This legislation empowers people with disabilities to save the money they earn from work while remaining eligible for the critical disability safety net. At the end of the day, this is about empowering people with disabilities, like my son Cole, to live their fullest, independent life.”

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NOTE: The ABLE 2.0 package includes three bills. The ABLE to Work Act allows individuals and families to save more money — up to the federal poverty level — in their accounts if the beneficiary works and earns income. The ABLE Financial Planning Act allows families to roll over savings in a 529 college savings plan into an ABLE account and prevents these funds from being trapped or fined if a child is born with a disability or acquires one later in life. The ABLE Age Adjustment Act raises the age limit for ABLE accounts from 26 to 46, helping people whose disability or disease develops later in life.

For more information about the legislation, visit www.mcmorris.house.gov/able.

ABLE Act Controversy

The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of the ABLE Act.

The ABLE Act limits accounts to people with disability onset before age 26.  Michelle Diament reports at Disability Scoop:

Just last month, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance approved two bills giving more flexibility to those who are already eligible for ABLE accounts. The ABLE to Work Act would allow people with disabilities who are employed to save additional money each year in their accounts while the ABLE Financial Planning Act would let money saved for an individual with a disability in a 529 college savings plan be rolled over into an ABLE account.

However, a third bill — raising the eligibility age to 46 — was left out of any discussions before the Senate committee. And that has many advocates feeling shortchanged.
“The limitation on eligibility based on age of onset of disability did not exist in the original legislation and was added at the end of the ABLE Act’s eight year legislative history with the understanding that Congress would act to restore the broader eligibility criteria,” reads letters signed by 82 disability advocacy groups that were sent this week to key lawmakers in the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

The last-minute addition of the age criteria led many people who had championed the ABLE Act for years to be left out, said Chris Rodriguez, senior public policy advisor at the National Disability Institute and co-chair of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Task Force on Financial Security, which initiated the correspondence to lawmakers.
...
Groups that have pledged to oppose some ABLE bills include The Arc, the Autism Society, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, the National Down Syndrome Congress, United Cerebral Palsy and others largely representing individuals who would easily meet the existing cutoff at age 26.

The First ABLE Accounts

 The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of the ABLE Act.

A Tuesday release from Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel:

COLUMBUS – Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel announced today the nationwide launch of STABLE Accounts, making Ohio the first state in the country to offer enrollment for eligible individuals living with disabilities.

STABLE Accounts are made possible by the federal Achieving a Better Life Experience (“ABLE”) Act passed by Congress in 2014. STABLE Accounts allow individuals with disabilities the opportunity to save and invest money without losing eligibility for certain public benefits programs, like Medicaid, SSI or SSDI. Earnings in STABLE Accounts are not subject to federal income tax, so long as funds are spent on qualified disability expenses.

...
“National Disability Institute, along with the ABLE National Resource Center, congratulate the State of Ohio on the inaugural launch of the country’s first 529A ABLE program,” said Christopher Rodriguez, Senior Public Policy Advisor of the National Disability Institute. ...

STABLE Accounts have similar features to normal bank accounts, but are also investment accounts, similar to 529 college savings accounts or 401(k) retirement accounts. When a participant deposits money into their STABLE Account, the money can be invested in different options chosen by the participants. While participants can still withdraw and spend money as needed, a STABLE Account also allows money to grow and to save long-term for disability expenses.

Eligible individuals can set up their STABLE Account for free at www.stableaccount.com. An initial contribution of at least $50 is required in order to set up an account.

These tax-advantaged savings accounts allow families to set aside money to use on qualified expenses such as education, healthcare, housing and transportation. Earnings and distributions from an ABLE Account for qualified disability expenses do not count as taxable income of the contributor or eligible beneficiary.

There are minimal costs associated with maintaining a STABLE Account. Ohio residents will pay $2.50 per month ($30 annually) to maintain their accounts. Residents of other states will pay $5.00 per month ($60 annually) to maintain their accounts. Ohio residents will also have a small asset-based fee of between 0.19% and 0.34%, depending on their chosen Investment Options. Similarly, non-Ohio residents will have an asset-based fee of between 0.45% and 0.60%, depending on their chosen Investment Options.

Under the Federal ABLE legislation, which was signed into law on December 19, 2014 with strong bipartisan support, each state is responsible for establishing and operating ABLE accounts. On July 16, 2015, Governor John Kasich signed into law HB 155, which passed unanimously by both the Ohio House and Senate, authorizing the Treasurer’s Office to open and administer these accounts.

For more information please visit www.stableaccount.com.

Multi-State ABLE Consortium

 The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of the ABLE Act.

A release from Illinois State Treasurer Michael W. Frerichs:

Illinois families planning for the future well-being of a loved one with a disability will be able to leverage the investment power of a multi-state consortium to invest their money for disability-related expenses, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced today.

The consortium will manage a tax-advantage investment portfolio similar to those currently used to save for college, such as Illinois’ Bright Start or Bright Directions program. Without the consortium, individual states would lack the market share to ensure low cost and high quality investment options.

“Every parent wants the best for their son or daughter. That feeling weighs a bit heavier on parents of children with a disability or blindness,” Frerichs said. “By working together with other states, we can accomplish what would be impossible if we were to go it alone.”

The federal Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) of 2014 authorized these tax-advantaged investment accounts similar to college savings programs such as Illinois’ Bright Start or Bright Directions. College investment programs are able to provide low fees and quality investment options by leveraging investments from the hundreds of thousands of individuals who participate.

The opposite is true with ABLE because individual states typically do not have enough potential participants to solicit a competitively priced and structured program. However, with states working together and leveraging resources, an economy of scale is created to drive down cost and attract quality investment products.

Nine states so far have agreed to work together to help these individuals and families - Alaska, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. The states represent more than 47 million residents and cover four time zones. Consortium membership remains open and other states are considering joining.

Nationally, more than 40 states have passed ABLE legislation. None have yet to open an ABLE program. The consortium is unique in that each state will have its own ABLE program over which it will exercise authority but will offer common program elements such as investment options. The next step is to seek public bids for investment services, record keeping, and marketing services.

ABLE Legislation

The Politics of Autism includes a discussion of the ABLE Act.

A March 17 release from Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Florida);

WASHINGTON – Today, Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Bob Casey (D-PA) and Representatives Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Pete Sessions (R-TX) introduced a package of bills aimed at enhancing the ABLE Act. The ABLE to Work Act builds on the success of the ABLE Act by making it possible for disabled people who work to save a portion of their income in an ABLE account without risking loss of benefits. These bills will also allow rollovers to and from 529 college savings plans as well as raise the age for eligibility from 26 to 46.

In 2014, the bipartisan group of lawmakers led the effort to pass the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, which lets families who have a child with a disability save for their long-term care through 529-style savings accounts. The ABLE Act was a significant step forward and has been heralded as one of the most important pieces of disability legislation since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

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Since the passage of the ABLE Act in 2014, 34 states have enacted ABLE programs and legislation is pending in several more states.

The ABLE to Work Act expands on the goals of the ABLE Act by encouraging work and self-sufficiency. The legislation allows individuals and their families to save more money in an ABLE account if the beneficiary works and earns income. Specifically, an ABLE beneficiary who earns income from a job could save up to the Federal Poverty Level, which is currently at $11,770. The bill will also allow ABLE beneficiaries to qualify for the existing Saver's Credit when they put savings in.

The ABLE Financial Planning Act would allow families to rollover savings in a 529 college savings plan into an ABLE account. Many families save for a child’s college education by opening a 529 account, sometimes before their child is even born, only to learn later that their child has a severe disability like autism. In other cases, a child is in a tragic accident and becomes severely disabled. In such instances, these families have funds trapped in a 529 that they could use to help cover their child’s lifelong expenses. If they withdraw the funds for anything other than college expenses, they face taxes on their withdrawals. The ABLE Financial Planning Act would help these families by allowing them to rollover the funds in their 529 account into an ABLE account for their disabled child.

The ABLE Age Adjustment Act will raise the age limit for ABLE accounts to age 46. Currently, individuals with a severe disability prior to the age of 26 are eligible to open an ABLE account. Many debilitating diseases and conditions can strike later in life, including multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease, or paralysis due to an accident. Increasing the age limit for ABLE accounts will allow more individuals to save in these accounts to help cover the costs of short, medium and long-term care.

Credit for Caring

In The Politics of Autism, I discuss the day-to-day challenges facing autistic people and their families.

A release from Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY):

Tom Reed is continuing his efforts to support those who become primary caregivers to loved ones. Reed is introducing a new bill which offers a tax credit for caregivers. “We care about those who become caregivers for their aging parents, grandparents or other relatives. These families are making enormous sacrifices and are struggling to make ends meet. The expense of providing personal, at-home care can add up quickly. It’s only fair that we support our caregivers,” said Reed.

As the Baby Boomer generation ages, a growing number of aging Americans will require assistance with daily tasks, such as eating, dressing, bathing, and transportation. As adequate paid care is often unaffordable, many come to rely on family and friends, known as family caregivers, for help.

The bipartisan bill would provide a tax credit for care giving expenses. The credit would ultimately lift some of the financial burden of caring for loved ones at home, making it easier for those in need of care to remain with their families at home, instead of a long term care or assisted living facility.

“It’s a win-win. Families will stay together and those in need of assistance have access to better care,” said Reed.

“This is more than just another tax credit,” said Rep. Linda Sánchez, the cosponsor of the bill. “This is about how we can help older adults and people with disabilities live independently in their own homes and communities. This legislation will help alleviate some the burden on family caregivers by providing a tax credit for services such as home care and adult day care. I am proud to work with Rep. Tom Reed to find a bipartisan solution to help families across this country care for their loved ones.”

The Credit for Caring provides qualifying working families a credit for 30 percent of caregiving expenses, up to a maximum of $3,000 over the course of a year. In order to qualify for the credit, caregivers must earn at least $7,500 dollars annually. The credit phases out for married taxpayers with incomes over $150,000 ($75,000 for single or taxpayers filing separately).

The proposal has received support from groups like AARP and the American Heart Association. “AARP is very pleased to endorse the bipartisan Credit for Caring Act. We appreciate the bipartisan efforts of Representatives Tom Reed (R-NY) and Linda Sanchez (D-CA) to support family caregivers and help address the financial challenges of care giving. Forty million family caregivers of adults provide unpaid care valued at about $470 billion annually. Family caregivers help their loved ones live independently in their homes and communities, saving taxpayer dollars by helping to delay or prevent more costly institutional care and helping to prevent unnecessary hospital readmissions. We urge support of this important legislation,” said Joyce A. Rogers, AARP Senior Vice President, Government Affairs.

Mixed Housing

At The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mark Roth writes that local developers are building a complex that will house autistic adults along with non-autistic residents.

The Dave Wright Apartments will feature 42 one- and two-bedroom apartments, including six for physically disabled people, on the site of the former Wright’s Seafood restaurant in Heidelberg. About half the units are expected to go to higher functioning autistic adults who can live independently and hold a job, said Elliot Frank, president of the Autism Housing Development Corp. of Pittsburgh, which is building the complex along with ACTION-Housing Inc.

Mr. Frank said he expects the apartments, which received an innovation design award from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, to open in the fall of 2016. Financed under a federal law that provides affordable housing, the rents will range from $575 to $800 a month, and a single resident will not be able to earn more than $28,000 a year, he said.

While this project may be the first that mixes autistic and non-autistic adults, it is part of a recent movement to create affordable housing projects that put various special needs groups alongside typical renters. One ACTION-Housing project being developed in Bloomfield will house disabled veterans alongside regular renters, and another in Uptown combines typical renters with residents with hearing and vision disabilities, said Larry Swanson, executive director of ACTION-Housing.

The Heidelberg project grew out of a conversation a few years ago between Mr. Frank and Roy Diamond, an affordable housing developer in Philadelphia. Both of them have sons with autism, Mr. Frank recalled, and “we said to ourselves, once they’re grown up, where do they live? So we said, ‘Let’s do affordable housing for them so we can complete the puzzle for them on how to live independent, affordable lives.’ ”

Financing for the $13 million project is coming through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. Under the IRS code used for such projects, banks get $1 in direct tax credits for every dollar provided, and PNC is contributing $11.5 million of the financing. The rest is coming from Allegheny County.