People Who receive SSA Benefits Can Work Presented by: Teri Chang, CWIC Whittier Union High School District Sheri Hightower, CWIC Capistrano Unified School.

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