[nfbmi-talk] FW: still violating this what a sick joke

[joe harcz Comcast]

You said this most well. And I do believe that this goes to room and board 
for blind college students and that MCB needs to pay that and not dip into 
the person's SSI/or SSDI for this is a part of the rehabilitation proces 
(college that is) defined in the IPE.

Now, while I certainly agree with you Fred on the moral/philosophical issue 
and hear your pashion and admire it let me say this:

"I'd be delighted if MCB simply followed the laws that bind them. I've long 
ago given up on motives and goodwill and that sort of thing. But, at very 
least we have the right to hold them accountable for actions, if not 
motives."

Peace with Justice,

Joe
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at comcast.net>
To: <Marywurtzel at comcast.net>; "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" 
<nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>; "'Michigan Comm for the Blind Vision 20/20 List'" 
<MCB2020-L at LISTSERV.MICHIGAN.GOV>; <ggwilcox at comcast.net>; "'Geri Taeckens'" 
<geri.taeckens at isahealthfund.org>; "'Jo Ann Pilarski'" 
<pilarskij at charter.net>
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 11:53 PM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] FW: still violating this what a sick joke


> Hello,
>
> Boy, I have been saying this since before I retired.  I am finally
> vindicated, though everyone kept saying it is ok to require clients to use
> ssi for MCB services.  Never mind the morality of taking money from 
> someone
> only making $650 a month, it is illegal, just like I kept saying. I am 
> glad
> there is still justice, sometimes, I just feel bad for those people who 
> had
> money taken from them illegally by a state agency supposedly trying to 
> help
> them.
>
> Why did this happen?  Why didn't it seem wrong to everyone?  Now, we need 
> to
> make our maintenance policy humane and just.  We need to try to understand
> what it is like to live on $650/month, go to school, hunt for a job, be 
> told
> you can't work because the employer doesn't believe in you as a blind
> employee.  Where is the passion?  Sure there are laws and rules to be
> followed, but they are there to create opportunities for people who have
> fewer opportunities than the general population.  There is a reason for 
> this
> agency to exist, a meaning to the work, it matters what happens to every
> client, all the time.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Fred
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of joe harcz Comcast
> Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 9:37 PM
> To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: TOM MASSEAU MPAS; Jeanette Brown MI CAP
> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] still violating this what a sick joke
>
> Technical Assistance:  None requested at this time.
>
>
>
> 3.  Financial Needs Testing for SSI/SSDI recipients
>
>
>
> Legal Requirement:
>
>
>
> 34 CFR 361.54(b)(3)(ii)
>
>
>
> The designated state unit may not apply a financial needs test, or require
> the financial participation of the individual - (ii) as a condition for
> furnishing any vocational rehabilitation service if the individual in need
> of the service has been determine eligible for Social Security benefits
> under Titles II or XVI of the Social Security Act.
>
>
>
> Finding 3:  MCB is not in compliance with 34 CFR 361.54(b)(3)(ii) because 
> it
> requires SSI/SSDI beneficiaries and recipients to provide a financial
> contribution equivalent to the maximum SSI monthly amount (according to 
> the
> SSA Red Book for the current year) towards the cost of certain VR 
> services,
> such as maintenance. This policy fails to comply with federal regulations 
> at
> 34 CFR 361.54(b)(3)(ii) that prohibit MCB from requiring SSI/SSDI 
> recipients
> to participate in the financial cost of their VR services.
>
>
>
>
> Corrective Action 3:  RSA requires that MCB to revise its policies to 
> ensure
> that SSI/SSDI beneficiaries and recipients are not required to provide a
> contribution toward any VR service.  Furthermore, MCB must cease requiring
> SSI/SSDI recipients to contribute towards the financial cost of their VR
> services.  Once MCB implements the revised policies, MCB must submit a 
> copy
> to RSA to ensure compliance.
>
>
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