JBM-HH helps ‘exceptional’ families navigate available services, benefits

Photo By Delonte Harrod | Attorney-at-law and author Matthew T. Famiglietti delivered a workshop Nov. 13 entitled, “Everything You Wanted to Know About Social Security Disability Law,” in the Pentagon Library and Conference Center. Born with cerebral palsy, “it would have been easy for me to sit back and collect a disability check—but I didn’t want to do that,” Famiglietti said. Famiglietta’s father served in the U.S. Army. Famiglietta couldn’t serve in the Armed Forces himself, so instead he chose to get involved in public service after receiving his law degree from the University of South Carolina. Currently, Famiglietta, practices disability law, anti-discrimination law, and employment law from his D.C.-based office. (Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall PAO photo by Arthur Mondale)  

ARLINGTON, VA, UNITED STATES

11.13.2015

Story by Arthur Mondale 

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

ARLINGTON, Va. - Service members based at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and the Pentagon with a special needs child or other exceptional family member, sometimes don’t know where to start when navigating community support services that include financial, medical, transition assistance and attorney assistance services.

The Exceptional Family Member Program at JBM-HH is looking to change that.

“As service members transition from state-to-state, services change and availability of those services will change,” said Myeshia Roach, Family Readiness Exceptional Family Member Program systems navigator for the U.S. Army, under Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR).

Roach estimates that at the EFMP office on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH (which covers U.S. Army families of JBM-HH, the Pentagon and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center), 1,500 family members are enrolled in EFMP.

Another 450 Marine Corps family members are enrolled with EFMP Henderson Hall (which covers the National Capital Region, to include installations Fort Meade and Joint Base Andrews in Maryland), according to Davina Hardaway, EFMP Training, Education and Outreach specialist for Marine Corps Community Services Henderson-Hall’s EFMP.

The JBM-HH staff serve military family members with a range of both intellectual and emotional disabilities, according to Hardaway and Roach. And some of these families lack essential information.

“Getting the workshops out to the families so they have information is very important,” Hardaway said.

On Nov. 13, both EFMP Fort Myer and Henderson Hall hosted attorney Matthew Famiglietta. During a workshop in the Pentagon Library and Conference Center to discuss the financial cost some military families are facing: what families could face and Social Security disability law.

According to Famiglietta, Soldiers and Marines have faced a range of issues when seeking support and benefits. He estimates 80 to 85 percent of all Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims are initially denied, therefore service members may have to seek legal assistance or an attorney during the initial reconsideration stage.

“My job is to paint an accurate picture [of the legal process],” Famiglietta said. “This is not an easy process. You really need an experienced lawyer, and if you don’t know the law, you’ll get lost in the weeds because this is so complex.”

For example, for a child to qualify for Social Security and Supplemental Security Disability benefits, a child must have a severe impairment which limits him or her from being able to keep up with his/her peer group emotionally, mentally, socially and educationally, according to Famiglietta.

Famiglietta, who was born with cerebral palsy, has a range of legal experience in disability law and has represented clients in disability discrimination suits.

One particular case he won involved a service member denied SDI benefits after returning from the Persian Gulf War. But due to the attorney-client privilege, Famiglietta couldn’t discuss pertinent details.

“Public service—that’s all I’ve tried to do with my life,” Famiglietta said.

There’s still more education, service and outreach between EFMP offices, JBM-HH families and people like Famiglietta. Recently, military families qualifying for SSI with an autistic child or dependent have increased, according to Myeshia Roach. Influxes like this highlight the need for more outreach to be done.

“Make sure that you contact your local EFMP office so that you’re knowledgeable about the resources that are available to you, so that when complications arise, you’ll know what to do,” Roach said.

• Date Taken: 11.13.2015
• Date Posted: 11.25.2015 12:53
• Story ID: 182884
• Location: ARLINGTON, VA, US