[blindlaw] ramifications of receiving Target settlement checkforSSI recipients

Steve P. Deeley stevep.deeley at insightbb.com
Thu Jun 11 15:57:39 UTC 2009


SSI recipients, welcome to the real world!!

Steve
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "McCarthy, Jim" <JMcCarthy at nfb.org>
To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 9:22 AM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] ramifications of receiving Target settlement 
checkforSSI recipients


> Chuck and others,
> We at the National Center for the Blind have begun to receive calls on
> the same point.  I reached out to one of the lawyers and suggested that
> individuals need to know the basic consequences of their receiving money
> from the Target settlement.  However, the means to best convey that
> information to a large class of diverse members poses some challenges
> and I am not sure how it will be addressed at this time.  I do think
> some basic information on this list is not a bad idea though because
> many of us may have contact with folks who get SSI and have received
> Target Settlement funds.
>
> Unfortunately, there is no income or resource exclusion in SSI for
> settlements of civil rights cases as this clearly is.  As for the
> possibility of a special needs trust, I doubt that the amounts are
> significant enough to make a trust really feasible and I imagine you are
> also right regarding timing.  The basic SSI rule applies.  The funds,
> between $3,500 and $7,000, as I understand the amounts, are unearned
> income when received.  That means all but $20 is counted when
> determining whether an SSI benefit is available.  Needless to say, in
> the month of receipt, no check is available.  In the next full calendar
> month, the funds become a resource.  An individual is allowed a total of
> $2,000 in resources so for as long as the total exceeds that amount, the
> individual is not entitled to an SSI benefit.  The final thing I will
> say about this is that if anyone in California wants to give advice to
> chapter members, friends etc. receiving SSI who are entitled to funds
> from the Target settlement, discourage people from putting the
> settlement money under the mattress.  The rules I mentioned above kick
> in on receipt of the money and it is pretty clear within perhaps a day
> or so, when each person received their money.  Holding it thinking or
> hoping SSI will not come to know is a very bad strategy that will not
> work.
> Jim McCarthy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of ckrugman at sbcglobal.net
> Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 5:26 AM
> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
> Subject: [blindlaw] ramifications of receiving Target settlement check
> forSSI recipients
>
> Recently I was contacted by a chapter member who was a recipient of the
> Target settlement check. He is receiving SSI and is concerned about
> protecting his settlement check and benefits. Was this issue addressed
> or does anyone have suggestions. I think it might be a little late for a
> special needs trust to be established. Let me know.
> Chuck
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> blindlaw:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/jmccarthy%40nf
> b.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindlaw:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/stevep.deeley%40insightbb.com


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.63/2169 - Release Date: 06/11/09 
05:53:00





More information about the BlindLaw mailing list