Parents, caregivers and family members of children with special needs are invited to a free information session on government benefits to those families and entitlements for the children. The meeting takes place from 7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Greenwich headquarters of Abilis.
“Navigating government benefits for special needs financial planning can be intimidating,” said Amy Montimurro, CEO and president of Abilis. “Families may be unaware of the full range of options available to individuals with disabilities, or they may be confused about eligibility, assuming that they have too much income to consider means-based programs.”
This information session is available for those caring for children with special needs — including parents, caregivers, professionals, guardians, and advocates.
What’s Covered
“Our information session will provide an overview of government benefits, effects of employment income and entitlements parents and caregivers should consider in the process of planning a lifetime of support for your loved ones with specials needs,” Montimurro said.
Topics of the information session will address:
Means Tested Programs
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Plan (SNAP)
- Housing Choice Voucher Program
Non-Means Tested Programs
- Social Security Disability Income (SSDI)
- Medicare
If You’re Going …
- The full title of the information session is “-Understanding Government Benefits and Entitlements for my child with special needs”
- The event takes place Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, from 7 to 9 p.m.
- It takes place at the Abilis headquarters located at 50 Glenville Street, Greenwich.
- Seats are limited and registration is required. Please register here, on the Abilis website.
Speakers
Presenters are Michael Beloff, CFP, ChSNC, CAP, ChFC, RICP, Wealth Advisor, Stratos Wealth Management, and Kim Trudden, LMSW, coordinator of Case Management with Abilis.
Michael Beloff has more than 15 years of financial services experience, enabling him to look at the complex issues facing families and small businesses from different perspectives to create strategies and tactics personalized for their specific opportunities, issues, needs, and goals.
Inspired by his son with Autism, Michael has become a chartered special needs consultant with extensive training and continuing education on the complex topics and particular challenges of caring for a dependent with special needs, including the constant changes in federal and state laws.
Michael’s expertise and ability to educate and empower has made him a noted speaker on the topic of special needs planning at both national and local venues including the National Autism Association, the Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress, the Autism Society of America, the US Autism and Asperger Association and COPAA.
He has also appeared on CNN and in various publications including Financial Advisor magazine. He is a board member and treasurer of Abilis and a board member of SEEK CT, as well as a member of the First Selectman’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities in Greenwich.
Kim Trudden graduated from the University of New England with a Masters in Social work. Kim has been working with Abilis for ten years. Recently she completed the Community Work Incentives Counselor (CWIC) Training with the Social Security Administration.
As the director of Case Management, Kim assists with overseeing each individuals IP planning with DDS and will provide benefits counseling with Ticket to Work participants.
About Abilis
Abilis is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports more than 700 individuals with special needs and their families from birth throughout their lives.
Abilis serves the special needs community in Fairfield County in towns including, Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Westport, Weston and Wilton, and has a long-standing reputation for individualized, high quality care.
For more information, visit the Abilis website or on Facebook, on Twitter or on Instagram.