WASHINGTON - The Justice Department today announced an agreement with the city of Independence, Kan., to improve access to all aspects of civic life for people with disabilities. The agreement was reached under Project Civic Access (PCA), the department’s wide-ranging initiative to ensure that cities, towns and counties throughout the country comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“Individuals with disabilities must have the opportunity to participate in local government programs, services and activities on an equal basis with their neighbors,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “We applaud Independence officials for their commitment to improving access for all residents and visitors with disabilities to the full range of city programs and facilities, including the zoo, library, aquatic center and city hall.”

“I hope Kansans will take note of this settlement,” said Barry Grissom, U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas. “It is time to recognize the right of Americans with disabilities to the care and services they need.”

Read more: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF INDEPENDENCE, KANSAS, TO ENSURE CIVIL ACCESS...

You may qualify to get up to $5,600 back from IRS and not know it. The agency estimates one in four eligible taxpayers could miss out on the Earned Income Tax Credit - or EITC - simply because they don't claim it.

EITC can be a financial boost for working people hit by hard economic times. Eligibility is based on several factors including the source and amount of your income, or combined income if married, whether you have qualifying children and how many. Children are not required, but they increase the amount of your credit. Through new legislation, families with three or more children can get even more money.

If you had less than $48,000 in income from wages, self-employment or farming in 2009, you may qualify. Use IRS's online EITC Assistant to determine your eligibility and amount of your credit. You must file a tax return, even if you aren't otherwise required, and claim the EITC to get it.

No-cost help is available. Volunteer income tax assistance sites or IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers will prepare your return at no charge. To locate a volunteer site, call your community's 211 or 311 number for local services or call the IRS at 1-800-906-9887.

See if your state also has an EITC.

Agreement also reached with Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today its participation in two related settlement agreements involving the accessibility of the Law School Admission Council’s (LSAC) online application service, which is used by law schools nationwide for their application processes. As a result of these agreements, LSAC’s online application service, and the online application process of the nation's law schools, will be accessible to individuals who are blind.

Under the first agreement, which resolves a lawsuit filed against LSAC by the National Federation of the Blind, LSAC will take critical steps to ensure that its online application website, www.lsac.org, will be fully accessible to individuals who use screen readers by the beginning of the fall 2012 application cycle. Application through the LSAC website offers several convenient features to applicants—including LSAC’s “Common Information Form;” bundling of applications into the required LSAC Credential Assembly Service, which eliminates the need to obtain multiple transcripts, letters of recommendations and evaluations for applicants to more than one school; and online payment of the application fee. The department is a signatory to this agreement, which signifies that the steps the LSAC will undertake for its website will satisfy, in part, the law schools’ obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to make their application processes equally accessible to individuals who are blind.

Read more: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REACHES ADA SETTLEMENT TO MAKE LAW SCHOOL APPLICATION PROCESSES ACCESSIBLE TO...

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by Kevin Liebkemann
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People who receive Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are entitled to certain work incentive benefits. In some situations, these programs can protect their cash and medical benefits while they test their ability to return to work. However, these programs are complicated, and people can incur large benefit overpayment claims if they do not follow the rules. This presentation will provide information on how to use the work incentive programs while minimizing the chance of a benefit overpayment claim.

Read more: SSI & SSA Benefits and Overpayments