AUCP Continues to grow

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UCP Connections to Independence has made the tough decision to no longer provide Service Coordination services to the central part of the state. They have given AUCP the opportunity to merge this portion of their agency services with ours, allowing AUCP to employ their staff and continue participant services. It is with great pride that we will be onboarding 10 of their former service coordinators and about 350 of their former participants.

We are extremely grateful for this opportunity to grow our agency and we look forward to offering our quality services to more participants throughout the state. Current AUCP participants should not expect any changes in their services due to the growth of our agency.

Help for disabled veterans

Housed in a fleet of well-equipped offices on wheels: the DAV’s Mobile Service Offices, (MSO), travel to smaller towns and rural communities across the country to counsel and assist veterans and their families on the benefits and services available to them.

Aided by Department and Chapter Service Officers, the MSO program provides support to veterans developing, filing and winning claims for benefits, administered under federal, state and local laws. National Service Officers counsel and assist with the development of evidence, completion of required applications and prosecution of claims. Highly trained members of the DAV’s National Service Officer Corps, conduct these workshops.

This exceptional service is available to you free of charge and you do not need to be a DAV member to take advantage of this service.

Current times and locations in PA during the month of May:

  • May 1 | Youngwood, Westmoreland Career Link (151 Pavilion Ln) | 9am – 3pm
  • May 9 | Chambersburg DAV Chapter #78 (2705 Lincoln Way West) |   8am – 4pm
  • May 10 | Hatboro PA State Rep. Thomas Murt’s Office (19 S York Rd.) | 8am – 3pm
  • May 23 | Sharon American Legion (1395 E. State St. Sharon) | 10am – 3pm

Info: https://www.dav.org/veterans/outreach-programs/mobile-service-office/
https://www.dav.org/wp-content/uploads/MSOSchedule.pdf

Highmark Walk – Week 11 Update

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We are less than 1 month away from the Highmark Walk event on Saturday, May 18th! We have officially met the $3,000 mark!

A special thank you to each of you that have registered and donated, thank you for being part of our Highmark Walk, we couldn’t do this without your support!

Currently, we have:

  • 7 teams
  • 42 walkers (84% towards our goal!)
  • $3,207 raised (64% towards our goal!)

We are really looking forward to all the fun that this year brings, but we can’t do it without you!
Would you consider walking with us?

  1. Register as a walker, virtually or in person
  2. Join us, on Saturday, May 18th at the Altoona Curve Stadium
  3. Find sponsors, raise money, and donate!

Click here to register and/or donate today!

Don’t forget, our AUCP Painting Party – Chalk Couture is coming up on Friday, May 3rd. We’d love for you to join us!

Highmark Walk – Week 10 Update

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We are just a little over 1 month away from the Highmark Walk event on Saturday, May 18th! Currently we are just under $3,000! Will you help us make it to our goal of $5,000?

Currently, we have:

  • 7 teams
  • 41 walkers (82% towards our goal!)
  • $2,782 raised (55% towards our goal!)

We are really looking forward to all the fun that this year brings, but we can’t do it without you!
Would you consider walking with us?

  1. Register as a walker, virtually or in person
  2. Join us, on Saturday, May 18th at the Altoona Curve Stadium
  3. Find sponsors, raise money, and donate!

Click here to register and/or donate today!

Don’t forget, our AUCP Painting Party – Chalk Couture is coming up on Friday, May 3rd. We’d love for you to join us!

Highmark Walk – Week 9 Update

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Only 40 days left until the Highmark Walk 2019 on May 19th, 2019 at the Altoona Curve Stadium. Our goal is to raise $5,000 and have 50 walkers to walk with us, both virtually and in person. Currently, we have:

  • 7 teams
  • 34 walkers (68% towards our goal!)
  • $2342 raised (46% towards our goal!)

We are really looking forward to all the fun that this year brings, but we can’t do it without you!
Would you consider walking with us on the path to independence?

  1. Register as a walker, virtually or in person
  2. Join us, on Saturday, May 18th at the Altoona Curve Stadium
  3. Find sponsors, raise money, and donate!

Click here to register and/or donate today!

Highmark Walk – Week 8 Update

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We just finished out the 7th week campaigning for the Highmark Walk 2019! Our goal is to raise $5,000 and have 50 walkers to walk with us, both virtually and in person. With 47 days left to go, we have:

  • 7 teams
  • 32 walkers
  • $1,192 raised

We are really looking forward to all the fun that this year brings, but we can’t do it without you!
Would you consider walking with us on the path to independence?

  1. Register as a walker, virtually or in person
  2. Join us, on Saturday, May 18th at the Altoona Curve Stadium
  3. Find sponsors, raise money and donate!

Click here to register and/or donate today!

World Autism Day – April 2

The twelfth annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2019. Joined by the international community, hundreds of thousands of landmarks, buildings, homes, and communities around the world, display blue lights in recognition of people living with autism. Autism-friendly events and educational activities take place all month to increase understanding and acceptance and foster worldwide support. Go to www.autismspeaks.org to see how you can get involved!

April Staff Highlight – Jennifer Hauser

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For our April Staff Highlight, we would like to introduce you to Jennifer Hauser, a Service Coordinator covering our UMPC Community HealthChoices (CHC) participants in the Somerset County area. Jen is from Hollsopple, PA and attended Clarion University for Rehabilitative Services with a concentration in Gerontology.

Each day, Jen goes home to her three children; Savannah (8 years old) her “emotional perfectionist,” Nevada (6 years old) her “ornery instigator,” and Harrison (3 years old) her “little curious adventurer,” and her loving husband, Josh. During her free time, Jen enjoys playing sports, sitting down with a good book, and playing the piano. Her most important goal in life is to raise good, loving, and successful children who love God.

Jen has been a Service Coordinator at AUCP for a little over three years. She says if she did not work here she would like to be a nurse. Jen enjoys working with her team of coworkers stating that each of them has the other’s best interest at heart. The most challenging part of her position is prioritizing the participants’ needs when they are in vulnerable positions.

Jen is a blessing to AUCP; she is known for her compassion and diligence by her participants. Her colleagues boast of her impressive memory and helpfulness. Jen, we are thankful to have you as part of our AUCP team!

SSI BENEFITS BILL PROPOSAL

U.S. Rep. John Katko announced a bill proposal that would protect Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Currently, if two people who receive SSI benefits marry, they would receive 25 percent less than they would if they lived together but didn’t marry according to a 2003 issue paper published by the Social Security Administration.

“People with intellectual and developmental disabilities should not have to choose between marriage and their disability benefits,” Katko said.

Katko’s bill, which is co-sponsored by Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, would ensure SSI benefits aren’t affected by marital status. To calculate SSI benefits for an individual with developmental or intellectual disabilities, only their income and other financial information will be reviewed. Their spouse’s earnings won’t be a factor.

TAX TIPS FOR THE LEGALLY DISABLED

With Tax Day (April 15th) right around the corner, TurboTax shares a few tips on what to expect if you are considered to be legally disabled.

The federal tax code includes a number of provisions that can ease the tax burden on people living with a disability. Some disability payments and benefits are free of income tax, while deductions and credits can reduce the taxes you do owe. These tax breaks aren’t always obvious, though.

Here are some common situations:

  • Employer-paid disability benefits: If you receive disability income from an employer, that money is usually taxable.
  • Disability insurance payments: If you receive benefits from a disability insurance policy, your tax liability depends on who paid the premiums for the policy. If your employer paid the premiums, then the benefits are taxable. If you paid the premiums using after-tax money, your benefits are not taxable.
  • Social Security disability: Social Security disability (SSD) benefits may or may not be taxable depending on how much other income you may have. In general, if SSD is your only source of income, your benefits aren’t taxable.

For more information, tips and resources, go to https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/disability/