IARF On Demand Webinars

Program Updates for Clients on Social Security Disability Programs and Medicaid in Illinois

This webinar covers emerging changes in Illinois's Medicaid program for people with disabilities (the Medicaid "Re-boot" with Integrated Health Homes, who it covers, and how it will change Medicaid coverage); the new Illinois ABLE program (how to use it and who's eligible); and updates on the Ticket to Work Act and how it is working in Illinois.

Learning objectives:

• Participants will get a high level overview of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services' vision for "Integrated Health Homes" for all Medicaid recipients, including the potential impacts on clients and service delivery.
• Participants will learn new information about the Illinois ABLE program, including which Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries qualify, how funds in the ABLE accounts can be expended, and tips on how to talk to individuals, caregivers and families;
• Participants will receive an update on the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) Ticket to Work program, emerging trends from SSA and how the Ticket to Work program is working in Illinois.

About the Presenter

Laura Gallagher Watkin, JD, Health & Disability Advocates

Laura Gallagher Watkin has been working on Social Security issues for 19 years. After law school she worked at legal aid assisting with SSA applications. She moved to Illinois to establish the first Benefits Planning department at the state division of rehabilitation services focusing on disability employment, through a Social Security Administration (SSA) Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach grant. She built a team of statewide Benefits Specialists and has conducted individual benefits counseling for individuals with physical, mental and developmental disabilities as well as statewide training of community agencies and vocational counselors related to public benefits including Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and work incentive programs.  After joining Health & Disability Advocates she led training workshops throughout Illinois and in 16 states on disability employment and Social Security disability work incentives including : the Ticket-to-Work Program, SSDI/SSI, Medicaid, Medicare, financial literacy, asset development and employment issues.  Administered fee-for-service training contracts with states, private companies, and non-profit organizations as well as maintained a portfolio of public policy advocacy work and individual client representation. She represented individual beneficiaries before the Social Security Administration in contested overpayment matters and other return to work issues. In 2008 she created a program for Veterans at HDA to focus on the unmet needs of Veterans, including those for families of the fallen, survivors of military sexual assault and members of the National Guard.