Summary
A person with a disability is an individual who has certain limitations of his abilities, who cannot actively participate in all spheres of social activity. He or she should have equal rights and opportunities with other members of society. Throughout the world, the social movement of people with disabilities to protect their rights to freedom of choice, self-determination, and open access to participation in all areas of society is growing.
The state bill of interest is AB-196 Paid family leave, which wishes to amend Section 3301 of the Unemployment Insurance Code. The latter is related to the issue of paid family leave, where one gets paid for taking care of a person with a disability, for example, a family member. The current law obliges a disability insurance program to pay a person, who is taking care of a person with a disability, a certain percentage of the wage. The calculation process involves determining the quarter with the highest wages and paying an employee a portion of the given sum. The bill wishes to amend the existing law to pay 100% divided by 13 as a wage to employees on temporary family paid leave, who are taking care of people with disabilities.
The main change in section 3301 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is 3301b2, which mandates to pay 100% of the highest base wage during the paid leave divided by 13 and not the portion of the sum, as it is now. The weekly benefit is provided for no more than six weeks, which can be paid for 12 months (“AB-196 Paid family leave,” 2019). It is important to note that the amount cannot exceed the weekly benefit on maximum workers’ compensation temporary disability indemnity established by the Department of Industrial Relations.
If the bill passes, people with disabilities will get paid more than usual, because the amendment removes loopholes for reducing the total weekly benefit amount. The family, the immediate environment of a person with disabilities, is the main link in the system of his or her care, socialization, the satisfaction of needs, support, and career guidance. The problems of families with the advent of a person with disabilities are increasing. In the first place, these are material, domestic, financial, and housing problems. In such families, sometimes insurmountable tasks arise associated with the acquisition of food, clothing, shoes, the simplest furniture, and household appliances. Housing is usually not suitable for a person with a disability because there is no separate room or special facilities for this individual. Services for people with disabilities in such families are mostly paid. All this requires large sums of money, and the majority of families have a modest income, which consists of the caregiver’s wage and the person’s social disability benefits.
The social protection of families with people with disabilities is based on an appropriate regulatory framework. The law should encourage and differentiate the benefits provided to a person with a disability and his family, that is, all family members living together. Additional benefits for caregivers are provided by law for them to provide a person with a disability with complete care. The social protection of a family with such an individual should be focused not only on solving specific problems, but, first of all, on strengthening and developing their potential. In this process, the role of social services and specialists working in these institutions becomes especially significant. In addition, the law should not only help the family overcome daily difficulties but also provide sufficient funds, help them build their life scenarios by the highest possible level of quality of life.
This process must begin with the family since the role of the family in the rehabilitation of people with disabilities is simply difficult to overestimate. The involvement of family members, especially the caregiver, is crucial in the outcome of the rehabilitation. However, the significance of the family can be not only positive but also negative in case of insufficient funds. Because of this, this law must be implemented to provide caregivers with the necessary financial resources. Parents should be prepared for the rehabilitation of people with disabilities at home. The role of the social worker in these cases is extremely great since it is from him that they expect advice and help. The lack of faith in caregivers in security during care hurts the lifestyle of a person with a disability. Whereas the belief in security forms a positive psychological climate, the socio-economic activity of caregivers, which, in turn, contributes to the adaptation, success of care, and the entire process of integrating a person with a disability into society.
References
AB-196 paid family leave. (2019). Web.