1. SSA Part II: SSA Work Incentives to Consider During Transition Planning Ellen Condon Project Director University of MT Rural Institute Marc Gold and Associates July 21, 2011

2. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 2 Work Incentives that maybe applicable to youth in Transition Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) Section 301 PASS Plans IRWE (Impairment Related Work Expense) BWE (Blind Work Expense) Ticket to Work

3. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 3 Supplemental Security Income (SSI)  Financial benefit available to people with low income levels and little or no resources, who have a disability, or a child with a disability, or are age 65 or older.  Usually comes with Medicaid.  The amount of the financial benefit fluctuates with an individual’s income & living situation.  Maximum amount/month $674 in 2011.

4. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 4 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Under 18, child has a disability, And parents and the student meet income qualifications (earned only):  1 parent household, gross income <$2,821/month,  2 parent household, gross income <$3,495/month (2011). And resource limits  Individual (less than $2000 in liquid assets)  Couple (less than $3000 in liquid assets)

5. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 5 Impact of Income on SSI Earned income Disregard $65, Then disregard $20 (If no unearned income) Half of this amount is countable earned income Unearned Income Disregard $20 The remainder is considered countable unearned income.

6. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 6 Example of impact of income on SSI check (non student) Earned income $485/month Subtract $65 + $20= $400 ½ of $400 = $200 (countable earned income) $674-$200= $474/month SSI check

7. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 7 Student Earned Income Exclusion For full time students:  Up to age 22,  Attends classes at least 8 hours/week (college)  Or high school 12 hours/week  Or work prep. program course 12 hours/week Can earn up to $6,600/year or $1,640/month prior to wages impacting SSI check (2011). *make sure that SSA knows of the “student” status when you submit paystubs monthly.

8. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 8 Section 301 Continued payment of Benefits while you are under Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) or other employment service (ticket to work), or another service with an employment plan in plan (an IEP for students 18-21) Your benefit (SSI and Medicaid) may continue until participation in the program ends even if you have “recovered” SSI eligibility of Youth who receive SSI is re-determined upon turning age 18.

9. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 9 PASS Plans Plan for achieving self support. Kids and adults are eligible. The plan will fund goods or services that will allow a person to become more self- sufficient.

10. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 10 PASS Plans A Work incentive program developed by SSA to encourage SSI recipients to work. Excludes resources and/or income from being counted by SSA and allows the resources to be ‘set aside’ to be used to fund a vocational goal. Must be approved by SSA.

11. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 11 PASS Plans can fund: Equipment, Services such as Job Development, Job coaching, Personal Care, Transportation, Writing of the PASS School, Vehicles, Anything needed to support a person to become employed, or advance their employment. (PASS Plans can not fund managing the PASS)

12. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 12 Students who are eligible for PASS Must be eligible for SSI and have income that reduces their SSI check or a resource that is over $2000. Most students will not have wages that reduce their SSI check (until they are no longer a student i.e. the day after graduation) There are students who will have unearned income that reduces their SSI check.

13. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 13 Income that might reduce a student’s SSI UNEARNED Parent’s retirement benefits, Parent’s disability benefits, Survivor’s benefits, An adoption subsidy Child support EARNED Student wages over $6,600/year Parent wages if under age 18

14. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 14 State Medicaid Threshold 1619 (b) Each state has a maximum earnings threshold which SSI recipients can reach before jeopardizing their Medicaid. (and an Individual Medicaid Threshold can also be established)

15. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 15 State Medicaid Threshold 2011 (amount you can earn before losing Medicaid) Florida $28,753 Mississippi $25,922 Georgia $27,509 North Carolina $33,568 South Carolina $28,141 Tennessee $26,645 Kentucky $27,345 Alabama $24,438 gross earnings/year

16. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 16 How do you Identify that a student is eligible for a PASS? Are they under 18? or are they an adult? Receiving SSI?  If yes, is it less than $674/month?  If yes, what is the income that is being counted? If not receiving SSI, why not?  Turned down due to too much income?  If yes, could that income be sheltered in a PASS?  Turned down due to excess resources?

17. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 17 Identifying Eligible Students Be aware of changes in a student’s life which could make them eligible for a PASS  Parent dies,  Parent retires,  Parent begins drawing disability insurance,  Parent income increases (<18),  Student countable income increases (when they graduate and no longer are under SEIE).  They accumulate resources over $2000.

18. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 18 Resources that could make you ineligible for SSI House or property that person applying (or parents of person applying) that they do not live in, Life insurance policy depending on cash value, Retirement plans depending on cash value, Unsheltered inheritance.

19. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 19 PASS Plans Promote consumer and family choice and control, Can bridge the gap between school and adult services  A PASS can transition with the student, and they  Can be used to leverage other funds, Are flexible in what they purchase and whom they purchase it from.

20. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 20 PASS Plans (part 2) Vocational Goal, Time frame within steps of the goal will be achieved, Logical progression? Budget, adequate to achieve the goal? Reasonable? A plan to reach the goal, Contract with SSA to shelter or not count the income which is going into the PASS. TIME LIMITED

21. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 21 PASS Plans (part 3) Must be in writing, Approved by the PASS Cadre The goal is to become more self supporting or reduce the reliance on SSA benefits.

22. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 22 Budget After excluding the money in the PASS does the person have enough to cover their living expenses? The amount of your PASS depends on how much you have to shelter. You typically shelter your countable income or the resource that makes you ineligible for SSI.

23. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 23 Vocational Goal A work goal that the person can likely reach (feasible considering disability, education and vocational experience) It helps to justify how you targeted the goal “To increase hours and independence at current job”; “to obtain a position working in an office”; “to become a school teacher”, “to determine a vocational goal”…

24. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 24 Vocational Goal (cont.) What you are buying is NOT the goal (attending college or buying a vehicle are not goals- they may be a means of achieving the goal).

25. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 25 Other tips… Your milestones and time frames are adequate to meet the goal, You have adequate income or resources to pay for budgeted services or items. Be specific about what you will purchase, from whom, why it is necessary and the cost. Include a cover letter.

26. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 26 More tips… If your plan to save or spend, or what you will buy changes, contact the Cadre and discuss an ‘amendment’. If you do not reach your goal in the intended time frame, contact the Cadre and ask for an ‘extension’. If your Vocational Goal changes you will need to write and submit a new plan.

27. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 27 We match people’s skills with your needs. Rod’s PASS paid for computer tutoring, Job Development and Job coaching.

28. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 28 Lance started his own business, L&C Deliveries, while still in school.

29. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 29 He and his brother combined their PASS plans which paid for this van and allowed them to start a delivery business.

30. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 30 At age 16 Anne was receiving the full amount of SSI. Within a Year, she began getting survivor’s benefits which reduced her SSI

31. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 31 Anne’s PASS plan Goal: Logistics Coordinator position SSDI $310/month (less <$20 into PASS) Funded:  Transportation  Job Development  Job Coaching $9,610

32. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 32 Anne graduated June 1, 2002 She was hired by Awesome Discoveries Day Care. 20 hours week, earning $480/month, SSDI $310/month, Her PASS was amended to shelter wages and SSDI for $497.50/month. She purchased a van, paid for follow-along support and a driver.

33. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 33 Maclaen graduated from Polson High school in 2002. Our goal was for him to have a paid job by graduation.

34. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 34 Impact of wages on SSI SSA allows $85 for earned income exclusion prior to reducing the financial benefit. The SSI check is reduced by $1 for every $2 earned over the first $85 for adults.

35. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 35 Maclaen After graduation Maclaen began earning $400/month. His SSI check would have been reduced by $157- $207/mo. without a PASS. A PASS has been written to shelter his countable earned income. He then received the FBR of SSI, plus wages not sheltered, and had up to $200/month in a PASS.

36. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 36 Vocational Goal “Obtain a position in the desk top publishing field” Second Goal “Obtain a position in the literacy field”

37. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 37 Assisting Customers

38. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 38 Casey needs extended coaching time

39. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 39 South East PASS Cadre Birmingham, AL (800-254-9489) Alabama Florida Georgia Kentucky Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee

40. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 40 Resources: PASSPlan.org http://www.PASSPlan.org PASSPlan.org University of Montana Rural Institute Transition and Employment http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu/transition University of Montana Rural Institute Transition and Employment  Social Security (Fact Sheets)  Products (Monographs): Keep the Bucks, PASS the Bucks, Manage the Bucks  (Newsletters)

41. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 41 Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE) Out of Pocket expense  That is related to your disability  And is necessary to work An IRWE allows you to reduce your countable earned income by allowing you to deduct 50% of the cost of the expense from your countable earnings. No time limit. Submit receipts with paystubs to SSA.

42. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 42 Impairment Related Work Expense (cont.) Not a vehicle for saving/sheltering (like the PASS) IRWEs reduce the impact of your wages on your SSI and give you a strategy to fund some of your expenses that you incur to go to work. Wages$485-$85=$400 IRWE ($200)= $200 ½ ($200) =$100 (countable earned income) $674-100= $574 SSI check

43. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 43 Blind Work Expense (BWE) For people who receive benefits due to blindness. Any work related expense is allowed (not only impairment related)  Guide dogs  Transportation  Personal assistance  Lunch  Fica

44. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 44 BWE Calculations Same as PASS Gross wages – general exclusion (-$20) Less work exclusion (-$65) Divide by 2, Less BWE

45. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 45 Incorporating Work Incentives into Transition Services How do we get PASS eligible student’s identified? Who will benefit from students having access to PASS plans?  V.R.  Family/Student  D.D. Services  Employers

46. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 46 Incorporation Work Incentives into Transition Planning Who can assist families apply for SSI? When are students receiving SSA benefits analyses? Who will write the PASS plans? Who will pay for PASS plans to be written? Who will manage approved plans?

47. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 47 More Resources Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program (WIPA) by State: Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program (WIPA) by State: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/oesp/providers.nsf/bystate Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) http://www.socialsecurity.gov/work/PandA.html Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) “cadres” Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) “cadres” http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/passc adre.htm

48. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 48 Comments & Questions

49. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 49 Contact Information Ellen Condon Rural Institute On Disabilities Marc Gold and Associates EmailEmail: condon@ruralinstitute.umt.edu WebsiteWebsite: http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu/transition

50. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 50 THANK YOU!

51. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 51 Upcoming Transition Webinars Webinars Series: Social Security Administration and Transition August 24 Community Employment for EveryoneCommunity Employment for Everyone

52. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 52 TACE Talks Transition (TTT) Monthly concise information on best practices to transition counselors available for their own pace learning; – sign-up and start your subscription via the Transition Email-List http://tacesoutheast.org/network/transition/em ail_list.php Transition Email-List

53. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 53 Southeast TACE (Region IV) Toll-free: (866) 518-7750 [voice/tty] Fax: (404) 541-9002 WebWeb: TACEsoutheast.org My TACE PortalMy TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportal EmailEmail: tacesoutheast@law.syr.edu

54. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 54 Education Credits CRCC Credit - (2.0) Approved by Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) By Monday, August 1, 2011, participants must score 80% or better on a online Post Test and submit an online CRCC Request Form via the MyTACE Portal. CEU Credit - (0.2) Approved by the University College at Syracuse University By Monday, August 1, 2011, participants must download and submit an online CEU Request Form via the MyTACE Portal. My TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportalTACEsoutheast.org/myportal **For CRCC credit, you must reside in the 8 U.S. Southeast states served by the TACE Region IV [AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN]. If beyond TACE Region IV, you may apply for CEU credit.

55. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 55 Disclaimer This presentation was developed by the Southeast TACE Center: Region IV ©2011 with funds from the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) under the priority of Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Projects (TACE) – Grant #H264A080021. However, the contents of this presentation do not necessarily represent the policy of the RSA and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government [34 CFR 75.620 (b)].

56. TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A080021. © 2011 All Rights Reserved 56 Copyright Information This work is the property of the Southeast TACE Region IV Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the authors. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the authors.