WV511: WV launches Traveler Information System for traffic info

The West Virginia Dept of Transportation launched a new information system to enable travelers on WV roads to get real-time traffic and road conditions information. There are several ways to access the WV511 system, including phone, computer, mobile app, and twitter feeds.

By dialing 511 from any landline or mobile phone, callers will receive traffic information, road conditions and weather forecasts in addition to transfers to the Department of Tourism and neighboring states' 511 systems. West Virginia 511 also is updated with public safety alerts, including AMBER and Silver alerts.

The WV511.org website provides an interactive map with the locations of traffic incidents, roadway construction, and weather advisories. The map also allows users to view traffic cameras from around the state in addition to showing the location of electronic roadway signs and their current messages.

The free WV 511 Drive Safe mobile app offers drivers audible, hands-free traffic alerts. The app is available for iPhone and Android devices and uses the phone's speaker and GPS location to provide audible travel advisories in the driver's vicinity.

For traffic updates via Twitter, WVDOT encourages travelers to follow WV 511 Twitter feeds for statewide, regional and roadway specific traffic updates:

• @WV511
• @WV511Metro
• @WV511North
• @WV511Central
• @WV511East
• @WV511South
• @WVinterstate64
• @WVinterstate68
• @WVinterstate70
• @WVinterstate77
• @WVinterstate79
• @WVinterstate81

US Supreme Court to hear Same Sex Marriage Case

The Supreme Court announced Friday it will consider whether California’s ban on same-sex marriage is constitutional and whether Congress may withhold federal benefits from legally married same-sex couples by defining marriage as only between a man and a woman. The court will hear arguments in the the end of March and the decision is expected by the end of June.

120 slots open for Aged and Disabled Waiver

One year ago the state Bureau for Medical Services announced that enrollment in the West Virginia Aged and Disabled Waiver Program was frozen. Since then applications have still been taken, but those found medically eligible were put on a waitlist called Managed Enrollment.

Today the Governor announced that 120 people on that list may now become enrolled and receive services.

As of November 13 there were 1,713 people on the managed enrollment list who are medically eligible for services and waiting. The 120 slots will be filled by those individuals who have been on that list the longest, according to Penney Hall, Program Manager for the Aged and Disabled Medicaid Waiver program. "Those individuals will be notified by mail that there is a slot opened and they will need to choose their service model. If they choose Traditional Model they will also have to choose their case management and homemaker agencies."

Medicare Premiums and Deductibles 2013

Part A generally pays inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, and some home health. Most beneficiaries do not pay a premium for Part A since they have at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered employment.

Part B generally pays a portion of the cost of physician services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and other items.

Here below are the premiums, deductibles, and copays for Medicare Parts A and B for 2013:

Part A
Hospital Deductible		$1184
Hospital Copay	days 61-90	$296/day
	days 90+	$592/day
Skilled Nursing Facility Copay	days 21-100	$148
Part B
Premium for individual by income	<$85k	$101.90
	$85k to $107k	$146.90
	$107k to $160k	$209.80
	$160k to $214k	$272.70
	>$214k	$335.70

LGBT Elder Americans Act of 2012: open teleconference 11-27-12 2:30p ESP

Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) is holding an open teleconference on Tuesday, November 27, at 2:30 p.m. EST to discuss his bill, The LGBT Elder Americans Act of 2012. The LGBT Elder Americans Act of 2012 “proposes several amendments to the Older Americans act (OAA), the country’s largest vehicle for funding and delivering services to older people. The OAA is currently up for reauthorization and includes no mention of LGBT older adults. Participants in the call will learn more about the bill, and its potential impact on aging providers and LGBT older adults.”

The presentation, followed by a Q&A session, will feature:

• Senator Michael Bennet
• Michael Adams, Executive Director, SAGE
• Brad Clark, Executive Director, One Colorado
• Sandy Markwood, CEO, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)
• Shari Wilkins, Program Coordinator, SAGE of the Rockies

Phone number: (805) 399-1200, participant access code: 917325. No RSVP is required.

For a summary and full text of the bill and an overview of the legislative status of this bill check out www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/s3575

Have an older worker who could benefit from assistive technology?

NEW ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS SOLUTIONS WEB SITE
http://atconnects.com/employers
Introducing the RESNA Catalyst Project’s Assistive Technology for Employer and Business Web Portal

The RESNA Catalyst Project (www.resnaprojects.org) provides technical assistance to Statewide Assistive Technology Programs, Alternative Financing and Access to Telework Programs, and Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology programs. RESNA is the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, a professional organization dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of people with disabilities through increasing access to technology solutions.

In 2011, the RESNA Catalyst Project began a new initiative focusing on the use of Assistive Technology (AT) for employment and business solutions. This initiative includes the development of an AT for Employer/Business Web Portal (http://atconnects.com/employers) designed to provide AT exclusive resources for businesses, employers, and those who work with employers to get people with disability employed.

Specifically, the AT for Employer/Business Web Portal features information on AT solutions in the workplace, finding help to access AT through the AT Act Entities, a consultant data base directory of RESNA Professionals and the services and expertise each offers to employers, publications on AT and Employment, various resources for employers to explore, and the partners who have worked with the RESNA Catalyst Project to create the Portal including the United States Business Leadership Network, Job Accommodation Network, the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation, Southeast TACE, and the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration.

The online location of the Portal is housed on the National Public Internet Site for AT (AT Connects), operated by the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability’s (http://atconnects.com/). For more information about the AT for Employer Web Portal, please contact the RESNA Catalyst Project staff, or visit www.resnaprojects.org to learn more about AT Act programs and the RESNA Catalyst Project.

Power Restoration Schedules after Superstorm Sandy

Over 350,000 customers lost power as a result of Monday's superstorm. Over 3 feet of snow fell in parts of the highlands bringing down trees and powerlines and trees on powerlines.

West Virginia counties covered by Mon Power (a subsidiary of First Energy Corporation) are listed on the following website including number of customers with outages, number of customers restored, and expected schedule of restoration for communities within each county: www.firstenergycorp.com/content/customer/outages_help/Sandy/WVOutagesCity.html and here are estimated restoration dates. You can also get updates by following MonPower's twitter @MonPOwerWV

Counties covered by Appalachian Power are listed on the following website including when restoration is expected to be complete www.huntingtonnews.net/48365. You can get updates by following Appalachian Energy's twitter @appalchianpowe (not a typo, there's no "r" at the end)

State Constitutional Amendment on ballot this election

This election, Tuesday, November 6, there will be an amendment to our state constitution on the ballot. Depending on the way a ballot measure is worded it can be confusing to figure out exactly what voting in favor or against means. WV voters can review exactly what is proposed and determine in advance whether they intend to vote for or against the measure by reviewing sample ballots in the newspaper, or checking the ballot language on the Secretary of State's office website www.sos.wv.gov/elections/currentelection/Pages/ConstitutionalAmendment.aspx, reprinted here below:

From the Office of the WV Secretary of State:

On the November 2012 General Election Ballot, voters will see the following proposed amendment to the West Virginia Constitution. Ratification of the amendment requires a majority vote. If this amendment is ratified by the voters, the language below will be removed completely from the West Virginia Constitution, and nothing will be added in its place.

WV Code §3-11-4

Language to be Removed from the West Virginia Constitution

A person who has been elected or who has served as a sheriff during all or any part of two consecutive terms shall be ineligible for the office of sheriff during any part of the term immediately following the second of the two consecutive terms. The person holding the office of sheriff when this section is ratified shall not be prevented from holding the office of sheriff during the term immediately following the term he is then serving.

West Virginia State Election Commission Information

The West Virginia State Election Commission has provided the following non-partisan information about the proposed amendment:

Voting “For the Amendment” means you are in favor of removing the two term limit on county sheriffs.

Voting “Against the Amendment” means you are in favor of keeping the two term limit on county sheriffs.

The Exact Wording of the Amendment on the Ballot

No. 1

Repeal The Two Consecutive Term Limitation for Sheriffs Amendment To repeal section three, article IX of the State Constitution which provides that a person who has been elected or who has served as a sheriff during all or any part of two consecutive terms shall be ineligible for the office of sheriff during any part of the term immediately following the second of the two consecutive terms, and that the person holding the office of sheriff when this section is ratified shall not be prevented from holding the office of sheriff during the term immediately following the term he is serving.
[ ] For the Amendment
[ ] Against the Amendment

Social Security COLA 1.7% for 2013

Beginning with benefits in January 2013 Social Security benefit checks will go up 1.7%. The annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is based on the Consumer Price Index from the 3rd quarter. Neither Congress nor the President decides how much or whether Social Security benefits increase to keep pace with inflation.

The maximum earnings that are subject to Social Security tax will also increase in 2013 from $110,100 to $113,700. That means that Social Security tax is withheld for every dollar earned by a worker during the year until the worker reaches $113,700. All earnings above that have no Social Security taxes imposed on them.

The retirement earnings test exemption amount will also increase in 2013. The earnings limit for workers who are younger than "full" retirement age (age 66 for people born in 1943 through 1954) will be $15,120. Social Security deducts $1 from benefits for each $2 earned over $15,120. The earnings limit for people turning 66 in 2013 will be $40,080. Social Security deducts $1 from benefits for each $3 earned over $40,080 until the month the worker turns age 66. There is no limit on earnings for workers who are "full" retirement age or older for the entire year.

Medicare will likely increase the Part B premium for 2013, as well. That has not yet been determined. If it does, some Social Security beneficiaries who pay Medicare Part B premiums may actually not see any increase in their monthly benefits take-home amount, since the increase in Part B premium might offset the COLA increase.

Free Legal Assistance Available For Storm Survivors

A toll-free legal aid line is taking calls from survivors of this summer's derecho in designated West Virginia counties. These counties are Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood and Wyoming. Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments. The service, which allows callers to request the assistance of a lawyer, is a partnership between the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (www.abanet.org/disaster), a partnership of national legal services support entities (www.disasterlegalaid.org), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (www.fema.gov).

Survivors facing legal issues may call 877-331-4259 24 hours a day to the message line to request assistance. Phone lines are staffed during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and callers may leave a message after those times. Callers should identify that they are seeking FEMA legal assistance, and should identify what county they are located in. Survivors who qualify for assistance will be matched with West Virginia lawyers who have volunteered to provide free legal help.

The types of legal assistance available include:

• Assistance with securing FEMA and other government benefits available to disaster survivors
• Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims
• Help with home repair contracts and contractors
• Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster
• Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures
• Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems
• Counseling on landlord/tenant problems

Silver Alert: Laurence Howard Nichol, 79, Mon County

UPDATE 10/9/12:

State Police issued a Silver Alert for a missing elderly man from Monongalia County. Police received a call a little after 3:00 Tuesday afternoon, that Laurence Howard Nichol went missing from his daughter's Turtle Creek home in Morgantown. More than 100 people, including search crews, volunteers, and police were out searching for the man.

Nichol is seventy-nine years old, weighs 145 pounds, and has blue eyes. He also has gray hair, and was last seen wearing a red jacket, light colored pants, and brown shoes. Nichol suffers from Alzheimer's and walks with a limp.

Police say he should have contact information in his pocket. LT. Roger Gidley of the Mon County Sheriff's Department said, "We have three or four canines that are coming out, that specialize in tracking. We're in the process now of getting a helicopter here with the thermal imager, so we can look for any heat source out in the woods."

If you've seen Nichol, please call the West Virginia State Police at 304-624-7573. You can also call the Monongalia County Sheriff's Department at 304-291-7260.

WV Attorney General announces LCD screen price-fixing settlement

If you purchased a device with an LCD screen (a TV, computer monitor, laptop computer) between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2006, you might be entitled to some refund from a settlement.

McGraw and several state attorneys general settled price-fixing lawsuits against ten LCD panel manufacturers, including Hitachi, LG Display, Samsung Electronics Co., and Sharp Corporation, for fixing the prices of LCD panels. As part of those settlements, the companies paid more than $1 billion in civil penalties and restitution to purchasers. West Virginians have until December 6, 2012 to file claims for the LCD screens they purchased between 1999 and 2006. Claims can be filed at www.LCDclass.com through an online claim form. Consumers can also request a claim form be mailed to them by calling 1-855-225-1886 or 1-800-368-8808.

In order to be eligible, consumers (1) need to have resided in West Virginia when they purchased the LCD product; (2) made their purchases in West Virginia between 1999 and 2006; and (3) made their purchases for personal use rather than for resale.

Purchases may have been made from a retailer, like Best Buy or Wal-Mart, or from a computer manufacturer, such as Dell or Gateway. Consumers will not be asked to submit their records or other paperwork in making their claims, but should hold on to those in case they are asked to provide them in the future.

McGraw said his office, along with seven other state attorneys general and the federal government, had been investigating the industry for several years. He said the investigation uncovered evidence of a high-level conspiracy involving secret meetings in which the companies’ executives agreed to raise prices for their LCD screens. The settlements were joined by the states of Arkansas, California, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New York and Wisconsin, along with a national class action.

average Medicare Prescription Drug premiums remain steady for 2013

Average basic premiums for Medicare prescription drug plans are projected to remain constant in 2013, Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius announced today. The average 2013 monthly premium for basic prescription drug coverage is expected to be $30. Average premiums for 2012 were projected to be $30 and ultimately averaged $29.67. At the same time, since the law was enacted, seniors and people with disabilities have saved $3.9 billion on prescription drugs as the Affordable Care Act began closing the “donut hole” coverage gap.

“Premiums are holding steady and, thanks to the health care law, millions of people with Medicare are saving an average of over $600 each year on their prescription drugs,” said Secretary Sebelius.

Today’s projection for the average premium for 2013 is based on bids submitted by drug and health plans for basic coverage during the 2013 benefit year, and calculated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of the Actuary.

The upcoming annual enrollment period -- which begins Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7, 2012 – allows people with Medicare, their families and their caregivers to choose their plans for next year by comparing their current coverage and quality ratings to other plan offerings. New benefit choices are effective Jan. 1, 2013.

As a result of the Affordable Care Act, coverage for both brand name and generic drugs in the coverage gap will continue to increase over time until 2020, when the donut hole will be fully closed. This year, people with Medicare received a 50 percent discount on covered brand name drugs and 14 percent coverage of generic drugs in the donut hole. In 2013, Medicare Part D’s coverage of brand name drugs will begin to increase, meaning that people with Medicare will receive a total of 52.5 percent off the cost of brand name drugs (a 50 percent discount and an additional 2.5 percent in coverage) and coverage for 21 percent of the cost of generic drugs in the donut hole.

For more information on how the Affordable Care Act closes the Medicare drug benefit donut hole, please visit: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/65-older/drug-discounts/index.html

Also the regional low-income premium subsidy amounts have been released for 2013. The low-income subsity (LIS) premium subsidy amount for WV is $36.57. This means beneficiaries who are eligible for LIS/Medicaid would need to enroll into a BASIC plan with a premium below this amount in order to not pay a premium (depending on their LIS level). There is a $2 de minimis, meaning that a prescription drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan with Prescription Drug Coverage may volunteer to waive the portion of the monthly adjusted basic beneficiary premium amount above the LIS benchmark for a subsidy eligible individual. Last year (for 2012), all plans agreed to do this. So technically, basic plan premiums in WV can be up to $38.57 as long as the plan agrees.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau requests public comment on senior financial exploitation

The fairly new federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Office of Older Americans (headed up by Skip Humphrey) has put out a request for public comment about financial exploitation of older Americans age 62+.

WHEN: Comments in response to the inquiry will be accepted through August 20, 2012.

WHERE: There are 2 ways to submit your comments.
1) Electronically through this link on regulations.gov

2) Via Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier send to:

Monica Jackson, Office of the Executive Secretary
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
1700 G Street NW.
Washington, DC 20552

WHAT: The inquiry is quite broad, you can read the whole request on the Federal Register's website at this link According to this blogpost from Skip Humphrey, "The CFPB wants to hear from the public – especially people working directly with seniors – about these issues. In particular, we want input on how seniors can best determine the legitimacy of the credentials of financial planners and advisors. We’re also seeking information on what financial education, counseling or management programs are tailored to the unique needs of older Americans, their families, and their caregivers. We want to know what programs exist and and how effective they are."

The purpose of the inquiry is to help inform the Office for Older Americans in its work for prevention of financial exploitation. "As my Office conducts its research on certifications and designations of senior financial advisors, the information we hope to gather here will give us a better picture of what is happening in the marketplace. With that information we can let seniors know where to look for fair and sound advice from reliable resources. Then they can make their own informed choices," Humphrey explains.

The request include some guiding questions under the following topics:

• Evaluation of Senior Financial Advisor Certifications and Designations
• Providing Financial Advice and Planning Information to Seniors
• Senior Certification and Designation Information Sources
• Financial Literacy Efforts
• Financial Exploitation of Older Americans
• Financial Exploitation of Older Veterans of the Armed Forces

The following question appears under the "Financial Exploitation of Older Americans" category, and I suspect many older West Virginians and people who work with them have information to offer in response:
-What types of fraudulent, unfair, abusive or deceptive practices target Americans age 62 and over? Comments could include unique types of financial exploitation or additional information concerning the examples listed below.

a. Power of Attorney or Guardian Abuse, whereby an agent under power of attorney or a court-appointed guardian uses his/her fiduciary authority (or a forged power of attorney instrument) to misappropriate the older person's assets and uses them for personal gain rather than for the support of the incapacitated older person;

b. Affinity fraud, in which the characteristics of a trusted advisor such as a member of the clergy or government official are impersonated by those attempting to extract payments or personal information from an older person.

Supreme Ct finds individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act constitutional

Today the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) issued its ruling that the part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Healthcare Reform and Obamacare) that requires individuals to purchase health insurance does not violate the US Constitution. Chief Justice Roberts issued the majority opinion in the 5-4 decision (Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan joined Roberts in the majority, Kennedy, Scalia, Alito, and Thomas voted no).

Chief Justice Roberts actually rejected the Commerce Clause argument made by the government to support the mandate, explaining that the ACA creates commerce rather than merely regulating it, and that is not a valid exercise of federal power. The opinion relies instead on interpreting the mandate as creating a tax on citizens via the penalty for those who do not purchase health insurance, and the federal government's power to tax is well settled.

Also at issue in the case was the constitutionality of requiring the states to expand their Medicaid programs by broadening their eligibility criteria and therefore requiring more matching funding. Though the majority found that Congress did act within its constitutional power in the ACA provisions by offering states additional federal funds to expand Medicaid, but found that it would not be constitutional to cut off all federal Medicaid funding to states who refuse the expansion. Rather, those states must have the option of continuing to receive federal Medicaid funds if they keep their current Medicaid plans in place.

What does this decision mean for WV seniors?

None of your Medicare benefits are taken away by the ACA or by this SCOTUS decision, including the right to choose your own doctor, hospital, and other medical providers. The ACA actually increases some benefits under Medicare including eliminating cost-sharing for preventive services and eventually eliminating the "donut hole" of coverage under Medicare Part D (the point of spending in the year when people with high drug costs would no longer have any prescription drug coverage at all until they reached a level of need considered "catastrophic").

The ACA creates several quality initiatives that remain in place after the decision. They include new reporting requirements for providers, linking payments between hospitals and other providers to increase more effective transitional care, a standardized complaint form for nursing home residents and creation of new complaint procedures, criminal background checks for nursing home staff and new reporting requirements regarding nursing home staffing, and care coordination programs to reduce preventable hospitalizations.

The ACA includes new initiatives aimed at improving the long-term fiscal health of Medicare, including adjustments to the federal government's Medicare Advantage plan payments and creating the Independent Medicare Advisory Board to study and make recommendations for long-term savings.

The Money Follows the Person demonstration programs designed to encourage states to transition Medicaid nursing home residents back out to the community, of which West Virginia currently has one, are extended through 2016 under the ACA.

There are several initiatives designed to expand and improve the geriatric care workforce under the ACA, including money to Geriatric Education Centers, of which we have one in West Virginia, to training, curriculum development, and best practices among various professionals in geriatrics.

Transgender people may benefit from the ACA's elimination of pre-existing conditions as a barrier to purchasing health insurance. LGBT people should benefit from the new data collection requirements aimed at uncovering LGBT health disparities, the new Patient Bill of Rights, and expanding the National Health Service Corps which among other things provides cultural competence training to healthcare workers in LGBT issues.

The ACA is a large-scale reform that includes many details, so the above is merely a short list of highlights for older West Virginians. To learn more about the ramifications of the ACA decision check out www.scotusblog.com.

Silver Alert: Clay County man, age 62

6/22/12 3:53 AM

The West Virginia State Police issued a Silver Alert Thursday for a man reported missing in Clay County.

Jerry Holcomb, 62, was last seen Saturday, June 16 near his home in the 100 block of Dunden Road in Clay. He has Alzheimer's Disease according to a news release from the state police.

Police believe Holcomb walked off. They said they don't believe he has left West Virginia, but he does have family in Ohio and Kentucky.

Holcomb is a white man. He's around 5'8" tall, weighs 173 pounds and has green eyes. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, brown pajama pants and tennis shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call West Virginia State Police at 304-286-3185.

New Power of Attorney law becomes effective today in WV

The Uniform Power of Attorney Act becomes effective in West Virginia today. The Act represents a substantial reform of the law controlling financial powers of attorney in our state. The Act does not make any changes regarding medical powers of attorney, that law is still found at WV Code §16-30-1, et seq.

To give you an idea of the scale of the changes, the new law is 60 pages long, whereas our old Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act was only about a page long. There is a great deal of explicit detail in this law, lots of presumptions, duties, liabilities, and procedure built in that was absent in the old law.

A few of the highlights include:

Portability: The new law is explicit as to what is required for documents executed in other jurisdictions to be recognized here. And as more states continue to enact some version of the new uniform act (about a quarter of states have enacted it already) it will become more portable to other states, as well.

A statutory form: We now have an optional statutory form, as we do for Medical Power of Attorney. Most attorneys will agree that having a fill-in-the-blank form for financial power of attorney has pros and cons for West Virginia consumers, but the fact that a form now exists will likely create a substantial change in practice.

Third party liability for arbitrary refusal: Banks and other parties who are presented with a properly executed statutory power of attorney will have liability for wrongful refusal. Under our old law they had no such duty to respect powers of attorney, and sometimes would in response proffer their own form power of attorney, creating problems especially for principals who no longer had the capacity to execute new instruments.

Statutory mandatory duties for agents: Under the old law most powers of attorney were explicit only as to the authorities given therein to agents. Duties were rarely specified, and the old statute was mostly silent as to duties of agents, though agents bore general fiduciary duty pursuant to general principles of agency. The new Act explicitly imposes various duties, including the duty to keep records, on all agents.

For some more analysis and details about changes under the new Act please see what we posted about it as it was percolating through the legislative process earlier this year.

Public input forums for WV's Olmstead Plan

In 1999 the US Supreme Court decided in Olmstead v. LC that services must be provided in the most integrated setting. This decision has become the symbol and the the legal basis for the movement of demanding expansion of services for people with disabilities away from institutions and toward community-based supports, and to help people remain in their own homes as long as possible.

Our state Department of Health and Human Resources is responsible for administering our state's Olmstead Plan. You can learn more about those efforts and the resources available pursuant to the Olmstead decision here http://www.wvdhhr.org/bhhf/olmstead/olmstead%20resources.htm.

Our state Olmstead Council now seeks your input on what should be included in our state Olmstead Plan, and has planned 4 public forums for stakeholders to express their suggestions and concerns. Each forum will be held from 5:30p to 7:30p and light refreshments will be provided.

Clarksburg - June 26, 2012
Hilton Garden Inn
606 Emily Drive

South Charleston - June 28, 2012
Holiday Inn and Suites
400 and 402 Second Avenue

Vienna - July 10, 2012
Grand Pointe Conference Center
1500 Grand Central Avenue

Martinsburg - July 12, 2012
Holiday6 Inn
301 Foxcroft Avenue

The forums are open and accessible to the public. Requests for sign language interpreters, alternate formats, or other accommodations to participate in the meetings must be made one week prior to the meeting. However, accommodations can still be requested after the one week deadline.

Contact:
Olmstead Office
State Capitol
Building 6, Room 817-B
Charleston WV 25305

304.558-3287
866.761.4628
Fax 304.558-1992
tina.e.maher@wv.gov

Social Security Statement Now Available Online

On May 1, 2012 the Commissioner of Social Security announced an online version of the Social Security Statement is now available at www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement. The new online Statement provides eligible workers with secure and convenient access to their Social Security earnings and benefit information.

In addition to helping with financial planning, the online Statement also provides workers a way to determine whether their earnings are accurately posted to their Social Security records. This feature is important because Social Security benefits are based on average earnings over a person's lifetime. If the earnings information is not accurate, the person may not receive all the benefits to which he or she is entitled. The online Statement also provides the opportunity to save or print the personalized Statement for financial planning discussions with family or a financial planner.

To get a personalized online Statement, people age 18 and older must be able to provide information about themselves that matches information already on file with Social Security. In addition, Social Security uses Experian, an external authentication service provider, for additional verification. People must provide their identifying information and answer security questions in order to pass this verification. Social Security will not share a person's Social Security number with Experian, but the identity check is an important part of this new, robust verification process.

Once verified, people will create a "My Social Security" account with a unique user name and password to access their online Statement. In addition, the portal also includes links to information about other online services, such as applications for retirement, disability and Medicare.

It is important to note, however, Social Security anticipates some members of the public will not be able to be verified through this process. Some people may not correctly answer the security questions based on information on file with Experian, and others may supply identifying information that does not match their Social Security records. In instances where this occurs, people will have the option to request a paper Social Security Statement be mailed to them. People who cannot verify online initially also may visit their local Social Security office and present an identity document in order to create an account and gain access to the online version of the Statement.

In February 2012, Social Security resumed mailing paper Statements to workers age 60 and older if they are not already receiving Social Security benefits. Later this year, the agency plans to mail paper Statements to workers in the year they reach age 25.

For more information about the new online Statement, please go to www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement.

Happy Older Americans Month!

Community First Choice option regs released

The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released final regulations for the Community First Choice option (CFC). CFC, as authorized under the Affordable Care Act, increases the federal Medicaid match by 6 percent for home and community-based services that meet these new standards. CFC services are not offered through waivers, but rather are integrated as an option under the state Medicaid plan. Therefore they must be statewide and cannot have slot limits, unlike waivers.

Although the CFC rule is final, the revised definition of HCBS settings is not final. CMS will issue another proposed rule to solicit additional public comment on the revised definition of settings. Will assisted living facilities be considered an HCBS setting? CMS will issue another proposed rule on this and will solicit comments, we will keep you posted.

New federal Administration for Community Living umbrella for AoA

On April 16, 2012 the Obama administration restructured several federal agencies putting them under a new umbrella agency called the Administration for Community Living (ACL). Three HHS agencies will all be under the new ACL: the Administration on Aging (AoA), the Office on Disability (OD), and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). The Assistant Secretary for Aging (currently Kathy Greenlee) will serve as the Administrator who will head the new entity.

"For too long, too many Americans have faced the impossible choice between moving to an institution or living at home without the long-term services and supports they need. The goal of the new Administration for Community Living will be to help people with disabilities and older Americans live productive, satisfying lives," says Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

According to the HHS press release "The Administration on Community Living will seek to enhance and improve the broad range of supports that individuals may need to live with respect and dignity as full members of their communities. These support needs go well beyond health care and include the availability of appropriate housing, employment, education, meaningful relationships and social participation."

The new entity's website is www.hhs.gov/acl.

SSA adds 52 new conditions to fast-track for disability

SSA has added 52 new Compassionate Allowances conditions, primarily involving neurological disorders, cancers and rare diseases. The Compassionate Allowances program fast-tracks disability decisions to ensure that Americans with the most serious disabilities receive their benefit decisions within days instead of months or years. Commissioner Astrue made the announcement during his remarks at the World Orphan Drug Congress near Washington, D.C.

“Social Security will continue to work with the medical community and patient organizations to add more conditions,” Commissioner Astrue said. “With our Compassionate Allowances program, we quickly approved disability benefits for nearly 61,000 people with severe disabilities in the past fiscal year, and nearly 173,000 applications since the program began.”

The Compassionate Allowances initiative identifies claims where the nature of the applicant’s disease or condition clearly meets the statutory standard for disability. With the help of sophisticated new information technology, the agency can quickly identify potential Compassionate Allowances and then quickly make decisions.

Social Security launched the Compassionate Allowances program in 2008 with a list of 50 diseases and conditions. The announcement of 52 new conditions, effective in August, will increase the total number of Compassionate Allowances conditions to 165. The conditions include certain cancers, adult brain disorders, a number of rare genetic disorders of children, early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, immune system conditions, and other disorders. In his speech that opened the Congress, Commissioner Astrue thanked the National Institutes of Health for research they conducted which helped identify many of the conditions added to the list.

The agency also is improving its online disability application process, which is already substantially shorter than the standard paper application. Starting April 21, 2012, adults who file for benefits online will have the option to electronically sign and submit their Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration (Form SSA-827). This improvement allows applicants to complete disability applications in a streamlined online session, rather than printing, signing, and mailing paper authorization forms to Social Security offices.

In March, Social Security approved eight research projects through its Disability Determination Process Small Grant Program. This new program aims to improve the disability process through innovative research by graduate students focusing on topics such as the Compassionate Allowances program, Wounded Warriors initiative, homelessness and SSI, and disability enrollment issues.

For more information on the Compassionate Allowances initiative, see www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.

New Compassionate Allowances Conditions

• Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome
• Alobar Holoprosencephaly
• Alpers Disease
• Alpha Mannosidosis
• Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Site
• Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis
• Child Neuroblastoma
• Child Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Chondrosarcoma with multimodal therapy
• Cornelia de Lange Syndrome-Classic Form
• Ewings Sarcoma
• Follicular Dendritic Cell Sarcoma with metastases
• Fucosidosis - Type 1
• Galactosialidosis - Early Infantile Type
• Glioma Grade III and IV
• Hallervorden-Spatz Disease
• Hepatoblastoma
• Histiocytosis
• Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome
• Hydranencephaly
• Hypocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis
• Hypophosphatasia Perinatal lethal Form
• I Cell disease
• Infantile Free Sialic Acid Storage Disease
• Juvenile Onset Huntington Disease
• Kufs Disease Type A and B
• Lissencephaly
• Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis Grade III
• Malignant Brain Stem Gliomas - Childhood
• Malignant Melanoma with metastases
• Mastocytosis Type IV
• Medulloblastoma with metastasis
• Merkel Cell Carcinoma with metastases
• Myocolonic Epilepsy and Ragged Red Fibers Syndrome
• Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis
• Obliterative Bronchiolitis
• Ohtahara Syndrome
• Orthochromatic Leukodystrophy with Pigmented Glia
• Pearson Syndrome
• Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease-Classic Form
• Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease-Connatal Form
• Peripheral Nerve Cancer - metastatic or recurrent
• Perry Syndrome
• Rhabdomyosarcoma
• Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata
• Schindler Disease Type 1
• Smith Lemli Opitz Syndrome
• Spinal Nerve Root Cancer- metastatic or recurrent
• Stiff Person Syndrome
• Tabes Dorsalis
• Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome
• Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Free Women & Money Conference in Morgantown 4/26

Thursday, April 26, the West Virginia Treasury is sponsoring a free Women & Money Conference in Morgantown to celebrate MoneySmart Week. The conference is free to the public, and attendees will receive a free copy of the book "It's More Than Your Money - It's Your Life!" authored by the presenters Candace Bahr and Ginita Wall. They founded the Women's Institute for Financial Education www.wife.org. The conference will take place at the WVU Erickson Alumni Center. The agenda includes check-in at 9:00a, presentations by the speakers and the State Treasurer, then lunch at 12:30p. For more information and registration go to www.wvsto.com/dept/FinEd/Adult/Pages/UpcomingEvents.aspx or call 304.341.0724.

WV Office of Minority Affairs signed into law

On April 5, 2012 the Herbert Henderson Minority Affairs Office was created in West Virginia as the Governor signed House Bill 4015. "Herb Henderson, a Huntington attorney, was a mentor to many. He was a civil rights leader in the 1960's, and was elected president of the West Virginia NAACP in addition to working nationally with the organization," said Gov. Tomblin. "I know Mr. Henderson would be proud of our joint effort to establish this new office, so we can better address the needs of all people. This office, and the Minority Affairs Fund, will open a dialogue on issues that affect minorities in West Virginia, make recommendations on how we can improve life here, and provide funding for programs that work to serve our minority groups' needs." Within the next few months, the governor is expected to appoint an executive director to lead this office from within the governor's office.

New website for advocates for dual eligibles

The National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC) has launched a website to provide aging and disability advocates with tools and information about state delivery systems that integrate benefits and financing of both Medicare and Medicaid for the benefit of consumers who have both. http://dualsdemoadvocacy.org/

Features of the site include:
- Advocate tools for enrollment, appeals, financing, and consumer protections
- State profiles that describe the current status of demonstration projects for dual eligibles
- A Map that tells the user how many dual eligibles are in each state and what type of care model is under consideration
- Federal guidance related to the dual eligible demonstrations
- Recommended reading about the systems, programs, and policies currently serving dual eligibles

Users may sign up to receive updates about dual eligibles.

WV is currently listed as having no demonstration projects related to dual eligibles.

The project and site are funded in part by the Commonwealth Fund, the Nathan Cummings Foundation and Atlantic Philanthropies.

WV Bureau of Senior Services to create In-home caregiver registry

House Bill 4062, signed by the Governor last week, creates new WV Code §16-5P-15 which calls for the WV Bureau of Senior Services (BoSS) to create an in-home caregiver registry. The registry is voluntary for any unlicensed caregiver who wants to register and who is willing to undergo a criminal background check. the status of that check, plus the workers other qualifications, such as educational attainment, will be listed in the registry.

There are very few details in the legislation about how the registry will operate or what particular qualifications will be included. The BoSS will develop the criteria and functionality of the registry, including how people and agencies seeking information about potential caregivers may access the contents of the registry.

When asked about the new registry, Lee Jones, Executive Director of Ritchie County Integrated Family Services said, "this is a good thing for agencies that provide in-home care." There is a shortage of willing and qualified in-home workers in the state and this registry may help agencies fill open positions more quickly. Individuals seeking to hire their own in-home workers directly will also benefit. Criminal background checks can be expensive and time-consuming to complete, so having that information readily available about a potential in-home care worker will be valuable for both agencies and individuals.

Medicare redesigns claims and benefits statement

As part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Marilyn Tavenner, announced the redesign of the statement that informs Medicare beneficiaries about their claims for Medicare services and benefits. The redesigned statement, known as the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), will be available online and, starting in 2013, mailed out quarterly to beneficiaries.

This MSN redesign is part of a new initiative, “Your Medicare Information: Clearer, Simpler, At Your Fingertips,” which aims to make Medicare information clearer, more accessible, and easier for beneficiaries and their caregivers to understand. CMS will take additional actions this year to make information about benefits, providers, and claims more accessible and easier to understand for seniors and people with disabilities who have Medicare. This MSN redesign reflects more than 18 months of research and feedback from beneficiaries to provide enhanced customer service and respond to suggestions and input.

To see a side-by-side comparison of the former and redesigned MSNs, see : www.cms.gov/apps/files/msn_changes.pdf

The redesign of the MSN includes several features not currently available to Medicare beneficiaries with the current MSN:
· A clear notice on how to check the form for important facts and potential fraud;
· An easy-to-understand snapshot of the beneficiary’s deductible status, a list of providers they saw, and whether their claims for Medicare services were approved.
· Clearer language, including consumer-friendly descriptions for medical procedures;
· Definitions of all terms used in the form;
· Larger fonts throughout to make it easier to read;
· Information on preventive services available to Medicare beneficiaries.

Starting later this week, the redesigned MSN will be available to beneficiaries on mymedicare.gov, Medicare’s secure online service for personalized information regarding Medicare benefits and services; and, in early 2013, paper copies of the redesigned MSN will start to replace the current version being mailed.

Click here to read the full CMS press release issued today (3/7): www.cms.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp?Counter=4298

WV medical directive e-registry to go live March 2012

The West Virginia End of Life Center www.wvendoflife.org has announced that its e-registry of advance medical directives will be operational at the end of this month. Dr. Alvin Moss, the Center's project director reports that they are in the process of entering 6,000 medical powers of attorney, living wills, Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST) forms, and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) cards into the database and are receiving about 20 new ones per day for entry.

The e-registry will be one of the first in the country. It enables HIPAA-compliant electronic access to healthcare providers all around the state to a database of healthcare directives for WV patients. Entering your directive into the e-registry is optional, and requires only that you fax your properly completed directive to the Center at 304-293-7442.

You do not need to execute new directives to register, you may enter your old directives, but it might create a good opportunity to review old directives to be sure they still represent your wishes about end of life and healthcare decisionmaking. You can get new forms at the Center's website www.wvendoflife.org, or from your healthcare provider. You do not need an attorney to complete the forms, but don't sign until you are with a notary and witnesses who are not your relatives.

Uniform Power of Attorney Act passes state House, on to Senate

After the 3rd reading the West Virginia House of Delegates voted unanimously to pass the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (HB 4390). Now it moves to the Senate.

The Uniform Power of Attorney Act (UPOAA)is a substantial reform to our current power of attorney law. Powers of Attorney in West Virginia are a favorite tools of financial exploiters. The UPOAA was designed to prevent financial exploitation by agents and also insure that Power of Attorney documents remain a low-cost, flexible and effective form of surrogate decision-making.

Among other things the UPOAA:

• Provides greater protections for the principal, the agent, and third parties who are asked to rely on the agent’s authority;
• Provides clearer guidelines for agents;
• Recognizes that an agent who acts with care and competence for the best interest of the principal is not liable solely because he/she also benefits from the actions taken on behalf of the principal;
• Encourages the acceptance of POAs by third parties, such as banks and insurance agents, and provides protections for third parties who in good faith rely on them;
• Provides a statutory form POA, which explicitly explains an agent’s duties. The statutory form would also enhance clarity and predictability for third parties.
• If widely adopted by other states, would ensure that a well thought out POA document executed in West Virginia would be recognized in other states, making POAs a more effective tool for advance planning.

The UPOAA seeks to prevent financial abuse by:

• Including mandatory fiduciary duties for the agents;
• Providing liability for agent misconduct;
• Provisions for judicial review of the agent’s conduct;
• Requiring express language in the POA document to allow dissipation of the principal’s property or to alter estate plans;
• Providing that third parties may refuse the document if they have the belief that “the principal may be subject to physical or financial abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment by the Agent” and reports these suspicions to Adult Protective Services.

Free training about grandparents raising grandchildren

For Charleston area grandparents raising grandchildren with disabilities, there actually is such a thing as a free lunch! Check out this workshop offered by Mission WV on March 16. To register or ask questions call Laura Lou Harbert at Mission WV at 1-866-225-5698 or email her at lharbert at missionwv.org.

Older Americans Act reauthorization bill introduced in Senate

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced a bill on 1/26/12 to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA). The bill, S. 2037, is the first bill in either house of Congress proposing reauthorization this cycle. The Act is typically reauthorized for 5 years, then the reauthorization process begins, which sometimes takes several years.

The Older Americans Act is the organic legislation that creates the nation's aging network of services including home-delivered and congregate meals, county senior centers, in-home supportive services, long-term care ombudsman programs, abuse prevention programs, caregiver support, transportation, community service employment, Alzheimers support services, and legal services (West Virginia Senior Legal Aid is an Older Americans Act supported program). It was first passed in 1965 and has been reauthorized and amended numerous times to adjust to the changing needs of Americans age 60 and over.

Senator Sanders' bill proposes several changes to our current aging services system. Some of the changes include:

• how economic security is defined for seniors, including improving the accuracy of the calculation of inflation and the related cost-of-living increases in Social Security and Medicare out-of-pocket drug costs
• consolidating nutrition programs, imposing a new formula on how they may be administered, and increasing overall funding for nutrition (though this may result in reduced funding for some current nutrition services)
• allowing state units on aging to bypass area agencies on aging and contract directly for some services including preventive health and legal services
• centralizing control over more aspects of the long-term care ombudsman program away from the regional programs and to the state unit on aging
• creating a Livable Communities grant program and national support center for assessment and planning
• requiring legal assistance be delivered through an integrated legal assistance delivery system
• redefining "greatest economic need" under the act as 200% of the federal poverty line rather than the current 185%

As the reauthorization process begins in Congress we encourage seniors and their advocates to provide input to their Senators and Congress members about what is important in senior services.

AARP webcast on positing older workers in a competitive market 2/2/12

A notice from AARP Foundation: A Critical Conversation: Positioning Older Workers for Hourly Wage Jobs in Demand

Join us on Thursday, February 2, 2012
For a Webcast 8:30 a.m.- 12 noon EST
Registration is Required. (See Below)

Right now, four million older Americans are either unemployed or not able to find full time employment. Many are struggling to meet their everyday needs and having to choose between buying groceries or the medicine they need. A choice no one should have to make. We can and must make a difference now before it is too late.

Please join the AARP Foundation from 8:30 a.m.-12 noon EST on Thursday, February 2nd, for a webcast and conversation that explores how older workers can be better positioned for hourly wage jobs in high growth industries.

Speakers will present the latest research and discuss practical strategies that can improve the way we help older adults position themselves in the competitive job market. Questions and discussions are encouraged.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Emily Allen, AARP Foundation Income Impact Area
• Rebecca Perron, PhD, AARP Research and Strategic Analysis
• Hans Johnson, PhD, Public Policy Institute of California
• Deborah Briceland-Betts, AARP Foundation SCSEP
• Steve Wing, Corporate Voices for Working Families
• Karen Key, National Human Service Assembly
• Jim Torrens, Insight Center for Community Economic Development
• Simon Lopez, National Council of La Raza, Workforce Services
• Joe Carbone, The WorkPlace, Bridgeport, CT
• Phyllis Snyder, Vice President of Council of Adult and Experiential Learning

Attendees will include workforce development professionals, employers, worker advocates, government staff, and community leaders, AARP Foundation and AARP staff and volunteers.

Please RSVP to events2012@aarp.org by 1/27/12 with your Name, Title, Organization, City and State. Please include WEBCAST in the subject line of your email. You will receive an email the day of the event with the web link and directions on how to access the Live Stream.

WVAG secures $13.5 million settlement from Capital One

West Virginia Attorney General Darryl McGraw announced a settlement yesterday in his 2010 litigation against credit card giant Capital One.

Capital One agrees to provide $3 million in debt forgiveness to West Virginia consumers, $9.5 million to the State of West Virginia to be used for financial relief for West Virginia consumers, and $1 million to the Attorney General’s office for consumer education and restitution.

This case resolves claims related to practices utilized from 2001 through 2005 involving the sale of payment protection and the Credit Recovery Services line of business. Capital One denies liability.

Attorney General McGraw is pleased with the results of the settlement. "This was a hard-fought battle, resulting in a lot of money for the State of West Virginia. Capital One is to be commended for changing the practices that prompted the State’s action."

"We're pleased to have worked with Attorney General McGraw to resolve this matter which dates back to a time prior to 2006," said Tatiana Stead, spokesperson for Capital One. "We've since made significant improvements and look forward to continuing to serve our card customers in West Virginia."

1/1/12: No copay under Medicare Part D for Waiver participants

From the National Senior Citizens Law Center:

Dual Eligibles Receiving Medicaid HCBS Services Now Have Zero Part D Copayments Under ACA

Effective January 1, 2012, full-benefit dual eligibles receiving Medicaid home and community based services (HCBS) have no Medicare Part D copayments.

These beneficiaries are eligible for a full waiver of copayment requirements for their Medicare Part D prescription drugs. The provision is designed to put people who are receiving HCBS in the community on equal footing with those who are institutionalized. Full duals who reside in skilled nursing facilities already have no copayment liability.

If a full dual receiving HCBS does not show as eligible for zero copays, the individual may present evidence to her Part D plan showing HCBS status. This Best Available Evidence (BAE) can include documents dated after June 2011 showing state HCBS eligibility.

Advocates should be alert to problems that may arise around state transmission of HCBS data to CMS, and plan recognition of the new co-pay status. Beneficiaries may also need assistance in presenting BAE and in understanding the change in their co-payments.

To see details about who qualifies, timing, length of qualification, expected challenges and best available evidence policy, click here for more info about NSCLC's website.

New Drivers License Identification Requirements from DMV

Please note: Due to increased security and information requirements for the REAL ID Act of 2005, all new driver's licenses, license renewals, and ID cards must now have the applicant's full legal name. If your current driver's license has your middle initial only, you will need to bring a certified birth certificate or passport with you to DMV the next time you renew your license so the change can be made. If you have a different name than what is listed on your birth certificate, due to marriage or other circumstances, you may need to bring additional documentation, which may include a certified marriage certificate.

If you choose to have your full name put on your license before your renewal notice has been sent in the mail, DMV will not charge you for the cost of the new license.

NEW Drivers Licensing Requirements from DMV
Effective January 3, 2012, you will be required to bring in the documentation outlined below.
Current unexpired Licenses and ID cards are still valid and will continue to be until their expiration. All Licenses issued after January 3, 2012 will fall under the requirements and guidelines outlined below.

You must have one (1) Proof of Identity:
U.S. Birth Certificate: An original or certified copy of a United States-issued birth certificate (U.S. Department of State and U.S. Military birth certificates ARE acceptable. Hospital birth certificates are NOT acceptable
Valid unexpired U.S. Passport
If foreign born, valid, unexpired Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Documents

You must have one (1) Proof of Social Security Number:
Original Social Security Card
Wage and Tax Statement (W-2) or payroll stub with the applicant’s employer name and employer ID number, as well as the applicant’s name, address, and Social Security Number
SSA/1099 Form (Social Security Benefit Form)

Please make sure your Social Security records reflect your full legal name, as reflected on your other documents. DMV must be able to establish a name connection between documents, therefore your full legal name must match your name on file with the Social Security Administration. Your documents will be scanned and returned to you, which will provide DMV with a historical record, and provide you with additional protection.

You must have two (2) forms of Proof of WV Residency Documents:
WV utility bills (not more than 60 days old)
Tax records with a WV street address
WV mortgage documents, WV homeowner insurance documents for a WV residence or proof of WV home ownership
WV W-2 form not more than 18 months old
WV weapons permit
A Valid WV Motor Vehicles registration card
WV voter’s registration card
WV driver’s eligibility certificate (School Enrollment Form) if applicant is under age 18 with the applicant’s WV street address
WV Homestead Tax exemption
Proof of WV Public Assistance
Residential rental or lease agreement
WV DMV Affidavit of West Virginia Residency
*Be advised that Post Office Box addresses cannot be used as proof of WV Residency.

Assistive Technology Funding Opportunity

PATHS, the Partnerships in Assistive TecHnologieS, is a non-profit group dedicated to increasing awareness about and access to assistive technology (AT). Many people need AT, but affording devices can be difficult for some people. PATHS is offering two $550.00 awards to qualified individuals to purchase the AT they need. Any age and disability may apply. You (or a family member) must need AT to help foster independence at home, school or work. You must have NO OTHER funding sources to buy the devices. Applications must be postmarked by March 1, 2012. You can find the application here.