Gov. Rick Scott signed a new law Monday that will allow Floridians with disabilities to save up to $100,000 without losing state or federal benefits, the Miami Herald reports.
The Florida Achieving a Better Life Experience Act creates trust funds – managed by the state – that allows disabled adults to remain financially independent while still receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits, the Herald reports.
This law comes at a time when disabled residents lost millions in state support, the Herald reports. Florida’s new budget reduces money in the budget for a program called Adults with Disabilities from $10 million to $750,000, the Herald reports, and Scott vetoed additional money for college scholarships and job training for disabled adults.
According to the Herald, the event in Miami Gardens also highlighted that an additional 2,000 Floridians served by a Medicaid waiver have been moved off a waiting list and can start receiving services at home, and not in an institution.
Another 20,000 remain on the Agency for Persons with Disabilities waitlist, the Herald reports.
