I asked for information (Can you Afford Chronic Illness?) about the new ADA legislation and in response, I got helpful tips:

• New York Times article Senate Measure Would Expand Disabilities Act (Thank you Christine Gombar for leading me here)
  

• Senator Tom Harkin was the chief author of the original ADA legislation and you can read on his website his thinking about the recent legislation (Thanks again, Christine
• American Association of People with Disabilities – This is a very useful site but it’s currently under construction. (Thanks again, Christine)

• This is what a blogger speaking for the American Association of People with Disabilities writes about the legislation, A new law overturns years of callous Supreme Court decisions

And in another post, Chronic illness, health insurance and foreclosures, I got these comments that lead you to more information, in response to the issue of whether to work and forfeit possible benefits and how the campaigns are addressing the benefits issues:

• Lee Rachel Jurman, (Personal Disability Consulting, Inc.) wrote this comment: SSDI (Social Security disability benefits based on an individual having a work history) has 2 different criteria to consider when thinking about working. The first is Substantial Gainful Activity (or SGA) which is the standard Social Security uses to consider if someone is disabled. In 2008, a disabled person can earn up to $940/month (gross income) before jeopardizing benefits; a blind person can earn $1,570. People on SSDI can have up to 9 months of what is called Trial Work months in a 60 month period. Trial Work is when someone earns $670/month or more (in 2008). So if a person isn’t sure she can work successfully, and doesn’t want to risk losing SSDI, she is safe if her income (based on pay periods, not pay dates) stays under $670/month. It’s much more complicated than that, but this is the start of how to think about it. You can find more information about Trial Work at Social Security’s Red Book at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/redbook/eng/main.htm.
• Michelle Traub  (WebHealth Writer ) gave a link to a Consumer Reports article: How the two plans would address America’s healthcare wish list
  

Have you read anything that a candidate has said about chronic illness insurance benefits or the ADA?  This is critical legislation for people living with chronic illness who want and need to work and plan careers.

Share it with us, ok?  If you want to remain anonymous, you can  – just don’t use your real name on the comments section — or you can email to me (Rosalind@cicoach.com) directly and I’ll publish it anonymously.

Rosalind   aka cicoach.com

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