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TAKE ACTION to protect SocSec Advocacy $
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Will Hall
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Sep 20, 2006 11:00 PDT
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-------- Original Message --------
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 10:10:04 -0700 (PDT)
From: Teri O'Shea
Dear Friends of BenePLAN (Resource Partnership)
We have had a huge funding cut and need your help advocating for the
continuation of benefits planning services for the next three years. You
can help us by writing the Commissioner of Social Security and e-mailing
members of the Social Security Subcommittee in Washington. The addresses
are as follows:
Jo Anne Barnhart
Commissioner of Social Security
6401 Security Blvd.
Baltimore MD 21235-0001
Also e-mail
JimMc-@mailhouse.gov
Cc: KimHi-@mailhouse.gov
The main points are:
If It Ain?t Broke, Don?t Fix It!
The work incentive planning and advisement is essential if any employment
strategy is to be successful?:
· BPAOs (now called WIPAs) have been a highly successful and popular
program serving more than 5,000 beneficiaries each month.
· The quality of the program depends directly upon the knowledge and
skills of Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs).
· A key to their success is the ongoing investment in providing them with
training and technical assistance.
SSA?s stewardship of this program is foundering:
· SSA failed to recompete the BPAO/WIPA in a timely fashion creating more
than a year of uncertainty that has demoralized them and contributed to
staff turnover.
· The SSA is asking the projects to budget for less than a full year of
funding and, in numerous cases, asking them to serve areas they did not
apply for further undermining their stability.
· SSA has failed to recompete the Regional Training Centers and PABBS
training that are so vital to the effectiveness of these programs.
SSA action:
· Fund the BPAO for a full budget cycle.
· Continue the current Regional Training Centers and PABBS training until
new award(s) can be competed and established.
· If there is another plan for these vital programs, share it broadly with
your community partners and seek their advice.
You folks are fabulous.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Teri O?Shea
Teri O'Shea
Benefits Specialist
Resource Partnership
(413) 532-4900 ext 120
Committed to improving lives of individuals with disabilities through
employment since 1978.
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