Disability Lifeline (GAU) terminated benefits to be reinstated, cash benefit to be reduced

If you or someone you know currently receive Disability Lifeline (also referred to as GA-U) cash and medical benefits or recently had your benefits cut off because of the 24 month time limit there are two important pieces of news that you should know.

First, as a result of a recent Federal law suit brought against DSHS, DSHS has decided to give back all Disability Lifeline cash and medical benefits to every person who lost their benefits because of the time limit. If you are not receiving Disability Lifeline benefits because of a time limit termination, you should contact your local Community Service Office as soon as possible so that your benefits can be turned back on.

The second piece of news is that DSHS has announced that it plans to reduce the Disability Lifeline cash grant from $339 per month to $258 per month starting January 1, 2011, So If you receive GAU or Disability Lifeline you might want to prepare yourself for an $80 a month reduction in cash benefits next year.

Please help us get the word out about these changes. Thank you!!!

Free Financial Planning Day 10/23

Hi, I want to encourage you to attend Financial Planning Day, this Saturday, October 23rd, at North Seattle Community College from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. (9600 College Way in the Cafeteria.). Its a free event where you’ll be able to meet one-on-one with dozens of professional financial planners to discuss your personal finance questions, concerns and interests.
Representatives from non-profit organizations will be on hand to help people with an array of financial issues, questions and problems including:

• Debt and credit
• Budgeting and money management
• Mortgages/foreclosures
• Social Security/Medicare/Medicaid
• Public Benefits

Financial planners will also be there to help with planning for retirement, college, emergencies, estates, as well as investment management and insurance.

Its all free and there are no strings attached – volunteer planners will not pass out business cards, marketing materials or sell products or services.

Financial Planning Day is happening in major cities around the country. In Seattle, it is co-sponsored by the City of Seattle, Seattle-King County Asset Building Collaborative, the Financial Planning Association, the Foundation for Financial Planning, the United Way of King County, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The day is specifically for low-income people who normally don't have the opportunity to meet with a financial planner.

That’s this Saturday the 23rd at North Seattle Community College Cafeteria at 9600 College Way, from 10 to 4. For more information call 877-861-7826. Or visit www.financialplanningdays.org/seattle.

Free Flu Shots for the Homeless

Flu season is just around the corner, and health care for the homeless is offering free flu shots this week and next week for people experiencing homelessness. Public Health recommends that everyone over 6 months of age should get the annual flu vaccine, especially if you are pregnant or have long-term health problems such as diabetes, asthma, neurological diseases, heart or lung problems, weakened immune systems, and possibly, obesity. The flu vaccine will prevent sickness, unnecessary healthcare visits, hospitalizations and deaths from influenza. This year, a single flu vaccine provides protection against the H1N1 flu that caused outbreaks last year and 2 other flu viruses that are expected to cause illness this season. The free flu shots from health care for the homeless are available at the following locations and times:
• October 21st 6 am-10 am Millionair Club 2515 Western Avenue
• October 22nd Friday Feast 5pm-7pm First United Methodist Church 1415 NE 43rd Street in the U District
• October 25th 12:30 3-30 YWCA Opportunity Place- 2nd floor conference Room 2024 3rd Avenue
• October 26th 7am -5pm DESC Connections 503 3rd Avenue near Pioneer Square
• October 26th 9am -3pm Compass Adult Service Center 2015 3rd Avenue
• November 1st 9am-3pm Compass Main Building in the Cafeteria at 210 Alaskan Way

For more information call the Public Health Flu Hotline at 877-903-5464 or visit www.kingcounty.gov/health/flu.

Bridging the Gap Resource Fair 10/16

Hi, I if you or someone you know are looking for social services, I want to let you know about The Bridging the Gap Resource Fair this Saturday, October 16th from 10 to 3 at the Rainier Community Center. More than 50 social service providers will come together for Bridging the Gap on Saturday, including adult and youth education services, employment programs, small businesses, resources for individuals, seniors, families, and youth; financial opportunities and literacy, health/medical; cultural services; home ownership, housing services and rights; legal services; consumer rights; DSHS; and federal, state, and local government services. The Bridging the Gap Resource Fair sponsored by the Seattle and King County housing authorities and the South County YWCA, hopes to increase the opportunities and abilities for low-income residents in King County by bringing together an integrated network of services, businesses and opportunities in King County in one place, in order to strengthen the community; increase participant’s access to education and employment opportunities; raise awareness of available support services; and, help eliminate the barriers that stand in their way. That’s this Saturday the 16th from 10 a.m. to 3 p,.m. at the Rainier Community Center at 4600 38th Ave. S. For more information, please contact Seattle Housing Authority's Cheryl Sabin at 206-615-3317. Good Luck.

Greater Seattle Job Fair 10/6 Qwest Feild

Hi, if you or someone you know is looking for work, I want to let you know about the upcoming Greater Seattle Job Fair at Qwest Field on Wednesday October 6th, from 11 AM to 3 PM. This job fair, presented by Jobbernaut, is the Northwest's largest hiring event, featuring over 30 companies from the Puget Sound Region! It’s free to the public and all levels of employment are available. You can meet with dozens of hiring managers all in a single afternoon. Companies participating in this Job Fair are generally looking to fill positions from the following broad categories; Sales, Retail, Management, Financial, Healthcare, Restaurant, Accounting, Banking, Clerical, Computers, IT, Customer Service, Engineers, General Office, Secretarial, Security, and more! All levels of experience – from part-time hourly positions, entry level, management trainee positions all the way to technical and professional full-time positions! It is recommended that you dress professionally and bring copies of your resume. That’s at the Seahawks' Qwest Field inside the "West V.I.P. Club Level" at 800 Occidental Avenue South in Seattle, next Wednesday the 6th from 11 to 3. Enter through the Northwest V.I.P. Entrance at the North end of the Stadium. For more information, directions and a complete list of attending companies call (425) 397-7114 or visit www.jobbernaut.com. Good Luck!

King County Veterans Hotline

Hi this is a message from the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans, Military Personnel, National Guard, Reserves and their families in King Country can now call a toll-free number to receive information about benefits and services at the county, state and federal level.

The King County Veterans Call Center number is 1-877-904-VETS, or 1-877-904-8387. The Call Center is staffed from 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday and callers can leave messages after hours.

If you are a Veteran, Active Duty, National Guard, Reservist a family member or friend, let the King County Veterans Information and Assistance Call Center connect you with your local, state and federal veterans benefits. Again, that number is 1-877-904-VETS, or 1-877-904-8387. Please share this information with any veterans you may know. Thanks!

Register to Vote

Hi. I want to encourage you to register to vote if you haven’t already in time for the general election on November 2nd. This election we will be electing US house representatives, state house reps and senators, and other offices. There will also be a number of important local and state ballot initiatives.

In order to qualify to vote on November 2nd, voters must be registered in advance. You may register online, by mail or in person. If you register by mail the deadline for registering or transferring your voter registration is 30 days before an election. You can pick-up an application at local libraries, post offices or department of motor vehicles. If you miss the 30-day mail-in deadline or if you prefer, you can register in person at the King County Elections Office up to eight days before the election. To vote in the general election on November 2nd you need to register by mail by October 4th or in person by October 25th.

If you are at least 18 years old and are a US citizen you have the right to vote even if you are unemployed, homeless, between permanent residences, or living in a shelter. People who are homeless can register at the shelter, park, motor home, intersection or other identifiable location they consider their residence and use a post office box, address of a friend or relative, shelter, or general delivery at a local post office as their mailing address.

Even if you have been convicted of a felony you can now vote. In 2009 the Washington Legislature passed a new law that restores the right to vote automatically to people with felony convictions when they have completed their time in prison and have served any required community custody supervised by the State Department of Corrections.

However you must be registered in order to vote. For more information, call the Toll Free State Voters Information Hotline at 1-800-448-4881

If you want to know how the state ballot initiatives will help or hurt homeless and low income people you should check out the U District Conversation on Homelessness “are you ready to be a legislator?” forum on Sunday September 26th from 630 pm to 830 at University Heights Center on NE 50th St between Brooklyn & University Way NE in Seattle.

Your vote will make a difference. We hope you will take a stand for what you believe in and vote on November 2nd.