Open Enrollment for Dental & Vision Insurance is here! To: Full-Time Benefit Eligible Employees From: Katie McGill, Benefits SupervisorDate: 10/5/26Re: Important Dental and Vision Open Enrollment – Self-Hired Support Staff Important!!!!!!! Open Enrollment for our Dental and Vision Plan is here. If you are a full-time Self-Hired Support Staff and work at least 30 hours regularly per week, […]
Category: People Services
Your Future Housing Plan Survey
Response Requested by August 14, 2026 The New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation (New York Alliance), supported by funding from the New York State Council on Developmental Disabilities, wants to learn more about housing for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) in New York State. We are creating new housing resources and looking […]
2026 IRS Mileage Rate Increase
The IRS has increased the standard business mileage rate to 76 cents per mile, effective July 1, 2026. If you wish to reimburse your Self-Hired Staff at a rate lower than the IRS standard mileage rate, please contact your Self-Direction Coordinator and let them know the mileage rate you would like to authorize. Any requested […]
Updated FAPTO Policy, 06/25/26
Dear Stakeholders, We are pleased to announce that, effective immediately, the amount of Family Approved Paid Time Off available for 2026 has been increased from 30 hours to 40 hours. As is our customary practice, we will review the FAPTO allocation again in December and will communicate the number of FAPTO hours available for the 2027 […]
FAPTO Policy for 2026
Dear Participants, Families and Stakeholders! As we step into the new year, we would like to share our FAPTO policy for 2026. You may click on the link below. Wishing you all a bright and successful year ahead, filled with new opportunities and amazing achievements. We look forward to achieving our goals together and making […]
Important Information regarding Self-Hired Support Staff Mileage and Activity Fee Reimbursements
Effective December 1, 2025, all mileage and activity fee reimbursements for Self-Hired Support Staff must be submitted through eTime. We will no longer accept reimbursement requests through our accounts payable process. You can find instructions for submitting mileage and activity fee reimbursements through eTime on our help website at the following link: https://help.issny.org/books/etime/chapter/etime-mileage-and-expenses We will […]
Contract to Direct Bill and Contract to Direct Invoice Updates
Dear Stakeholders, To streamline communications and reduce the frequency of class, membership, and service confirmation emails and calls, we’ve updated the Contract to Direct Bill and Contract to Direct Invoice process. Below is an outline of the updated procedure: Service or Item Request: When a participant expresses interest in signing up for a class, membership, […]
2025 Support Staff Holiday and FAPTO
2025 Holiday Schedule Family Approved Paid Time Off (FAPTO) Effective 1/1/25 Policy: Staff working for Participants accrue Paid Time Off bi-weekly per the agency’s Paid Time Off Policy. Paid Time Off is budgeted in the Participant’s Self-Directed Plan through the fringe rate. However, Independent Support Services, Inc. recognizes that there are times when Participants want […]
Important Information from People Services
Good morning, In October of this year, we had an OPWDD full agency audit. While overall we did well, the state communicated that we must make changes to our hiring process and the DSP evaluation. These changes are required per regulations. As of this month, we have begun making these changes. The changes are as […]