[NFBMO] Blind Pension Legislation

Fri May 25 00:07:12 UTC 2018

So Fred what chapter are you a member of? I see you use the word we a lot
in your message. If you are not a member then why don't you get involved
and help change things if you think there is a better way of getting
something done. It is easy to sit back and criticize but it takes a lot
more effort and commitment to get out and do the work.
Carol Coulter

On Wed, May 23, 2018 at 9:09 PM, Fred Olver via NFBMO <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Jean, I certainly applaud the effort‘s of those who were involved in
> making necessary changes to this bill. However, I do not recall in the last
> three months, seeing any call to action or request for individuals to go to
> Jefferson City to demonstrate against the passage of this legislation. In
> light of the fact that this legislation is so crucial to those of us who
> are blind, and not only those of us in the NFB, but also those who are
> involved in the ACB, it seems to me that efforts could have been made to
> work more closely with the Missouri Council of the blind in preventing
> passage of legislation which was counter to the needs and requirements of
> those of us who are blind. I say these things, because in the last 20 years
> or so it seems that the NFB national organization has become somewhat
> toothless in its efforts to speak on behalf of those of us who are blind.
> Yes there have been small steps made, however I do not perceive that this
> state organization as an example has acted in a manner which is pro active
> with regard to the needs of blind people overall. It seems that we as a
> result of what has occurred in the past have become somewhat lazy in our
> efforts to speak on behalf of people who are blind. This legislation is a
> good example especially Melissa is answer, it seems to me that as of
> February 12 or 13th, somebody or someone had decided that efforts to
> facilitate the changing of this bill we’re not in the best interest of
> people who are blind because the decision had already been made to pass
> legislation as is. Another example is that when I attended the last NFB
> meeting, some years ago, the president didn’t even see fit to bringAnd
> agenda to the meeting. Also, I became tired of being talked at at NFB
> meetings this organization needs to turn around this organization needs to
> get off his butt and educate people this bill is a prime example of the
> lack of education which exists in the state of Missouri we should have Cole
> last with the ACB and done everything in our power to facilitate necessary
> changes to this bill at the very least it seems to be very discriminatory
> against sided spouses and people who are blind in the state of Missour we
> do an awful lot of talking on this list but it seems to me that we don’t do
> enough doing. Fred Olver
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On May 23, 2018, at 7:35 PM, Gene Coulter via NFBMO <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
> >
> > We did not know this bill would be submitted before it was as it was
> > proposed by DSS. We were engaged as soon as it was filed. Thanks to the
> > efforts of blind consumers there were several changes made to this bill
> > before it was passed including raising the poverty limit for the sighted
> > spouse to 500% from 300%. We talked to each and every legislator and
> > were part of negotiations to try and amend it.
> > I believe we handled this as proactively as we could as one cannot
> > anticipate a bill such as this coming out of left field.
> > All we can do now that the bill will surely be signed by the governor is
> > make sure folks are aware of the new rules and monitor DSS with regard
> > to it's provisions particularly the  calculation provisions.
> > What we can do in the future, is what we did this time, keep a close eye
> > on the bills filed  and react as quickly as is possible and if we hear
> > wind of a potential bill we should contact those responsible to find out
> > what the bill will do. This includes everyone reading this post.
> > Gene
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: NFBMO <nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Fred Olver via NFBMO
> > Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2018 2:40 PM
> > To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
> > Cc: Fred Olver <fredolver at gmail.com>
> > Subject: Re: [NFBMO] Blind Pension Legislation
> >
> > Although I am a little reluctant to comment, it seems to me that we are
> > closing the barn door after the horse has already left so to speak. It
> > seems to me that some questions that need to be asked our one what input
> > did this organization have when it comes to the development and or
> > response to this bill, two, what effort was made to expose legislate
> > tors to the faults with this bill and three what can we do now that the
> > bill has already passed and a fourth question might be what can we do
> > the next time a situation like this or similar comes up with regard to
> > the state legislate tors. Fred Olver
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> >> On May 23, 2018, at 2:22 PM, Coccovizzo,Linda A via NFBMO
> > <nfbmo at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >>
> >> It's frustrating, because the rules for blind pension aren't always
> > easy to find, and they are somewhat vague. I think part of the idea
> > behind creating this bill was to take some of that vagueness out of the
> > rules. However, for me, it really created more questions than answers. I
> > read the final bill, but as far as I know, there really isn't anything
> > that describes a household when it comes to the poverty level. Someone
> > correct me if I am wrong, but the wording seems to give FSD the ability
> > to choose whether they want to count all of the members of the family,
> > or just the spouse and the recipient. Also, there is that part that
> > leaves things open for them to interpret the numbers as they wish, with
> > no reprocussions, because the bill says they can. And then, is it
> > $20,000, or $30,000 that is allowed for property. It should be one or
> > the other, but the way it reads, decisions can be made on an individual
> > basis, and that doesn't make sense to me. It was FSD who took the
> > fraudulent applications and approved them. It is also FSD who brought
> > this bill to the house. It isn't our fault that they allowed people with
> > drivers licenses to slip through the cracks, or those who have more
> > vision than the rules allow. It also wasn't our fault that the funds
> > were mishandled so many years ago.
> >>
> >> When I met with my legislators, I made sure to mention the things
> > about the bill that I agreed with. Of course people who are blind enough
> > to be eligible to receive blind pension shouldn't have drivers licenses,
> > and if they receive the blind pension, they have definitely been
> > considered blind enough not to be able to drive. That should be obvious
> > enough not to have to put it into a bill, but apparently it wasn't. I
> > like the fact that recipients can have ABLE accounts up to $100,000.
> > That puts Missouri's blind up to speed with disabled Missourians who
> > receive benefits. I find it interesting that the ABLE accounts for blind
> > pension recipients was at one time a separate billfor 2018, and was then
> > rolled into this bill. Kind of a double-edge. The increase in property
> > allowance is good, but again, I'm unsure whether $20,000 or 30,000 is
> > allowed.
> >> Do recipients assume it's $30,000, and then find out they were over
> > the limit when it's too late?
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: NFBMO <nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Gene Coulter via
> >> NFBMO
> >> Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2018 1:28 PM
> >> To: 'NFB of Missouri Mailing List' <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
> >> Cc: GeneCoulter at Charter.net
> >> Subject: Re: [NFBMO] Blind Pension Legislation
> >>
> >> Increases, if they happen, occur annually in July with letters being
> > sent out in mid-June.  These letters should be kept , at least, until
> > the next letter adjusting  your benefit amount is received so that you
> > have proof of income for loan applications or other purposes.
> >> To Brian's prior query  if you submit a driver's license as proof of
> > identity under the new law they will reject or close your case.
> >> Evidently FSD can look up driver's license records to determine
> > whether you have a non-driver's license or driver's license or both if
> > they suspect fraud.
> >> Gene
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: NFBMO <nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Julie McGinnity
> >> via NFBMO
> >> Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2018 12:54 AM
> >> To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
> >> Cc: Julie McGinnity <kaybaycar at gmail.com>
> >> Subject: Re: [NFBMO] Blind Pension Legislation
> >>
> >> How often do they change the amount of blind pension?
> >>
> >> I agree with Randy that the problem is we have laws no one takes the
> > time to enforce.  It's the same with the service animal laws we have put
> > in place.  Businesses don't know their rights, so we have fake service
> > animals all over the place.  But yeah, we were talking about blind
> > pension...  Even before we practice our little elevator speeches, we
> > need to figure out what we would like to say.
> >>
> >> I had to educate myself quickly about blind pension and fear I still
> > don't know everything.  It seems to me that we should all be on the same
> > page regarding what we want to protect and what we can let go.  I think
> > the driver's license rule is a little overkill, but their sighted spouse
> > requirements seem to, like Gary said, prevent integration or promulgate
> > the idea that our sighted spouses (but not our blind ones) can take care
> > of us.  What's clear to me is that blind/disabled people don't write
> > these laws or design the systems that many of us live on.  There's
> > something wrong with that.  Ok, so we don't hold the purse strings as it
> > were, but we are citizens who should not be punished for being disabled.
> >> SSI discourages people from saving, unless you want to save for
> > something very specific.  And now we're talking marriage and the
> > disadvantages to marrying as blind or blind and sighted couples...  It
> > seems to me that we should be discussing these things more often and
> > coming up with those elevator speeches Gary mentioned.  We can't change
> > these things unless we have a collective voice.
> >>
> >> Julie
> >>
> >>
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> >>
> >>> On 5/22/18, Gary Wunder via NFBMO <nfbmo at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >>> I think there are significant philosophical implications we should
> >>> think about with regard to the blind pension and especially the
> >>> changes. If you are a blind person who cannot work, your situation is
> >
> >>> made even more desperate in your family by the fact that to that
> >>> family unit you are a taker rather than a giver. I believe in
> >>> marriage, and I think most Missourians do as well. But the fact of
> >>> the
> >>
> >>> matter is that it has been clearly demonstrated with seniors and
> >>> others: if you put me at an economic hardship, I will stay married in
> >
> >>> the eyes of God, but I may seriously consider the legal arrangement
> >>> that says I'm married. Ask recipients of SSI.
> >>> Ask recipients of pensions that say they are entitled until they
> >> remarry.
> >>>
> >>> Under the blind pension law, as it exists now and as it exists when
> >>> the governor signs it, sighted people are placed at a economic
> >>> disadvantage when marrying blind people. Blind people are placed at
> >>> risk by marrying sighted people. This is not the kind of integration
> >>> I
> >>
> >>> want. I'm glad that the earnings of blind people remain exempt, but I
> >
> >>> can't say there is any fairness in this, and as for the dignity of
> >>> blind people, I think it is considered not at all in the law and in
> >>> this legislation.
> >>>
> >>> I think that we better be preparing arguments about keeping the
> >>> medical benefits that blind people receive. That issue appears to
> >>> have
> >>
> >>> gone away, but it was not terribly unpopular when it was proposed. We
> >
> >>> need to work on language that is persuasive and concise. Very often
> >>> when people speak of spin, they do so in a negative context, but spin
> >
> >>> can be very effective and it has a purpose. When you deal with busy
> >>> people, you better be able to state your issue clearly and concisely.
> >>> They don't have all day to listen to your concerns. The spin must be
> >>> honest, but we should figure out how to positively get that message
> >>> out in a form that is easily repeatable, easily understood, and
> >>> completely verifiable. Our credibility is everything. If we can't
> >>> figure out ways to communicate our message in an elevator speech, we
> >>> are headed for the basement.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
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> >>> c
> >>> om
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Julie A. McGinnity
> >> President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division,
> > Second Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri "For
> > we walk by faith, not by sight"
> >> 2 Cor. 7
> >>
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> >>
> >>
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