January 2025 News
"The year's first month is like a blank canvas. Let your actions be the brushstrokes that create your masterpiece."
- Unknown
Welcoming 2025 with a Culture of Gentleness
by Kristen Mathews, Chief Operations Officer
As we begin 2025, we celebrate the values at the heart of Eiros Group and a Culture of Gentleness. This approach reminds us to lead with kindness, trust, and compassion in every interaction, creating spaces where everyone feels safe, valued, and supported.
This Spring, we’re excited to introduce in-person Culture of Gentleness trainings with our friends from Creative Options Regina. This will be open to all Eiros Group employees, the people that we support, and their families. These sessions will help deepen our understanding of a Culture of Gentleness and strengthen our relationships.
Let’s make 2025 a year of connection and growth, as we continue building a gentler world together.
DCA Opening State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) Waiting List Lottery!
If you, or a member of your household is a person with documented disabilities from the Social Security Administration (SSA), Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the
Department of Community Affairs (DCA)
State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) during their lottery application window of
Monday, January 13th to Friday January 31st.
Why it is important to apply during this window:
As noted in the DCA announcement below, applying for the SRAP does not mean that you will receive assistance, but it is important to submit an application to get on to the waiting list, and begin the process.
Even if you currently have a DDD Subsidy, in order to upgrade from your current housing (for example, from a 1 bedroom to a 2 bedroom in the future),
Getting on to the DCA SRAP waiting list is the key part of this whole process.
Submission of a SRAP pre-application during this lottery application window, does not guarantee placement on the waiting list, determine eligibility, or an offer of a SRAP Voucher; only applications selected via the lottery will be placed on the waiting list.
A total of 6,000 households are selected during this annual lottery process, who are then placed on the State Rental Assistance Program waiting list. These waiting list recipients are chosen on a random computer generated lottery, and also in order of priority.
Should you have any questions, or need guidance regarding the application process, or the definitions, please contact Eiros Group. We are highly experienced Housing Navigators, and can provide insight through every step in the process.
Public Notice on December 9, 2024: The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) announces the opening of the waiting lists for the State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP).
SRAP preliminary applications will be available online at: www.waitlistcheck.com/NJ559 beginning Monday, January 13, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. until Friday, January 31, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
In addition to a number of other community based programs, DCA oversees a number of Housing Assistance programs. The New Jersey State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) is a state funded program that provides housing subsidies for decent, safe and sanitary housing.
SRAP pre-applications will be selected through a lottery process, therefore, it does not matter when you submit your pre-application as long as you complete it during the open enrollment period.
Every pre-application successfully submitted during the open enrollment period has a chance of being selected during the lottery.
The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) will extend reasonable accommodations to disabled individuals on a case-by-case basis and will take into consideration the disability and the need(s) of the individual(s). An individual can call DCA Applicant Service Unit at 609-292-4080, Option 9, if a reasonable accommodation is needed during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 8:00p.m. seven days a week or email us at: customer.service@dca.nj.gov during the opening period.
SRAP pre-applications can be submitted ONLINE with the use of a personal computer, laptop, smart phone, or tablet by going on-line at https://www.WaitlistCheck.com/NJ559. Pre-applications will be accepted 24hrs a day, beginning Monday, January 13, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. until Friday January 31, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
The waiting list placement will be based on a computerized selection (lottery) process. Once the waiting list open enrollment period ends, pre-applications will be selected to be placed on the SRAP waiting list after sorting preferences.
Additional information, including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can be viewed at New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) | Offices & Programs
For help, questions, or more information, please contact Kristen Mathews at kristenm@eiros-group.com.
NJ Department of Taxation Joins the IRS In Making Those Who Qualify For The Federal Difficulty of Care (DOC) Exempt From Income Taxes!
If you are eligible for the Federal Difficulty of Care (DOC) income tax exclusion, and do not have Federal Income Tax deducted from your paycheck, please be aware that the New Jersey Department of Taxation has now extended the DOC exclusion for State Income Taxes as well.
This means that, if you continue to be eligible, you will no longer need to pay State Income Tax on the money you earn working as a provider in this program.
This change is also reflected in the updated 1040 form cover letter from the New Jersey Department of Taxation, from Marita R. Sciarrotta, Acting Director, Division of Taxation, "We want you to know that we carefully listen to you and value your feedback when questions arise. For that reason, we have modified the 1040 instructions for the 2024 tax year to clarify taxable income vs. nontaxable income. As a direct result of your feedback, the instructions now specify that the following are nontaxable:
- Difficulty of Care payments. If you are a caregiver who receives these payments under a State Medicaid program, you do not have to report them as part of your gross income; and
- Any amount received under the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) Direct Assistance Program. This program provides a one-time financial benefit to income-eligible New Jersey residents who file income taxes using an ITIN.
Where can I get additional information about the federal DOC income tax exclusion? Additional information about the federal DOC income tax exclusion can be obtained from your tax advisor and/or by visiting the following link: Certain Medicaid waiver payments may be excludable from income - Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov).
Where can I get additional information about the state DOC income tax exclusion? Please contact your tax advisor, and/or contact the New Jersey Department of Taxation directly as described in their website: https://nj.gov/treasury/taxation/contact.shtml
As always, we are here to help get your payments adjusted with these new exemptions! Please contact your Support Broker or Kristen Mathews for any questions or concerns you may have.
2025 Pay Schedule
Noah Goes Grocery Shopping... For The Very First Time!
by Jean Marie Hanna, Support Broker
Back in our October newsletter, we introduced Noah. It has been a great process to watch him grow, and fulfill his dream of having his own apartment.
Since October, Noah has jumped into independent living with such a positive and patient attitude. Many of the aspects of daily living that most of us take for granted, such as paying bills, checking the mail, and going to the grocery store, are completely new experiences for Noah!
Throughout these, Noah has been learning the importance of creating lists for the things he needs to do, including going to the grocery store.
When he was ready for his first official grocery shopping adventure, he made his list. He was mindful of adding nutritious foods and fun snacks, while also staying on track with how much he has to spend.
Once that was made, Noah went grocery shopping for the very first time! He did a great job selecting from the many options, staying focused on the list, and made excellent choices! Keep up the great work Noah!
Social Security Announces 2.5 Percent Benefit Increase for 2025
Nearly 68 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.5% COLA beginning in January 2025 (or about $50 per month). Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will beganDecember 31, 2024. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI).
“Social Security benefits and SSI payments will increase in 2025, helping tens of millions of people keep up with expenses even as inflation has started to cool,” said Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security.
Some other adjustments that take effect in January are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) is slated to increase to $176,100 from $168,600.
In the past year, the Social Security Administration has offered the option receiving these notifications through the creation of a personal my Social Security account, Through this portal, recipients can get updates and more through their personalized online dashboard.
This year, for the first time, Social Security beneficiaries will receive a newly designed and improved COLA notice that makes it easier for customers to find the information they need most. The simplified COLA notice is now only one page, uses plain and personalized language, and provides exact dates and dollar amounts of a person’s new benefit amount and any deductions. Learn more on their video.
Individuals who have a personal my Social Security account can view their COLA notice online, or set up text or email alerts when there is a new message–such as their COLA notice–waiting for them.
Information about Medicare changes for 2025 will be available at www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, the 2025 benefit amount will be available via my Social Security’s Message Center. Those who have not opted to receive messages online will receive their COLA notice by mail.
To read more, please visit
www.ssa.gov/cola. or contact Kristen Mathews at
kristenm@eiros-group.com
2024 Holiday Memories from Justin & Brandon
January Eiros Group
Anniversaries & Birthdays!
Happy Birthday to Joe R. and Hayley C.!
We also want to wish Happy Eiros Group Anniversaries to Jacquelin L., Kaylee B., Khadijah H.!

Thank you to all of you for being a part of our amazing group!!
We have a DSP who is available for Part Time hours in Ocean County: Mondays 10:00 AM-5:00 PM and Wednesdays 4:00 PM-9:00 PM. She enjoys cooking, traveling, being outdoors and bowling.
For more details and to schedule a meeting, contact Victoria Betrix Regional Coordinator of Direct Support for Northern New Jersey at 908 524 9748
ABLE Celebrates 10 Years of Empowering People with Disabilities to Save!
December 19th 2024, marked the 10th Anniversary of the Stephen Beck, Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE Act), which enabled States to establish tax-advantaged ABLE accounts that make it possible for people with disabilities and their families to save and invest money for disability-related expenses without losing federal benefits.
Funds in an ABLE account can be spent on many of the expenses that come with living with a disability, such as assistive technology, therapies, specialized equipment, transportation, job coaching, health care, education and more.
To learn more about the NJ ABLE Program, and to begin saving today,
visit their website here
Are you, or someone you know looking for either a way to bring more meaning to their career, or a to join a growing and dynamic group of caring professionals? Then you will want to visit our Work With Us page on our website! It is updated regularly, and because we are growing, we have a number of open open positions throughout New Jersey!. Want to learn more? Click here and apply today!
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A Big Thank You to Those Who Help Our Community
by Pam K., Eiros Group Customer & Desiree Coyle, Support Broker
Building connections and making new friends with neighbors and local community members is done with a simple hello or a thoughtful gift of baked goods. Pam’s kind gesture also led us to a connection with service dogs and possible opportunities for her to volunteer, both which Pam is interested in achieving in the new year. We are hopeful that both resources will benefit Pam and her 2025 goals.
Pam shares with us “Here is me delivering some baked goods to the fire department today with Desiree. They were so nice that I might someday want to volunteer there. The fire department also has a paramedic that is involved with service dogs, so they said to come by anytime to talk about the service dog. The firemen said that I could stop by anytime."
She goes on to say, "The firemen were so grateful of the baked goods that I dropped off. Thank you to Desiree for helping me with going to the fire department and I wanted to say thank you to the fire department for all that they do and whenever I am ready to get a service dog, they are more than welcome to help me out with this.”
Friday February 7th is A Night to Shine! Worldwide!
Friday February 7th! Join a Night to Shine!
Night to Shineis an unforgettable prom night experience for people with special needs. Night to Shine is a free event for people with special needs, hosted by local churches around the world. The event is open to anyone living with disabilities, ages 14 and older.
Members of our teams will be attending
Night to Shine events throughout New Jersey. Visit the Night to Shine website to register and for more information. Night to Shine is Worldwide on Friday, February 7, 2025.
Over the next several months, school districts throughout New Jersey will be conducting Transition Planning Meetings and Transition Fairs to assist graduating students in developing ISP's (Individualized Service Plans) as they move in to Adult services.
Starting next month, you will find Eiros Group attending numerous Transition Fairs throughout the state.
If there is a student you know who will be graduating this coming Spring, and they will need assistance with DDD Services, or if your school district is hosting a Transition Fair, please let us know!
We are here to help students begin to create the roadmap to making their hopes and dreams a reality. For questions, or more information, please contact Kristen Mathews at kristenm@eiros-group.com
Division of Developmental Disabilities: Transition from School to Adult Life Virtual Welcome Sessions
Division services are available to people 21 or older who meet all other eligibility requirements. The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) welcomes and encourages individuals and their families to attend one of their virtual Quarterly Transition Welcome Sessions, held the first and fourth Thursday of the month in October, January, April, and July. These sessions are an opportunity to learn more about what DDD has to offer and how to prepare for adult life. For more information, please see the links below for each flyer.
Next Session will be held on January 9, 2025, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Register for this session
The next Evening Welcome Session with Topic Breakouts will be Thursday January 23, 2025 from 6-7:30pm.
My Ceramic Christmas Tree
by Jean Marie Hanna, Support Broker
I always wanted a ceramic Christmas tree that resembled those I saw displayed in my neighbors and relative’s homes of my childhood. Ceramic trees were very popular, and were artfully decorated by my Mom, Aunt Mary and Grandmom.
About (2) years ago, I found a vendor at a flea market that was selling one, and it was just like those that I fondly remembered when I was a kid. The lovely little ceramic tree I found that day, now shines, with pride, in my home.
Each year I add different ornaments to my tree. Last year it was Poinsettias and this year it is Gingerbread people.
In the next three months, this tree will continue to be displayed on my table as I change the ornaments to reflect Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and the beautiful signs of Spring.
My ceramic tree brings a fun, warm feeling and fond memories of those family and friends who enjoyed the simplicity of a ceramic Christmas tree.
Peace and Love to All!
Each month, we receive stories and photos from Eiros Group Employees, the people we support and their families, about about Vacation or Holiday experiences, Family Memories or Traditions, Favorite Recipes and of course, stories about life with Disability. If you would like to submit an article or photos or both, for consideration in an upcoming edition, please send to: maryb@eiros-group.com We are grateful for all of the submissions to our newsletter!
Winter Weather, Emergencies & Being Prepared For It All
Winter in New Jersey is a time of unique beauty and unique risks. Most of the state's weather forecasters are expecting this winter to be a much more active one, and that we should be prepared!
If their predictions are even close, we could see several snow storms with decent accumulations, along with high winds, potential blizzard conditions, ice, and even possibly some power outages! SO, be prepared!
There are programs such as Register Ready NJ and the Special Needs Registry specific to your county, whose primary purposes are to ensure that 911 operators, first responders, and law enforcement officials anticipate the needs of individuals with disabilities in the event of an emergency, what needs they may specifically have (such as assisted technology or other devices, etc.), and also if there are any additional people that need to be contacted.
Sign up for the Register Ready NJ here.
Emergency managers and trusted personnel may also use the information to plan, send public messaging, assist with evacuation, and support sheltering and post-disaster recovery. To learn more about this program, you can also download the Register Ready brochure here.
After registering, contact your local Office of Emergency Management to learn how staff use Register Ready and what you can do to enhance your own preparedness.
One other resource you may want to check out, is the Public Alert System in your county, where you can receive important text messages, such as Storm Warnings, or other county specific advisories. Text “ReadyNJ” to 898-211.
To learn more about Winter Weather Hazards and How to Prepare for Winter Emergencies, visit the NJ Office of Emergency Management here. This link does a great job in explaining the unique winter weather threats that we could face, along with weather terms and most importantly, winter safety!
The most important part is to be alert, be prepared, and stay warm! Happy Winter everyone!
Dr. Martin Luther King was a tireless advocate for racial equality, the working classes, and those oppressed. In his prolific speech “I Have a Dream…” was a message to end racism and bring about social and economic rights. His speech also highlighted treating everyone with equality. Through his words, we feel his spirit of unconditional love, forgiveness and the need to approach our differences without violence.
Martin Luther King Day is designated as a day of service to encourage volunteerism and community involvement. We can all help pay forward Dr. King's values of courage, truth, compassion, dignity, and humility.
In Dr. Kings words, he believed that "everybody can be great because everybody can serve".
What will you do to volunteer in your community? To begin to learn more about
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., start here.
Upcoming events throughout NJ
Below are upcoming activities or events throughout New Jersey! If you are hosting a similar type of event, and would like it included in our newsletter, please send to maryb@Eiros-Group.com
*Please allow 2 weeks or more advance notice. Thanks!
NORTH:
Tuesday Morning Birds and Coffee
Every Tuesday through March 11: 9:30am-11am
January 11: 8pm-11pm
Muslim Heritage Month Festival
January 11: 11am-10pm
January 12: 10am-2pm
January 25 and 26: 10am-8pm
January 28: 6:30pm-7:30p
CENTRAL:
Livingston Advisory Committee for Disabilities Free Arts and Crafts Program:
5pm to 6pm
2025 Dates:
February 3
March 10
April 7
May 5
Monmouth Medical Center Project SEARCH Information Meeting
January 16: 7pm
January 19: 3pm-8pm
January 20: 10am-3pm
Monmouth Medical Center Project SEARCH information meeting
January 23: 7pm
January 25: 9am-2:30pm
January 26: 1pm-4p
SOUTH:
Wild World of Animals
January 11: 2pm
Soup and Wine
January 17: 5pm-7pm
2025 Polar Bear Plunge at Wildwood
January 18: 10am-2pm
WILD-CON
January 18:10am-5pm
MLK National Day of Service
January 20: 9am-12pm
South Jersey Muslim Heritage Month Festival
January 25: 2pm-7pm
Fire and Ice Festival
January 25: 10am-4pm
Winter Wonderland Jitney Tour
January 25: 1pm-7pm
WEBINAR/ZOOM:
Connecting YOU(th)
January 14: 5:30-6:30
Human Trafficking and Individuals with Disabilities
January 14: 10am- 11am
If you are hosting a similar type of event, and would like it included in our newsletter, please send to
maryb@Eiros-Group.com
*Please allow 2 weeks or more advance notice. Thanks! Please note, we are relaying information found on other websites or through other organizations, and doing so as a service. Please confirm event details and information directly.
JOIN US FOR OUR FREE LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES
12:00-1:00pm
January 8, 2025: Creating an Effective IEP and What to do When Things Go Wrong, Presented by Judith Weinstock, Esq. To RSVP
CLICK HERE
February 12, 2025: Orton-Gillingham and the Dyslexia Puzzle, Presented by Alexis Greenberg, Esq. To RSVP
CLICK HERE
For past Parles Rekem webinars
CLICK HERE.
Good news delivered!
