The following is the video recording of the ABLE Accounts portion of this meeting.
The Haverhill Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) will hold its first meeting of the 2019-2020 school year on Tuesday, October 8, 2019, from 6 PM to 8 PM in the Haverhill High School Library.
Haverhill SEPAC will host Understanding Public Benefits and Managing Resources Through ABLE Accounts. Translation services will be available (Habrá servicios de traducción disponibles).
Kathy Kelly, from the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), will provide basic information about Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, including the impact work can have on SSI benefits and the various work incentives available for students. She also will discuss other public benefits, such as MassHealth, housing, and SNAP.
Mary Rubenis, from the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA), will discuss an Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account, which is a tax-advantaged savings plan (Attainable Saving Plan) for someone with a disability to save for qualified expenses. Qualified expenses include education, transportation, assistive technology, essential health and living needs, and job training. An Able Account – set up to enhance a person's quality of life and independence – allows savings while keeping benefits, such as Social Security and Medicaid. MEFA is the state sponsor for ABLE Accounts in Massachusetts.
Thank you to Andrea Morris of the Arc of Greater Haverhill-Newburyport for helping secure these speakers.
Haverhill High School is located at 137 Monument Street, Haverhill, MA 01832. The most convenient place to park for the meeting is behind the school in the parking lot past the tennis courts.