It’s Super Bowl Sunday!

Posted February 3, 2017 by Premier Disability Services, LLC®
This weekend is Super Bowl LI – on February 5th, the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons will go head-to-head at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas with pop icon Lady Gaga performing at half time.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas has completed a review of the accessibility of NRG Stadium to disabled fans planning to attend Super Bowl LI. The review finds the NFL’s plans for accessible seating, parking and related services at the stadium to be in line with its obligations under the Title III of the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by private places of public accommodations.

The review stemmed from a pre-existing investigation that is unrelated to the NFL or its use of NRG Stadium for Super Bowl LI. The NFL cooperated with the review and demonstrated that its plans for Super Bowl LI provide for accessible seating and parking in numbers that substantially exceed those required under the ADA. Among other accommodations, the NFL plans to provide accessible seating on all levels of the stadium and will maintain a dedicated parking lot for the provision of handicap accessible parking. That lot is located just to the south of the stadium’s usual handicap accessible lot and immediately outside of the stadium’s security perimeter.

The NFL also plans to have personnel on hand to accommodate the needs of disabled attendees of Super Bowl LI. Members of the NFL’s Mobility Assistance Team will be stationed in areas inside and outside of the stadium’s secured perimeter in order to provide assistance to disabled fans seeking to enter the stadium and get to their seats from the designated handicap accessible lot, Taxi/UBER drop-off area and METRORail train stop.

Once inside the stadium, disabled attendees will be advised of guest services locations where they may store mobility assistance equipment. Disabled attendees may also schedule a pick-up with the Mobility Assistance Team, which will help them travel from their seats back to their vehicles when they leave the game. Moreover, there will be guest services staff available inside and outside the stadium to assist fans during the game if a need arises.

We at Premier Disability Services wish everyone a fun and safe Super Bowl Sunday!

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/us-attorney-s-office-conducts-ada-review-nrg-stadium-prior-super-bowl-li

By: Joyce Trudeau of Premier Disability Services, LLC^®

Social Security’s Disability Trust Fund Improves

Posted January 27, 2017 by Premier Disability Services, LLC® Social Security has released the final 2016 numbers on the Disability Insurance Trust Fund. The Trust Fund is a separate account in the United States Treasury. A fixed proportion of the taxes received under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) and the Self-Employment Contributions Act are deposited into the fund to the extent that such taxes are not needed immediately to pay expenses. Taxes are deposited in the fund on every business day.

The trust fund provides automatic spending authority to pay monthly benefits to disabled-worker beneficiaries and their spouses and children. With such spending authority, the Social Security Administration does not need to periodically request money from the Congress to pay benefits.

Funds not withdrawn for current expenses are invested in interest-bearing Federal securities, as required by law; the interest earned is also deposited in the trust fund.

The Trust Fund balance had been declining over the last few years until there was a temporary reallocation of FICA revenues at the beginning of 2016.

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Disability Insurance (Amounts in millions)
Quarter	Total income	Total outgo	Net increase in asset reserves	Asset reserves at end of quarter
Qtr 1, 2015	$30,582	$36,483	$-5,901	$54,343
Qtr 2, 2015	33,697	37,241	-3,544	50,799
Qtr 3, 2015	27,508	36,651	-9,143	41,656
Qtr 4, 2015	26,808	36,206	-9,397	32,259
Qtr 1, 2016	39,509	36,509	2,999	35,258
Qtr 2, 2016	45,519	37,049	8,470	43,728
Qtr 3, 2016	38,457	36,444	2,012	45,740
Qtr 4, 2016	36,512	35,914	598	46,338

 

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/progdata/describedi.html

https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/STATS/table4a2.html

By: Joyce Trudeau of Premier Disability Services, LLC^®

Carolyn Colvin Steps Down as Acting Commissioner of Social Security

Posted January 19, 2017 by Premier Disability Services, LLC® Carolyn Colvin has announced that she will step down from her role as Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration at the end of President Obama’s term on January 20, 2017. Last Friday, Ms. Colvin released the following statement to all Social Security Administration (SSA) and Disability Determination Services (DDS) employees:

TO: All SSA and DDS Employees

 I want you to know that I have advised President Obama that I will be leaving my position as Acting Commissioner of Social Security at the end of the President’s term on Friday, January 20^th.  

 I have devoted my life to public service, serving in positions at all levels of government, but serving here with all of you has been the greatest honor of my life.  The times I have treasured the most are the times I have been able to visit your offices to speak with you about the important work we do, and about your dreams and aspirations.  Those are some of my most joyous and inspirational times at SSA.  You are truly the greatest public servants in government. 

 Social Security is the most important social program ever implemented in this country.  The agency distributes almost $1 trillion to 65,000,000 people each year.  Millions of our fellow Americans rely on these benefits and the services we provide.  Indeed, many of our seniors would be in poverty if they did not receive their Social Security benefits each month.

 Never forget, you make a positive difference every day in the lives of the tens of millions of people who visit our offices, call us on the telephone, or rely on our online services each year.  We can be proud of our numerous accomplishments which represent our shared legacy.  I cannot express the pride I feel in having been part of this incredible work.  Remember, each day, thousands and thousands of individuals may experience, for even a moment, hope, and if we are lucky, a better life, because of something you have been able to do for them.

 I want to personally thank you again for the outstanding service you provide and for the support and guidance you have given me.  I wish you much happiness and success in all of your future endeavors. 

 Carolyn

Filling Ms. Colvin’s position will be Nancy Berryhill, the current Deputy Commissioner for Operations, based on SSA’s succession plan. Ms. Berryhill has worked for SSA for over 40 years in various technical and management positions, including serving as the Regional Commissioner of the Chicago region.

By: Premier Disability Services, LLC^®