Fear Factor: Confronting Fears About Losing Benefits Due to Employment Opportunities


Fear Factor Logo by OCALI

 

Confronting Fears of Working + Benefits with Facts, Evaluation, Action, and Results

"I can't work because I will lose my benefits!" If this statement sounds familiar, this information is for you! This training series, hosted by Lisa Comes (Ohio Association of County Boards) and Keith Banner (Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities), explores resources and tools that confront fears of losing benefits due to employment opportunities.

Fear Factor Resource Document


 

Episode 6: SSI and Medicaid Refresher

This debut session of “FEAR Factor’s” second year focused on SSI and Medicaid. Presenters include Darenda Geer (Fairfield County Board of DD), Elizabeth Risner (Butler County Board of DD), Jeanne Hall (Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities), Latosha Ollinger (Warren County Board of DD), and Tanya Chiles (Chiles Creations). This session was live on December 12, 2022.

Fear Factor S1E6 Recording

Fear Factor S1E6 Presentation

 

Episode 5: STABLE Accounts

In Part 5 of F.E.A.R. FACTOR: Confronting Fears of Working with Facts, Evaluation, Action and Results, our team of experts will delve into Stable Accounts and how they can help workers with disabilities maintain benefits while thriving in community employment. Join Lisa Comes from OACB, along with Keith Banner, DODD and Christine Brown, Nisonger Center along with a curated guest panel including Doug Jackson - Deputy Director at Ohio State Treasury and Nathan Turner, self advocate and Ohio Tech Ambassador,as we all confront our fears of losing benefits while working together towards employment. This session was live on June 13, 2022.

Fear Factor S1E5 Recording

STABLE Fact Sheet

STABLE Flyer


Episode 4: Medicaid Buy In for Workers with Disabilities (MBIWD)

In Part 4 of F.E.A.R. Factor: Confronting Fears of Working with Facts, Evaluation, Action and Results, our team of experts will delve into Medicaid and Medicaid buy in for workers with disabilities. Join Lisa Comes from OACB, along with Keith Banner, DODD and Christine Brown, Nisonger Center as we all confront our fears of losing benefits while working together towards employment. This session was live on March 28, 2022.

Fear Factor S1E4 Presentation (Updated 2023)

MBIWD Decision Game Board (Updated 2023)

Fear Factor S1E4 Recording


Episode 3: Refresher about SSDI (January 24, 2022)

In Part 3 of F.E.A.R. FACTOR: Confronting Fears of Working with Facts, Evaluation, Action and Results our team of experts will delve into SSDI benefits and the effects of work and income on those Benefits. Join Christine Brown, Lisa Comes and Keith Banner as we all confront our fears of losing benefits while working together.

Presenter(s): Lisa Comes - OACBDD, Keith Banner - Community Life Engagement Liaison, Ohio Department of DD, Christine Brown - Nisonger Center, Jeanne Hall - Work Incentives Consulting, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Logo,, Darenda Geer, Certified Work Incentive Practitioner, Fairfield County Board of DD and Latosha Brown - Work Incentives Coordinator, Warren County DD Lisa Comes lcomes@oacbdd.org

Fear Factor S1E3 Presentation
Fear Factor S1E3 Recording



Season 1 Episode 2: SSI Benefits + Work (October 4, 2021)

Team of experts delve into SSI Benefits and the effects of work and income on those Benefits. Topic areas include:

-SSI Work Incentives

-Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)

-Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)

-Blind Work Expense (BWE)

-Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS)

-SSI Wage Reporting

-SSI Resource Limit

-STABLE Accounts

Presenters: Debora Wagner (Managing Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati), Jeanne Hall (Work Incentives Consulting, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities), Elizabeth Risner (Employment Coordinator, Butler DD), and Darenda Geer (Work Incentive Practitioner, Fairfield DD)

Fear Factor S1E2 Recording

IRWE Request Template

SSI Work Incentives

What Counts as IRWE?


 

 

Season 1 Episode 1: Maintaining Critical Services and Support (August 30, 2021)

Presenters share their expertise to help participants learn about ways to maintain critical services and supports for people with DD while they work and use "F.E.A.R." - Facts, Evaluations, Action, and Results - to their benefit. Topic areas include:

-Employer Subsidy

-Work Incentives Planning Report

-Maintaining Health Insurance Benefits

-Medicaid Buy-in For Workers with Disabilities (MBIWD)

Presenters: Christine Brown (Nisonger Center), Tanya Chiles (Benefit Analyst/CWIC, Owner of Chiles Creations, LLC), Jeanne Hall (Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities), Elizabeth Risner (Butler DD Employment Coordinator), and Darenda Geer (Fairfield DD Work Incentive Practitioner)

Fear Factor S1E1 Presentation

Fear Factor S1E1 Recording

Social Security Subsidy and Special Conditions

Subsidy Work Activity Questionnaire