THE DANDELION CONNECTION
Ellicott Square Building., 295 Main Street Room 495, Buffalo, New York 14203

Volume 5 Issue 4         (716) 847-0655 ext. 226            July/August 1997
Copyright 1997, Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.

IMPORTANT CHANGES
IN SSI FOR CHILDREN

     Very severely disabled children from some working families and from all Public Assistance families may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. These benefits include a monthly check from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Medicaid eligibility from the Department of Social Services. To begin an SSI claim for your child, you visit an SSA office and file an application. To disagree with a decision SSA has made on your application, you must again visit an SSA office to file an appeal, generally within 60 days.

     In August 1996, Congress changed the rules for children 18 years old and younger now receiving SSI benefits and children with current and future SSI applications. Congress made these changes because it believed reports that it was too easy for parents to help their children to qualify for these benefits. The law required SSA to issue new, more restrictive rules to:

  1. be certain that fewer new childhood applications are allowed, and
  2. when new claims are allowed, to review them more frequently to be certain the "disabling" condition is at least still as severe as it was when the claim was first allowed.

     The law also directed SSA to use the new rules to review children now receiving benefits, to decide if those benefits should continue or end. Across the country, SSA estimates it will review about 265,000 children now receiving SSI benefits, and end benefits for approximately 135,000 of those claims.

     The new rules are now in effect! For children with new claims still waiting for decisions that have been "on hold" since August 1996, SSA will now apply the new rules and again begin issuing new decisions. For children now receiving SSI benefits, SSA will also now apply the new rules and begin reviewing individual claims to decide which continue, and which do not.

     How can you tell if you should make an application for your child, or appeal an unfavorable decision in your child's case? Each case needs to be decided on its own particular facts, but if you can answer "Yes" to all of the following questions, you should consider filing a claim now, or appealing a denial or termination decision, including discussion with a legal representative familiar with the evaluation of childhood SSI cases.

  1. Does your child have a physical or mental health condition, diagnosed by a doctor?
  2. Has the doctor said your child's physical or mental health condition has lasted or will last for 12 months or more?
  3. Is your child receiving all regularly prescribed medical treatment to help the physical or mental health condition?
  4. If your child's doctor has not prescribed treatment for your child's physical or mental health condition, is your child receiving supportive services, like a special education program, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, vocational services, or counseling, either in school or outside of school?
  5. Even with prescribed medical treatment and/or services, do your child's limitations in two of the following areas keep your child from developing as other children one-half your child's age or less?

     Remember, if your child has more than one medical condition that you want SSA to consider, you need to prove all of the same things for each condition! Remember also, clinic or other service provider notes showing "missed appointments" (that are not rescheduled), unfilled or unused prescriptions, and excessive school absenteeism (without a medical excuse or documented medical treatment), will count in your child's case--it's just that these factors count against your child!

     Finally, some medical conditions improve over time, and some grow more severe. If you do not think your child's medical condition is now severe enough to satisfy SSA with the kind of proof SSA needs, but the condition ultimately gets worse over time, and there is evidence to show that, you may want to wait and begin a new application when that happens!

 

WAGE REPORTING
PROTECT YOURSELF

    PLEASE -- report your earnings to the Department of Social Services (DSS)!!

     Even if you are "on probation" or if you work for a temp agency, you must report your earnings. Some people try to hide their earnings. Don't try it! Please remember that the consequences for you and your family can be severe if you do not report your income.

     Protect yourself from fraud investigations. It can take years for a fraud investigation to become active. Too many people did not report their wages when on PA, only to lose their jobs years later when the fraud investigators finally caught up with them, while they were working full-time and off public assistance.

RULE
YOU HAVE 10 DAYS
FROM THE RECEIPT OF
YOUR FIRST INCOME
TO REPORT IT
TO YOUR CASEWORKER.

     If you have concerns or questions regarding reporting or the way the Department of Social Services has budgeted your wages from employment or other income source,

Call Project Dandelion at 847-0650, ext. 226.

 

HAPPY MID YEAR !

     HAVE YOU STUCK TO YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS?


WELL, THIS IS JUST A REMINDER--
GET BACK ON TRACK!
IT'S NOT TOO LATE!

BEING ORGANIZED

REMEMBER:
DISORGANIZATION TENDS TO
PROMOTE INSECURITY,
BUT
ORGANIZATION DEVELOPS
CONFIDENCE, STABILITY AND
PERSONAL STRENGTH.

 

REMEMBER &emdash;
YOU WERE FEARFULLY AND
WONDERFULLY MADE AND
THERE IS ONLY ONE YOU !

 

Diet
(Yes, we have to go there)

     Weight loss is the most popular New Year's resolution--and it is the one most often broken. Many of us tend to focus on the wrong idea of health and set unrealistic goals.

     Remember, short term diets don't work. A moderate weight loss of 2 to 3 pounds per week will guarantee the best results. Here are some more ways to master this challenging resolution.

  1. First consult your doctor about your health. Make sure to find out about your metabolism and cholesterol levels.
  2. Exercise at least 3 times per week or participate in some form of physical activity (A 15-minute walk three times a week can make a difference.)
  3. "Less sweets and red meats!" Even though red meat is recommended in your usual daily food balance, the fat contents are very high. Poultry and fish are good examples of healthier foods.
  4. No more midnight snacking. Since your body works out less in the evening, fat will be DEPOSITED. You should eat during hours that you are most active. Try not to skip breakfast or eat after 8:00 p.m.
  5. Remember the four food groups and which food contains a lot of FAT, SODIUM, CHOLESTEROL and SUGAR.
  6. No more emotional eating: Remember--your emotional stability is important. Be happy with yourself and your originality. Don't give in to media pressures to be "ultra -thin." Each step you take towards changing bad eating habits brings you closer to being healthy and happy.

 

Take one day at a time

There are about two days in every week
Of which we should not worry--two days
Which should be kept from
Fear and apprehension.

One of these days is yesterday,
With its mistakes and cares
Its faults and blunders
And its aches and pains,
Yesterday has passed forever
Beyond our control.
All the money in the world
Cannot bring back yesterday.
We cannot undo a single act
We performed.
We cannot erase a single word we said.

Yesterday, is gone.

The other day we should not worry about
is tomorrow
Tomorrow is beyond our immediate control.
Tomorrow's sun will rise, whether in splendor
Or behind a mask of clouds
But it will rise
Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow.

This leaves only one day--today.

Anyone can fight battles of just one day.
It is when you and I add the burdens
Of those two awful eternities--
Yesterday and tomorrow--
That we break down.

Let us therefore live
one day at a time.
&emdash; Anonymous

Don't be Afraid to Fail

You've failed many times, although you may not remember.

You fell down the first time you tried to walk.
You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim,
Didn't you?
Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat?
Heavy Hitters, the ones who hit the most home runs also strike out a lot.
R.H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on.
English Novelist John Creasey got 753 Rejection Slips before he published 564 books.
Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times, but he also hit 714 Home Runs.

Don't worry about failure.
Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try.

&emdash; Anonymous

Dandelion of the Month

DEBBIE KEITH

     Debbie Keith had been in foster care from the age of 10 until 16. At 16 she was pretty much on her own. She was married at age 19, had her daughter Adrionna at age 21. Unfortunately, by age 22, Debbie was divorced and alone with her child, on public assistance, and without a high school diploma. "I was married to an abusive husband and decided that I did not have to live the way I was living. I wanted more for my daughter and me, so I got out of the situation."

     At age 21, Debbie decided to obtain her GED. "I knew I did not want to be on public assistance for the rest of my life, so I decided to make a change." Debbie attended the KEOS program through D'Youville College. Debbie says the program not only assisted her with job readiness skills--but with her self esteem as well. It was while attending this program that Debbie began to regain a part of her that the years of abuse and neglect had taken away. And so the healing process began.

     Although Debbie wanted to attend college after completing the KEOS program, she realized that she needed more preparation. " I wanted to obtain my degree in nursing and knew the curriculum would be pretty demanding. I wanted to be prepared." Debbie went to EOC (Educational Opportunity Center) and registered for their college prep program. "The program really prepared me for college. I also met some wonderful people there on staff who I will remember for the rest of my life, especially my guidance counselor, Mr. Ridley. It wasn't just a job to him. He really cared about the students. It's people like him who really make a difference."

     After completing the program at EOC, Debbie registered for college in September of 1993. She waited one-and-one-half years before getting into ECC's (Erie Community College) nursing program. While she waited to be accepted into the nursing program, she took other courses -- but she refused to quit. "Sometimes I would be freezing at the bus stop ready to give up -- but then I would think about my daughter. Picturing her sweet little face encouraged me."

     Debbie finished school in December of 1996 and attended her graduation ceremony in May of 1997. Project Dandelion wishes her congratulations because she recently earned her board certification as a registered nurse! Her advice to other women trying to make it off public assistance. "You must not give up. Don't listen to those individuals who tell you that you'll never make it. I had people tell me the same thing--including so-called friends and family members. I had to tell myself, 'If I give up now, where will I be in the next few years?'

     Debbie is currently working for SPS agency as a nursing assistant -- but not for long. Although she hears the job market for registered nurses is not that great in Buffalo, she's not worried. "I have learned not to worry. I did not have parents to care for me, that did not stop me. I turned to God, and He became my mother and my father. That's why my favorite verse is Psalm 27:10 which says: When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up." He's taken me this far, surely, he'll provide me with a job."

Grandparents
Raising Kids &emdash;
The Second Time Around

     Death, divorce, abandonment, parental substance abuse, incarceration. These problems can cause families to break apart AND cause some grandparents to find themselves in the role of childraising once again! Suddenly they find themselves having to deal with many old issues as well as several new ones.

     Personal finances will change. There are clothing needs, medical needs, schooling arrangements, possible housing rearrangements and of course emotional adjustments for all. There may even be court proceedings where formal arrangements need to be made.

     Whatever the circumstances, the obvious goal is to provide a stable, safe and secure homelife where the grandchild can receive the care and nurturing needed. Love and support are vital for the child's well-being. But remember, although the focus is primarily on the child, second-time caretakers need love and support as well to persevere and arrive at their goals.

     If this applies to you or anyone you know, try to build a support system. How do you get through? Friends, other family members, AARP groups (Association of Retired Persons), community organizations, church groups? Remember, "second time around" caregivers have taken on an arduous task and will need to be refreshed and restrengthened. Finding time for themselves outside of the home may be just what the doctor ordered.

     Project Dandelion is concerned about these issues and will be doing a series of articles directed towards assisting "second time around" caregivers.

     If you or anyone you know needs this information, please:

  1. Give them a copy of this newsletter; and/or
  2. Call Project Dandelion and have their name put on the mailing list; and/or
  3. Tell them about Project Dandelion's Tuesday meetings where they may be able to have their legal questions and other concerns addressed; and/or
  4. Call Project Dandelion for more information about finding support services at 847-0650 ext. 226.

"STRENGTH OF CHARACTER
MAY BE ACQUIRED AT WORK,
BUT BEAUTY OF CHARACTER IS
LEARNED AT HOME".

We want to thank
GRANDPARENTS
and all other
"SECOND TIME AROUND" CAREGIVERS
For giving children
Hope and a "Second Chance"
at having a promising future.

 

Remember &emdash; weekly Dandelion meetings
are held every Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
Ellicott Square Bldg. · 295 Main Street, Rm 495
Buffalo, NY 14203

Special Events

July 24, 1997                  5:30 p.m.               Farewell Potluck Picnic for Dandelion volunteers
                                                                    at Delaware Park near the Albright Knox Museum

August 21, 1997              5:30 p.m.             Annual Potluck Picnic
                                                                   at Delaware Park near the Albright Knox Museum

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