INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute (INCAP) is contracting with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority to study disability benefits in Indiana.
13News has reported the system has problems, including wrongfully denied applications. There are a patchwork of benefit systems, some of which are mutually exclusive.
“So you kind of have to juggle out what can I get without losing the other benefits,” said Ashley Phillips, community needs analyst with INCAP. “So I can continue to pay for what I need that is essential to my household.”
INCAP has formed a design team — including people with disabling conditions — to look at the system and find ways to make it work better.
“How can this process be simplified in a way that is helpful to people who are waiting? Maybe it could provide some support while their waiting,” said Phillips. “But also, maybe help with benefit issues after they have been awarded.”
The program is not looking to increase disability benefits, just make the ones already provided by law more accessible and more effective.
The Executive director of the Housing and Community Development Authority said they support the study because “we seek to make sure every community and individual in our state can achieve this and we especially want to ensure this for our vulnerable populations.”
“If we say we care about life and we value life, then we need to care about everybody’s,” said Phillips. “So it’s really important to put those supports in place so people can be cared for.”
“This could happen to any of us,” she said. “We’re all one car accident away from being disabled.”
The study is set to last for nine months. At the end there will be publications and workshops to help spread the results to the public.
If you are applying for disability benefits help is available.
The Indiana Disability Resource Finder can find you assistance in your community across Indiana.
Accessibility Indiana helps advocate for rights for people with disability in Marion County and surrounding communities.
To report accessibility issues in Indianapolis, you can reach out to the city’s Office of Disability Affairs.