[Nfbf-l] Attention, R. J. FW: [nfb-talk] Senators Dodd and McCain Introduce BlindPersons Return to Work Act

Thu Feb 11 15:05:13 UTC 2010

I am not sure how the phase-out plan would work or if it would in fact work
in a way that is not onorous.  I'd suggest contacting the sponsors to find
out more.  

One thing I wonder is whether such a thing can be passed without including
other disabilities.  NFB has supported changing the earnings limit for
Social Security for some time and likes each disability group to speak for
itself on issues of importance, but as I say I wonder if a cross-disability
coalition might be more effective in this specific instance.  But that's
just an idea about which I could just as well be wrong.  

Bill Outman 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of RJ Sandefur
Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 8:40 AM
To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Attention, R. J. FW: [nfb-talk] Senators Dodd and
McCain Introduce BlindPersons Return to Work Act

Yes it is. How would this phase out plan work? RJ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Outman" <woutman at earthlink.net>
To: "'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List'" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 5:22 AM
Subject: [Nfbf-l] Attention,R. J. FW: [nfb-talk] Senators Dodd and McCain 
Introduce BlindPersons Return to Work Act

> Hi, R. J.
>
> I found this in my old messages.  Is this the piece of legislation you 
> were
> asking about a few days back?
>
> Bill Outman
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Freeh, Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)
> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 10:05 PM
> To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nfb-talk] Senators Dodd and McCain Introduce Blind Persons 
> Return
> to Work Act
>
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>
>
> CONTACT:
>
> Chris Danielsen
>
> Director of Public Relations
>
> National Federation of the Blind
>
> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>
> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
>
> <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>
>
>
>
> Senators Dodd and McCain Introduce
> Blind Persons Return to Work Act
>
>
>
>
> National Federation of the Blind Applauds a Common Sense
> Work Incentive for Blind Social Security Beneficiaries
>
>
>
> Washington, D.C. (January 28, 2010): Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
> and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today introduced the Blind Persons
> Return to Work Act of 2010 (S. 2962), which will allow blind
> Americans to more easily transition from Social Security
> beneficiaries to income-earning, productive members of the workforce.
>
>
>
> Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), a program meant to
> provide disabled Americans with financial support, actually
> discourages blind people from seeking employment by placing a limit
> on how much money they can earn.  This bipartisan bill replaces the
> monthly earnings limit with a gradual phase-out, allowing blind
> beneficiaries to systematically replace benefits with earned income.
>
>
>
> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
> said: "The National Federation of the Blind applauds Senators Dodd
> and McCain, both longtime champions of the blind and other Americans
> with disabilities, for advancing this wise proposal to reform SSDI so
> it encourages blind beneficiaries to reach their full employment
> potential rather than discouraging them from becoming
> independent.  Blind people want to work, and with the right training
> and opportunity, we can hold any job to which we aspire.  Yet because
> of misconceptions about blindness and flawed work incentives in the
> SSDI program, 70 percent of working age blind people are unemployed
> or underemployed.  We are confident that the Blind Persons Return to
> Work Act will reduce the fear of termination of benefits resulting
> from an earnings limit and encourage blind people to join the workforce."
>
>
>
> "Blind Americans deserve the opportunity to enter or advance in the
> workplace without their financial security being threatened by some
> arbitrary limit," said Senator Dodd.  "We can encourage blind people
> to take advantage of their independence without punishing them for
> working.  This bipartisan legislation will protect millions of
> Americans from the risk of losing their benefits and will increase
> the productivity of our workforce."
>
>
>
> "Blind Americans who want to work should not be discouraged from
> pursuing employment," added Senator McCain.  "The current SSDI
> program creates government dependency and limits achievement among
> blind people.  The proposed reform will enable blind Americans to
> fully reach their potential in the workforce and reduce the overall
> number of federal beneficiaries, saving tax dollars for every American."
>
>
>
> This legislation joins its House companion bill, H.R. 886, introduced
> by John Lewis (D-GA) earlier this year.
>
>
>
>
>
> ###
>
>
>
>
> About the National Federation of the Blind
>
> With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind
> is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind
> people in the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
> "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />United States.  The
> NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education,
> research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and
> self-confidence.  It is the leading force in the blindness field
> today and the voice of the nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB
> opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the
> first research and training center in the United States for the blind
> led by the blind.
>
>
>
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