September 1, 2010. A day we will remember as one where about 600 people in King County and over 1,700 people statewide were terminated from Disability Lifeline, a state program providing medical benefits and cash assistance (of about $339/month) to people temporarily unable to work due to physical or mental disability. Of these people, 1,244 statewide are 40 years or older, 30% are people of color, more than half have a mental health diagnosis, and many have next to no education or resources.  They live in shelters, rented rooms, subsidized housing and on the streets and depend on meal sites. They may self-medicate. and don’t have all the necessary records to apply for permanent federal disability assistance.

On top of all that, the September 1 termination of  benefits came as a complete surprise when they received their notification about 10 days ago.

United Way is trying to get a handle on what is happening to these individuals.  Some recipients who are living in public housing or housing supported by non profit providers will stay and continue paying 30% of whatever income they have. While recipients may not lose their housing, they will loose a source of income and health care benefits.  Housing providers, however, will suffer the effects of revenue loss.  The proportionate loss may not be as big for the housing authorities but will certainly affect the non-profit housing providers who count upon that extra revenue to make ends meet.

The data sources that United Way is currently using to track changes include:

• A survey sent to non-profit housing providers and the housing authorities asking them how many people in their units are receiving Disability Lifeline and whether they know how many have received termination letters
• DSHS for statistics on number terminated by county and number of hearing requests made by recipients of termination letters
• Safe Harbors, the homeless management information system
• 211 call center data on how many report Disability Lifeline as a source of income and how many report receiving termination letters
• Community Voicemail (CVM) who reports a capability and willingness to survey clients or help organize focus groups of people who are current DL recipients or who have received termination letters
• Stories that we solicit and receive about DL recipients who have been terminated

 By understanding what is happening to clients and sharing that information with the community, we will all be better able to help those who have been terminated.  We will keep you all posted on data as we receive and analyze it.  Let us know your stories or the stories of your clients by recording them at publicpolicy@uwkc.org.