State site helps those with special needs

Those who are recently disabled -- or who have friends or family members who are -- might be interested in YourMoneyNewYork.com, a Web site from the New York State comptroller's office. (Click here to connect.)

The site has a new section with links to resources for the disabled: an overview to services and benefits, how to get started, and knowing your rights. That's added to resource sections for families, members of the military, small businesses, seniors, and the college bound.

"It's an excellent way to start educating yourself," said Craig Marcott, a financial planner and consultant in East Patchogue for families with special-needs members.

Among the subjects for the disabled:

Financial assistance: You'll find links to Social Security benefits, workers' compensation benefits, New York State disability benefits as well as a page to help determine eligibility for health and human services benefits.

Especially useful at this time of year is a link to an Internal Revenue Service page with details on how to handle disability benefits and deductions for medical and work-related expenses when you're filing tax returns.

Work: Find resources on getting a job, as well as training and support services. There's also a link to the New York Makes Work Pay initiative, which looks at the unemployment rate for disabled New Yorkers and includes information for job seekers.

Reach further: Still, Marcott says that once people get an overview to such services, they would be wise to get involved with agencies and organizations that address their specific disability, be it autism, cerebral palsy or even Parkinson's disease. "You need to network as much as possible," he says. "You need to see how this works with regards to you."