The Department of Justice today announced a settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with Intellitec Colleges in Colorado Springs, Grand Junction and Pueblo to ensure access to its technical colleges for individuals with disabilities.
Intellitec offers career training programs for automotive technicians, drafting, medical and dental assistants, administrative professionals and more at its three campuses. The agreement requires, among other things, that Intellitec remove barriers to access at its existing facilities, ensure that future construction complies with the ADA, and ensure that any future alterations to existing facilities are, to the maximum extent feasible, readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. The agreement with Intellitec is the result of a compliance review conducted by the department.
"This agreement with a long-standing technical school will help ensure that job skills training is available to everyone, including individuals with disabilities," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "It is a top priority of the Justice Department to enforce the laws that guarantee that persons with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities and the doors those opportunities open."
The ADA prohibits discrimination by public accommodations on the basis of disability, including nursery, elementary, secondary, undergraduate or postgraduate private schools, and other places of education. Those interested in finding out more about these agreements or seeking information about and how to comply with the ADA can find out more at www.ada.gov.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Colorado Extends Tier III Unemployment Benefits
Additional Weeks of Unemployment Benefits Now Being Provided to Unemployed Coloradans
A recent federal law granted a third federal extension of unemployment benefits in Colorado, and according to the Department of Labor and Employment, payment of those benefits began last week. The soonest that states were authorized to begin making payments was the week of December 7 and Colorado is among the first five states in the nation to begin issuing payments under this latest tier of extended benefits. Already, 10,000 claimants have had additional unemployment payments loaded onto their debit cards.
The new law provided more money to Colorado residents who have run out of money on their regular unemployment claims and on the other two prior extensions to their unemployment benefits. This latest extension is called Tier III of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) adds a maximum of one week of benefits for Tier II. It also provides a maximum of 13 weeks of benefits for those who have run out of benefits on other extensions. Payment of Tier III benefits will be retroactive to November 8, 2009.
“These additional weeks address a real, kitchen-table issue for so many Colorado families that are running out of funds,” says Donald J. Mares, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. “It will provide a measure of financial stability to people who are worried about making the rent and buying groceries when their unemployment runs out.”
For more information, visit www.coworkforce.com.
A recent federal law granted a third federal extension of unemployment benefits in Colorado, and according to the Department of Labor and Employment, payment of those benefits began last week. The soonest that states were authorized to begin making payments was the week of December 7 and Colorado is among the first five states in the nation to begin issuing payments under this latest tier of extended benefits. Already, 10,000 claimants have had additional unemployment payments loaded onto their debit cards.
The new law provided more money to Colorado residents who have run out of money on their regular unemployment claims and on the other two prior extensions to their unemployment benefits. This latest extension is called Tier III of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) adds a maximum of one week of benefits for Tier II. It also provides a maximum of 13 weeks of benefits for those who have run out of benefits on other extensions. Payment of Tier III benefits will be retroactive to November 8, 2009.
“These additional weeks address a real, kitchen-table issue for so many Colorado families that are running out of funds,” says Donald J. Mares, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. “It will provide a measure of financial stability to people who are worried about making the rent and buying groceries when their unemployment runs out.”
For more information, visit www.coworkforce.com.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Job Losses Spur SSDI/SSI Applications
The Social Security Administration says that applications for SSDI and SSI benefits have skyrocketed about 30 percent -- a result of the widening recession and a large swath of applicants being recently laid off.
MSNBC.com has put together an exhaustive and interesting report on the application boom...including personal stories about applicants in the midst of the process, as well as an overview of the impact that the tsunami of applications is having on the already overburdened ability for the SSA to process applications.
"According to the Social Security Administration, which runs the two main federal disability programs, new claims for disability benefits rose nearly 17 percent nationwide in fiscal year 2009, to 3 million. Disability filings are projected to rise another 10 percent in fiscal 2010, to 3.3 million new claims," MSNBC.com reports.
Read the full analysis from MSNBC.com here.
MSNBC.com has put together an exhaustive and interesting report on the application boom...including personal stories about applicants in the midst of the process, as well as an overview of the impact that the tsunami of applications is having on the already overburdened ability for the SSA to process applications.
"According to the Social Security Administration, which runs the two main federal disability programs, new claims for disability benefits rose nearly 17 percent nationwide in fiscal year 2009, to 3 million. Disability filings are projected to rise another 10 percent in fiscal 2010, to 3.3 million new claims," MSNBC.com reports.
Read the full analysis from MSNBC.com here.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Social Security Sending Corrected Benefit Notices
The Social Security Administration earlier this month mailed notices that contained incorrect January 2010 payment dates. These erroneous notices went to about 6 million beneficiaries who receive their payments on either the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month, and are part of the annual benefit notices that go to 52 million Social Security beneficiaries. In the notice the payment date is incorrectly shown as one week before what the actual date of payment will be. The other information in the notice, including the payment amount, is correct. Social Security is sending a letter explaining the error to beneficiaries who received the incorrect one as soon as possible.
“We apologize for the inconvenience and confusion these incorrect notices will cause,” said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. “The problem was caused by an unfortunate human error. We are correcting the misinformation as quickly as possible, and we are reviewing our processes closely to prevent this type of mistake from happening in the future. People receiving Social Security benefits in January 2010 should know that their payment will arrive on the same payment day that it has arrived in the past.”
For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov.
“We apologize for the inconvenience and confusion these incorrect notices will cause,” said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. “The problem was caused by an unfortunate human error. We are correcting the misinformation as quickly as possible, and we are reviewing our processes closely to prevent this type of mistake from happening in the future. People receiving Social Security benefits in January 2010 should know that their payment will arrive on the same payment day that it has arrived in the past.”
For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov.
Friday, December 11, 2009
DORA Orders 9.7% Decrease in WC Loss Costs
Colorado employers will be looking forward to additional financial relief next year by paying lower premiums for workers' compensation insurance due to the announcement that a significant component of workers' compensation premiums, known as loss costs, will drop 9.7 percent..
"Colorado employers could see as much as $84 million in reduced premiums for workers' compensation insurance, if all insurers implemented the revised loss costs with no further adjustments,” said Colorado Insurance Commissioner Marcy Morrison in a statement.
It is expected that the ultimate savings to consumers will be significant, but smaller than the maximum projection because rate filings will be made by individual insurers before the loss cost reduction goes into effect on Jan. 1. However, many employers will realize a savings in their workers' compensation premiums compared to last year.
“In this tough economy, it’s vital that state government is a strong and effective partner for Colorado businesses,” said Gov. Ritter. “This nearly 10 percent reduction in the loss costs factor in setting workers’ comp insurance premiums is extremely good news for businesses across the state. Our economy is doing better here than in many other states, and this will only help.”
The loss cost reduction is based on a continuing decrease in the number of claims filed in 2008.
“Workers compensation insurance loss costs have declined more than 50 percent since 2000, and this year’s decrease represents the eighth decrease in nine years,” Commissioner Morrison said. “This continuing trend indicates that workplaces are much safer than they have been in the past, and that employees are performing their duties in safer manners. Safety programs introduced by employers and insurance companies over the past several years are improving the Colorado workers compensation claims data, and that improvement continues to drive loss costs downward.”
For more information, click here (PDF link).
"Colorado employers could see as much as $84 million in reduced premiums for workers' compensation insurance, if all insurers implemented the revised loss costs with no further adjustments,” said Colorado Insurance Commissioner Marcy Morrison in a statement.
It is expected that the ultimate savings to consumers will be significant, but smaller than the maximum projection because rate filings will be made by individual insurers before the loss cost reduction goes into effect on Jan. 1. However, many employers will realize a savings in their workers' compensation premiums compared to last year.
“In this tough economy, it’s vital that state government is a strong and effective partner for Colorado businesses,” said Gov. Ritter. “This nearly 10 percent reduction in the loss costs factor in setting workers’ comp insurance premiums is extremely good news for businesses across the state. Our economy is doing better here than in many other states, and this will only help.”
The loss cost reduction is based on a continuing decrease in the number of claims filed in 2008.
“Workers compensation insurance loss costs have declined more than 50 percent since 2000, and this year’s decrease represents the eighth decrease in nine years,” Commissioner Morrison said. “This continuing trend indicates that workplaces are much safer than they have been in the past, and that employees are performing their duties in safer manners. Safety programs introduced by employers and insurance companies over the past several years are improving the Colorado workers compensation claims data, and that improvement continues to drive loss costs downward.”
For more information, click here (PDF link).
Thursday, December 10, 2009
CO Court of Appeals Hears WC Case at Aurora High School
The Colorado State Court of Appeals kicked off its Courts in the Community program with a unique event at Overland High School this week -- court proceedings in front of about 200 students.
According to the Aurora Sentinal, the Courts in the Community program is designed to introduce students to the unique functions of the appellate court with actual cases instead of mock trials. The event included an appeal for a workers' compensation case -- Safeway Inc. and Michael Arellano v. Martinson Snow Removal Inc. -- in effort to illustrate contract law, followed by a DUI case.
Students were encouraged to ask the presiding judges and lawyers questions about the case, though no judgement was given on either appeal during the event.
For more information, visit http://www.aurorasentinel.com/.
According to the Aurora Sentinal, the Courts in the Community program is designed to introduce students to the unique functions of the appellate court with actual cases instead of mock trials. The event included an appeal for a workers' compensation case -- Safeway Inc. and Michael Arellano v. Martinson Snow Removal Inc. -- in effort to illustrate contract law, followed by a DUI case.
Students were encouraged to ask the presiding judges and lawyers questions about the case, though no judgement was given on either appeal during the event.
For more information, visit http://www.aurorasentinel.com/.
SSA's Adult Disability Starter Kit
The Social Security Administration has updated its Adult Disability Starter Kit, a series of electronic resources for individuals considering applying for SSDI benefits.
Available here, the kit includes informational resources, access to an online application, medical and job worksheets, a checklist for the adult disability interview, and more.
For more information, visit http://www.socialsecurity.gov/.
Available here, the kit includes informational resources, access to an online application, medical and job worksheets, a checklist for the adult disability interview, and more.
For more information, visit http://www.socialsecurity.gov/.
Friday, December 4, 2009
ODAR Backlog Shrinks in FY09
For the first time in 10 years, the Office of Disability Adjudication & Review (ODAR) has ended its fiscal year with fewer pending hearings than in the previous year.
According to an SSA press release, ODAR has improved the average processing time to less than 500 days (down from 514 in FY2008)...part of the, "largest expansion in decades of its capacity to hear disability appeals."
The expansion is also moving forward in early FY2010, SSA reports, with plans to hire an additional 226 administrative law judges and corresponding support staff.
For more information, visit http://www.ssa.gov/.
According to an SSA press release, ODAR has improved the average processing time to less than 500 days (down from 514 in FY2008)...part of the, "largest expansion in decades of its capacity to hear disability appeals."
The expansion is also moving forward in early FY2010, SSA reports, with plans to hire an additional 226 administrative law judges and corresponding support staff.
For more information, visit http://www.ssa.gov/.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Free Info About The SSDI/SSI Application Process
Are you looking for a quick, easy primer of the Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income application processes? The Social Security Administration has recently updated its online instruction booklet for applicants. The latest information is available at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10153.html
You can also find additional information for Coloradoans available here for free download (click here to download our free PDF report). Call us today at 1-800-562-5668 for more information.
You can also find additional information for Coloradoans available here for free download (click here to download our free PDF report). Call us today at 1-800-562-5668 for more information.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Colorado DWC OAC Adds Online Access
The Colorado Office of Administrative Courts has expanded its website to include instant access to workers' compensation decisions.
Links to specific decisions can be found through the OAC website at www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DPA-OAC/OAC/1194261892662.
The Office of Administrative Courts is Colorado's centralized administrative court system. Most States and the federal government have established similar specialized legal processes within the executive branch. This structure enables both agencies and citizens to have certain disputes resolved while avoiding the time and expense of litigation in district court. In 1976, the General Assembly created Division of Administrative Hearings as a central panel of administrative law judges ("ALJs") to decide workers' compensation, human services, licensing and a variety of other cases.
Links to specific decisions can be found through the OAC website at www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DPA-OAC/OAC/1194261892662.
The Office of Administrative Courts is Colorado's centralized administrative court system. Most States and the federal government have established similar specialized legal processes within the executive branch. This structure enables both agencies and citizens to have certain disputes resolved while avoiding the time and expense of litigation in district court. In 1976, the General Assembly created Division of Administrative Hearings as a central panel of administrative law judges ("ALJs") to decide workers' compensation, human services, licensing and a variety of other cases.
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