[Jobs] Fwd: National Federation of the Blind Praises Bill to

[Angela Marciniak]

I think this bill is great, but I have one question/comment. Why does this bill only concentrate on those who have SSDI? Personally speaking from being an SSI beneficiary, I find it frustrating that we are not including. I have spoken with many people who would love to become self-sufficient through employment, but cannot simply transition with so many limitations. 
I would like to hear other's opinions on this. 
Best Regards, Angela 
> Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:32:38 -0500> To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org; blindtlk at nfbnet.org; jobs at nfbnet.org; nabs-l at nfbnet.org; blindlaw at nfbnet.org> From: dandrews at visi.com> Subject: [Jobs] Fwd: National Federation of the Blind Praises Bill to> > > >> > >>> "Pare, John" <JPare at NFB.ORG> 10/16/2007 3:31 PM >>>> >> >National Federation of the Blind Praises Bill to> >> >Create Work Incentives and Opportunity> >> >> >> >> >Blind Persons Earnings Fairness Act> >> >> >Introduced by Congressman Lewis> >> >> >> >Washington, D.C. (October 16, > >2007): Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) has > >introduced legislation designed to help blind > >persons receiving Social Security Disability > >Insurance (SSDI) to return to work. The Blind > >Persons Earnings Fairness Act of 2007 (H.R. > >3834), which has already drawn bipartisan > >support, will eliminate penalties that prevent > >blind persons from reentering the workforce and > >will facilitate their transition to employment.> >> >> >> >Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National > >Federation of the Blind, which has long > >advocated this change in policy, said: "This > >proposal will allow thousands of blind people to > >rejoin the workforce and become productive, > >tax-paying citizens. Many blind people are > >understandably reluctant to take entry-level > >jobs because they are penalized by an immediate > >loss of SSDI benefits, and their work income > >rarely compensates for that loss. This > >legislation will allow blind persons to make a > >smooth transition from dependence to > >opportunity. We will work with Congressman > >Lewis to ensure the swift passage of this landmark legislation."> >> >> >> >Congressman Lewis said: "Americans who are blind > >deserve the same opportunities as all other > >Americans. Their blindness does not prevent > >them from making valuable contributions to our > >society, as evidenced by the many successful > >blind people I have personally met over the > >years. The gifts and opportunities of these > >citizens should not be hindered by policies that > >discourage them from entering the > >workforce. That is why I am proud to stand with > >my blind brothers and sisters and introduce this much-needed legislation."> >> >> >> >The legislation will increase the amount of > >monthly income that a blind person can earn > >while still receiving SSDI benefits. The > >earnings limit will gradually rise from its > >current level of $1,500 per month to $2,850 per > >month in 2011. In 2012, the earnings limit for > >blind people will be tied to that applicable to > >senior citizens in the year they attain full retirement age.> >> >> >> >John G. Paré Jr.> >Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives> >NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND> >1800 Johnson Street> >Baltimore, Maryland 21230> >Telephone: (410) 659-9314, ext. 2227> >Cell phone: (410) 913-3912> >Fax: (410) 685-5653> >Email: jpare at nfb.org> > _______________________________________________> Jobs mailing list> Jobs at nfbnet.org> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/jobs
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I think this bill is great, but I have one question/comment. Why does this bill only concentrate on those who have SSDI? Personally speaking from being an SSI beneficiary, I find it frustrating that we are not including. I have spoken with many people who would love to become self-sufficient through employment, but cannot simply transition with so many limitations.
I would like to hear other's opinions on this.
Best Regards, Angela
> Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:32:38 -0500
> To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org; blindtlk at nfbnet.org; jobs at nfbnet.org; nabs-l at nfbnet.org; blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> From: dandrews at visi.com
> Subject: [Jobs] Fwd: National Federation of the Blind Praises Bill to
>
>
> >
> > >>> "Pare, John" <JPare at NFB.ORG> 10/16/2007 3:31 PM >>>
> >
> >National Federation of the Blind Praises Bill to
> >
> >Create Work Incentives and Opportunity
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Blind Persons Earnings Fairness Act
> >
> >
> >Introduced by Congressman Lewis
> >
> >
> >
> >Washington, D.C. (October 16,
> >2007): Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) has
> >introduced legislation designed to help blind
> >persons receiving Social Security Disability
> >Insurance (SSDI) to return to work. The Blind
> >Persons Earnings Fairness Act of 2007 (H.R.
> >3834), which has already drawn bipartisan
> >support, will eliminate penalties that prevent
> >blind persons from reentering the workforce and
> >will facilitate their transition to employment.
> >
> >
> >
> >Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National
> >Federation of the Blind, which has long
> >advocated this change in policy, said: "This
> >proposal will allow thousands of blind people to
> >rejoin the workforce and become productive,
> >tax-paying citizens. Many blind people are
> >understandably reluctant to take entry-level
> >jobs because they are penalized by an immediate
> >loss of SSDI benefits, and their work income
> >rarely compensates for that loss. This
> >legislation will allow blind persons to make a
> >smooth transition from dependence to
> >opportunity. We will work with Congressman
> >Lewis to ensure the swift passage of this landmark legislation."
> >
> >
> >
> >Congressman Lewis said: "Americans who are blind
> >deserve the same opportunities as all other
> >Americans. Their blindness does not prevent
> >them from making valuable contributions to our
> >society, as evidenced by the many successful
> >blind people I have personally met over the
> >years. The gifts and opportunities of these
> >citizens should not be hindered by policies that
> >discourage them from entering the
> >workforce. That is why I am proud to stand with
> >my blind brothers and sisters and introduce this much-needed legislation."
> >
> >
> >
> >The legislation will increase the amount of
> >monthly income that a blind person can earn
> >while still receiving SSDI benefits. The
> >earnings limit will gradually rise from its
> >current level of $1,500 per month to $2,850 per
> >month in 2011. In 2012, the earnings limit for
> >blind people will be tied to that applicable to
> >senior citizens in the year they attain full retirement age.
> >
> >
> >
> >John G. Paré Jr.
> >Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives
> >NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
> >1800 Johnson Street
> >Baltimore, Maryland 21230
> >Telephone: (410) 659-9314, ext. 2227
> >Cell phone: (410) 913-3912
> >Fax: (410) 685-5653
> >Email: jpare at nfb.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> Jobs mailing list
> Jobs at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/jobs
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