Tax savings opportunities for persons with disabilities

The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 amended the Social Security Act to expand the availability of health-care coverage for working individuals with disabilities and to establish a Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program in the Social Security Administration to provide such individuals with meaningful opportunities to work. On February 1, 2001, George W. Bush announced his New Freedom Initiative to help individuals with disabilities by increasing access to assistive technologies, expanding educational opportunities, increasing the ability of individuals with disabilities to integrate into the work force, and promoting increased access into the community. Under Section 61, all income is taxed except that which is specifically exempt. For taxpayers electing to itemize their deductions on Schedule A of Form 1040, 2 categories of deductions are available for persons with disabilities - medical expenses and impairment-related work expenses. Three tax credits grant specific tax relief to the disabled: the child and dependent care credit, the adoption credit for special needs children, and the credit for the elderly and disabled.