People Who receive SSA Benefits Can Work
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Transcript of People Who receive SSA Benefits Can Work
People Who receive SSA Benefits
Can Work
Presented by:
Teri Chang, CWICWhittier Union High School District
Sheri Hightower, CWICCapistrano Unified School District
Failure to focus on Social Security benefits during transition is just not a missed opportunity, but may also cause harm when students and family members are not educated about or prepared for the effect of earnings on cash benefits and medical insurance*
*National Council on Disability October 28, 2008
Social Security Programs
Social Security Administers Two Major Disability Programs
1. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Title II
•Survivors Benefits (CDB)2. Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) Title XVI
Supplemental Security Income
SSI
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is Critical SSA Disability Criteria
Social Security’s definition of a DISABILITY is the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) because of a physical or mental impairment
SGA is the earnings amount that Social Security uses as a guideline to determine if a person is DISABLED under the law
2010 SGA amounts are Non-blind - $1000 per month Blind - $1640 per month
Who is SSI (Title XVI) For? Provides monthly benefits for
people with limited income and used for basic living expenses:
Rent Utilities Food
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Eligibility Criteria
Needs Based (limited income) Resource Limit $2000 (minimal savings) SSA defined Disability Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limits Any age to apply US citizen or meet special requirements for
non-citizens (e.g. seeking asylum) Resource Deeming (size of benefit depends
on parents’ income for kids under 18 years of age)
Eligibility Considerations for Youth
Under 18 Parent’s income (Parental Deeming) affects SSI eligibility and benefits Age 18 Re- consideration if you are already
receiving SSI benefits Apply for benefits if you are receiving
Survivors Benefits and have a disability that occurred before age 22
18 and Over
Parent’s income doesn’t affect SSI eligibility and benefitsQualify with the adult criteria (on
their own)Consider living situation - In Kind
Support ** After you qualify
How to Apply for SSI BenefitsForm # SSA-3368-BK
Social Security Card Birth Certificate Places you’ve worked Pay stubs or tax returns Records from Doctors
Names of schools and addresses Any medical test results Bank accounts Savings accounts TANF, HUD, food stamps
Call or make an appointment with Social Security’s
Claims Representatives at 1-800-772-1213
also on-line at www.ssa.gov (I recommend the on-line method)
Provide the following information:
Next…..
Wait until SSA calls you for an appointment. (about a week)
If they do not call you ….call them to make an appointment
Take all your papers with you to your appointment
Remember the applicant must go to the office!
In Kind Support and Maintenance *
Fair Share Household Expenses: Food Rent or Mortgage Property Insurance Property Taxes Utilities Garbage Removal
Section 301
If SSA find that the beneficiary is no longer disabled due to medical improvement, benefit payments usually stop.
If the beneficiary is enrolled in one of the following programs
DOR Ticket to Work Special Education A Social Security PASS Program benefits may continue until participation in the plan ends.
* Page 27 in SSA Redbook
Section 301 can continue until:
You complete the program You no longer participate in the
program or If SSA decides your continued
participation in the program will NOT increase the likelihood of removal from the disability benefit rolls.
Fears About SSI (Title XVI) and Working
People with a disability think they will lose their benefits if they work
People think they will lose medical benefits if they work
SSI is too complicated to deal with If you lose SSI benefits because of work you can’t get
them back
Our Message - A person receiving SSI while working will always increase their net income
SSI Work Incentives
Work Incentives
Student Earned Income Exclusion
(SEIE)
Impairment Related work Expense
(IRWE)
Plan to Achieve Self Sufficiency
(PASS)
Blind Work Expenses(BWE)
Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)
Student Earned Income Exclusion allows students up to age 22 who are regularly attending school to earn $1640 per month without affecting their benefit ,up to a limit of $6,600 annually.
A person is considered regularly attending school if they attend classes: College for at least 8 hours a week Grades 7-12 at least 12 hours a week Training course to prepare for employment
12 hours a week,15 hours a week if the course involves shop practice.
SEIE - Student Earned Income Exclusion
To apply for the SEIE:Send letter on school letterhead to SSA: Name of student, Social Security number, Date of check and The amount of time that you are in school.
Including dates that you started school and if you are attending summer school.
Must be done every year ( up to age 22)
SEIE Letter take the letter to SSA office.
1. Be sure that SSA date stamps the letter
2. and ask for a stamped copy to
3. keep the copy for your files.* Notify SSA when you stop working or
you are NO longer eligible for the SEIE exclusion to avoid an over payment.
Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE)
An IRWE is the cost of services or products that are essential for work and are disability related
These costs reduce earned income resulting in a larger SSI benefit
Conditions You paid the cost and are not reimbursed
by any other agency The cost is reasonable You paid for the expense in a month that
you are working
Impairment Related Work Expenses
Carwash- Robin controls
the on-off switch for the water hose with a foot pump
Plan for Achieving Self Sufficiency (PASS)
A plan to achieve self sufficiency that allows you to set aside income and/or resources for a specified time for a work goal.
It must be Designed especially for you in writing (SSA-545-BK) Have a specific work goal that you are capable of performing Have a specific timeframe Show what money you will use to reach your goal Show how you will keep your money identifiable from other
funds Be approved by SSA Be reviewed by SSA periodically to assure your plan is
helping you achieve progress You have to pay the money back to SSA if you do not finish the
PASS as planned.
Fears About SSI and Working
People with a disability think they will lose benefits if they work
People think their children will lose medical benefits if they work
SSI is too complicated to deal with If you lose SSI benefits because of work you
can’t get them back
Our Message - A person receiving SSI while working will always increase their net income
Reporting Responsibilities
You must report your wages MONTHLY by the 10th of the next month.
Be sure to include: 1. name and2. complete Social Security number3. Work incentive used (SEIE)
Break Even Point The Break Even Point is the
amount of money you need to earn before your CASH benefit ends.
Example: Benefit amount $845 Multiply by 2 x 2 =$1690 Add $ 85 + 85 = $1775 Equals Break Even Point = $1775
Fears About SSI and Working People with a disability think they will lose
benefits if they work People think they will lose medical
benefits if they work SSI is too complicated to deal with If you lose SSI benefits because of work you
can’t get them back
Our Message - A person receiving SSI while working will always increase their net income
Medi-Cal – 1619B You need to meet all the eligibility rules MediCal coverage can continue if your
earnings alone or in combination with your other income becomes too high for an SSI cash payment until you reach the state threshold amount of $34,324. ($37,252 for beneficiaries who are blind.) 2010 amount
still be disabled need MediCal to work
Fears About SSI and Children
• People with a disability think they will lose benefits if they work
• People think they will lose medical benefits if they work
• SSI is too complicated to deal with• If you lose SSI benefits because of work
you can’t get them back
Our Message - A person receiving SSI while working will always increase their net income
Easy Back On SSI Reinstatement
For one (1) year if earnings go below break even point, benefits will be reinstated without a new application
5 Year Easy Back-On (EXR)For five (5) years after claim is
terminated due to work, if they re-apply, he/she will receive 6 months of benefits while SSA reviews his/her application.
Rule #1 Always keep copies of all your interactions with The Social Security Office!
Social Security
Social Security
Contact Log
Person you Contacted
Date of Contact
Outcome Follow-up
Rule #2
Keep all interactions with SSA in a folder or file box!
With copies of wages and all correspondence from SSA!
How to Avoid Overpayments
Report wages/income and resources monthly
Report any changes in living situation or employment status
Keep good records and keep copies of everything you give to SSA
Be prepared for periodic reviews
Arnold the Pizza Man
Available Resources Social Security Contacts
www.ssa.govwww.disabilitybenefits101.orghttp://best.ssa.gov
Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool1 (800) 772-1213TTY 1 (800) 325-0078Visit your SSA Work Incentive LiaisonSSA Red Book