Which guide would you like to purchase?
 |
 |
|
Sample
from The Go Get Benefits Reference Guide for Health Care and Disability
1) WHAT FEDERAL AND STATE LAW GOVERNS DISABILITY
AND HEALTH INSURANCE?
Three major Federal Laws shape health insurance and other welfare insurance
programs. They are COBRA, (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
Act) ERISA, (Employee Retirement Income Security Act), and HIPAA (Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). This reference guide discusses
your rights to health and disability benefits and provides documentation
on each of these laws.
(See COBRA tab, Pg. 2, paragraph 3, 4) (See HIPPA tab, Pg, 4, Bullet 1)
2)WHAT IS ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security
Act)?
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal
law, which sets minimum standards that provide protection for individuals
in voluntarily established pension and health plans in private industry.
ERISA requires plans to provide participants with plan information, including
important information about plan features and funding, and clarifies the
fiduciary responsibilities for those who manage and control plan assets.
ERISA also requires plans to establish a grievance and appeals process
for participants who wish to appeal plan decisions; and gives participants
the right to sue for benefits and breach of fiduciary duty, but not for
mental anguish.
There are two general types of employee benefits: Welfare Benefits and Pension Benefits. Welfare Benefit Plans include health, disability sick and vacation pay, employee assistance plans, dental and many other non retirement benefits that employers may choose to provide. Pension Benefit Plans are aimed at retirement planning. They include traditional defined benefit plans and the popular defined contribution plans such as 401(k)and 403 (b) plans and other employee savings plans
3) WHAT IS COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act)?
COBRA (1986) is a federal law that guarantees continuation of health care benefits under a broad set of circumstances. Employees that lose health coverage due to termination, death, divorce, or other life events, may be able to continue coverage under the employer’s group health plan for themselves and their families for a limited period of time, typically eighteen months. Some specific circumstances allow additional months of COBRA eligibility. State law may strengthen COBRA (see question 9).
(See Q’s 7, 9, 10, 11 18, COBRA Tab pg. 4-7)
Sample from The Go Get Benefits How to Buy a Home with a Low Income or Disability Guide
Montgomery County, Maryland
HOUSING PROGRAM
A HOME YOU CAN AFFORD
A goal of the Montgomery County Housing Policy states that affordable housing should be available to people of all incomes. To achieve this goal, the County Council passed the Moderately Priced Housing (MPH) Law in 1974. The MPH Law requires that between 12.5 and 15 percent of the houses in new subdivisions of 50 or more units be moderately priced dwelling units (MPDUs).
The Law requires that 40 percent of the MPDUs be offered for sale to the Housing Opportunities Commission and other non-profit housing agencies which normally rent the units to low and moderate income families.
APPLICATION To be eligible for the MPH Program you must complete an application which provides the Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) with family composition and income information and for those interested in purchasing an MPDU, you must provide a copy of a recent credit report. For those interested in purchasing, the application and supporting documentation will be reviewed EQUAL OPPORTUNITY HOUSING by a committee to determine if you would likely be able to obtain mortgage financing.
If you are eligible for the MPDU Program, you will be notified of MPDUs offered through the program. All of the houses offered for sale are sold through a lottery selection process to insure that everyone on the eligibility list has an equal chance of purchasing an MPDU. Priority is given to persons who live or work in Montgomery County.
You are required to attend a home buying class prior to entering any lotteries and signing a sales contract to purchase a house. Information on these classes will be included with your eligibility certificate.
Persons who have owned residential property in the previous 5 years may not be eligible to participate in the program.
Rental units are leased on a first come, first-served basis after notification of unit availability from DHCA.
INCOME LIMITS The income limits of households who are approved are established by Executive Regulation. The current maximum income limits are: Maximum Household Permitted Size Income* 1 $33,500 2 $38,500 3 $43,500 4 $48,500 5+ $52,000 *Gross annual income from all current sources for all wage earners in the household.
The Department has established a minimum income of $20,000 to be eligible for the program because rental rates and sale prices normally require that amount. If you have sufficient assets to use for a down payment that would allow for a reduced income for mortgage financing, you must document this in a letter attached to the application.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
