Community
Independent Living Fund
Since
retiring from Wells Fargo, I've focused my time and energy to
eliminate work disincentives in the current Social Security
Disability Programs that inhibit people with disabilities from being
employed. Given the current political environment, an entirely new
approach may be required. Please read the following and give me
feedback.
Currently,
there are two separate Social Security trust funds, the Old-Age and
Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund pays retirement and survivors
benefits, and the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund pays
disability benefits. These funds are funded by employers and
employees through payroll deductions. I suggest a third fund is
needed.
The
Community Independent Living Fund will fund personal assistant
services, on-going therapies, durable medical equipment and
maintenance drugs for workers with disabilities. This Fund will be
used by any employee requiring these goods and services who cannot
get the services covered by any other program.
By
creating a separate funding source for independent living services,
health care costs and healthcare insurance premiums should be
significantly lowered. Expenses associated with pre-existing
conditions should be defrayed by this Fund. Many Social Security
Disability recipients stay on Social Security for fear of losing
these critical services. By eliminating this fear, many people with
disabilities will find employment. Social Security Disability will be
able to return to its mission of providing a safety net for people
with disabilities who truly cannot work. As more people receiving
Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI) find employment, the costs of these expensive
programs should decrease.
As
with the two current Social Security trust funds, the Community
Independent Living Fund will be funded by a payroll tax. This
new payroll tax will be levied after an employee's annual salary
exceeds the Social Security cap. Initial
funding of the Community Independent Living Fund will be sought from
philanthropy. While no one wants new taxes, it is surmised that
people will recognize the value of this new fund.
Many
details regarding the Community Independent Living Fund must be
developed and negotiated. A thorough analysis of the Fund's effect on
healthcare, Social Security, the debt and the overall economy must be
carefully evaluated.
How
can the concept of a Community Independent Living Fund be advanced?
