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/

Highmark Walk – Week 7 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 7 weeks left to go, we have:

  • 7 teams
  • 32 walkers
  • $1,182 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!

Highmark Walk – Week 6 Update

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We just finished out the 6th 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 8 weeks left to go, we have:

  • 7 teams
  • 30 walkers
  • $657 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!

Highmark Walk – Week 5 Update

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We just finished out the 5th 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 9 weeks left to go, we have:

  • 7 teams
  • 27 walkers
  • $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!

Highmark Walk – Week 4 Update

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We are in the 2nd month of 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. So far, we have:

  • 7 teams
  • 16 walkers
  • $127 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!

Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month

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March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury. Everyone is at risk for a TBI, especially children and older adults. To learn more about brain injury awareness, visit the CDC website.

Flu Update

Flu activity is picking up across the country, with widespread infection in 24 states. Between about 6 and 7 million people have been sick with flu, up to half of those people have sought medical care for their illness, and between 69,000 and 84,000 people have been hospitalized from flu according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC.)

If that news has you worried about your own chances of coming down with the virus, you can still protect yourself. Go get a flu shot if you haven’t already. That’s right, it’s not too late and there is no reason for putting off a flu vaccine.

The Harbaugh Family

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Through the Holiday Blessing’s fund, AUCP was able to purchase two batteries for ceiling lifts for the Harbaugh family from Fairfield, PA. The family consists of mother, Charity, and her five adult children, three of which have Cerebral Palsy. Charity has been their primary caregiver since her late husband’s passing four years ago. Even with help from her oldest daughter and youngest son, she definitely has her hands full.

In the house, ceiling lift systems are used in order to transport her children to different rooms and in and out of bed. Due to constant use, the batteries tend to die out quicker than they can be replaced. At one point, with only two working batteries, Charity was having to transport the batteries from one lift to another while putting herself into unsafe situations in order to do so.

Although the new batteries didn’t alleviate all of the family’s challenges, AUCP was blessed to be able to extend a helping hand during their time of need. The oldest sister, Cindy, says “it’s definitely been a rough time, but the batteries have been a huge benefit.” Working with their AUCP Service Coordinator, the family continues to pursue resources and ways to maintain their family and keep them together living in their own home.

 

If you would like to give towards our Community Fund that allows us to “bless” individuals in our communities, follow this link and donate today!