Social Security will host its ninth National Disability Forum April 18 in Washington D.C. This year’s theme is Financial Independence: Directing the Management of One’s Social Security benefits.
Two different sessions are planned for the day and all Americans can access the forum via teleconference. Congress recently passed a bill that changes some of the requirements of Social Security’s Representative Payee program, which will be a large focus of the forum. The program sets guidelines for representative payees who are in charge of managing Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for beneficiaries who are judged to be too impaired to manage their own resources.
“We are exploring ideas to enhance our instructions for the Representative Payee program. Your input is needed on how we can best assess a beneficiary’s ability to direct management of his or her benefits. We are also interested in feedback on what role a supporter may play for such beneficiaries,” Social Security said in a release from the agency.
Session 1, titled How to Strengthen and Clarify Instructions on Directing the Management of Benefits will be from 10 a.m. to noon (EST). Session 2, titled How to Define the Role of a Supporter for Individuals who Direct the Management of Their Benefits is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (EST). Howard Goldman, doctor and professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, will moderate the discussion. Industry panelists are also expected to join the discussion, they include:
- Marty Ford, Senior Executive Officer, Public Policy, The Arc
- Nina Kohn, Associate Dean for Research and Online Education, Syracuse University College of Law
- Pamela Teaster PhD., Director, Center for Gerontology, Virginia Tech
- Ruth Luckasson, Chair, Department of Special Education, University of New Mexico College of Education
- Andrew Sperling, Director, Legislative Affairs, Advocacy & Public Policy, National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Kate Lang, Senior Staff Attorney, Justice in Aging
- Kelly A. Thompson, Esq., Thompson Wildhack, PLC Attorneys at Law
- Dari Pogach, Staff Attorney, American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
- Susanne Horn, MSW, Representative Payee Program Manager, Bread for the City
For more information about the program, or to learn how to register for the event click here.
