Hey Teens! Join us this summer for hands-on activities and lessons to discover more about future work possibilities and to learn new job skills. Our Career Frontiers Program for teens age 16 to 18 is accepting applications for this summer. We will be offering two summer sessions for teens to learn job skills, consider future job interests, and even tour …
Tips for Improving Your Financial Health
Some traditional barriers to employment have gone away. An increase in the number of people working from home since COVID-19, means people with disabilities don’t need to go to an office. They don’t have to find transportation. They often have the accommodations they need at home and often more flexible schedules. This gives people with disabilities more chances to find …
Social Security Offers More Options for Getting Help
Starting in early April, if you need to talk to someone at Social Security, you will have more options. Social Security will add more in-person appointments and offer in-person service for people without an appointment. During the pandemic, millions of people used Social Security’s secure and convenient online services and received help by phone and in their offices by appointment. As …
Free Tax Preparation Services
It’s tax time again. It’s good to know that you may need to pay taxes on your Social Security benefits. Social security benefits include monthly retirement, survivor and disability benefits. They don’t include supplemental security income (SSI) payments, which aren’t taxable. You may be required to pay taxes in certain circumstances. Some examples include when you have income from other …
Gifts and Social Security Benefits
This holiday season, we hope you enjoy many gifts. Sometimes the best gifts don’t come in packages, but if they do, it’s a good idea to learn how gifts are viewed by Social Security for the SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and SSI (Supplemental Security Income) programs. Gifts Don’t Affect SSDI At AllLet’s start with the easy one: SSDI. Gifts …
Observing Veteran’s Day
During his second inauguration, President Abraham Lincoln said “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.” Helping returning veterans has long been a part of our country’s heritage.Veterans Day and Vocational Rehabilitation On November 11, we celebrate and honor the veterans who have served in the U.S. military. The date commemorates …
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
Workers with Disabilities are Key to Economic RecoveryNational Disability Employment Awareness Month is celebrated each October to recognize the many contributions of people with disabilities to our nation’s economy. This year’s NDEAM theme is, “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion.” COVID-19 has left an enormous gap in America’s workforce. There are more jobs than skilled people to fill them. This gives …
Observing Mental Illness Awareness Week
The first full week of October, we observe Mental Illness Awareness Week. These days it’s more important than ever for people to be informed about mental health issues. COVID-19 has been difficult for everyone. For many, it is another challenge added to a continuous battle against mental health problems. For others, COVID-19 has ushered in their first experiences dealing with …
ERI 30th Anniversary: Looking Back and Future Focused
ERI has been celebrating our 30th Anniversary over the course of the past year. We opted for a year-long celebration since in-person gatherings haven’t been an option due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. It has certainly been a challenging year. As always, the ERI Team members, the Board, our partners, and the people with whom we work, have all been flexible, …
Learn, Explore, Take Action! How to Use High School to Jumpstart Your Future
Hey Teens and Parents: Learn, Explore, Take Action!We’ve always known high school is more than going to classes, and the shift to online learning due to COVID is proving it! High school is about learning who you are, exploring what you want to be as an adult, and taking actions to have the life you want. If you’re a teen …