Social Security Work Incentive Planning and Assistance for Youth in Transition

2 Issues Affecting Transition-Age Youth Parent to Child Deeming Age 18 Re-determination Legal Adulthood Student Earned Income Exclusion Childhood Disability Benefits

3 Why Benefits Planning Information is important for Youth Cash benefits and associated medical insurance are valuable resources as students transition to adult life Work incentives are designed to increase employment and earnings capacity over time Early intervention and education about benefits and work incentives helps prevent future problems Failure to educate on benefits is a “missed opportunity” and can cause harm

4 First Step – Know Which Benefits You Get! SSA disability benefits are paid through two basic programs –SSI – Supplemental Security Income –SSDI – Social Security Disability Insurance often referred to simply as “disability” These two programs are completely different and treat earned income very differently Some students get BOTH types of benefits Some students get NEITHER benefit

5 Comparison of SSI and SSDI Benefits SSI: Needs based program funded by federal tax dollars, not SSA trust fund Limits on earned income, unearned income & resources Comes with Medicaid SSDI: Entitlement program based upon insured status funded by SSA trust fund No limits on unearned income or resources – just earned income Comes with Medicare

6 Parent-to-Child Deeming When SSA determines the eligibility and amount of payment for an SSI recipient, the income and resources of people responsible for the recipient’s welfare are also considered. This concept is called “deeming.” It is based upon the idea that those who have a responsibility for one another share their income and resources. It does not matter whether money is actually provided to an individual in order for deeming to apply.

7 Age 18 Redetermination Will occur at some point after the 18 th birthday. Must meet the Adult Disability Standard of disability. 37% of all young adults fail to meet the Adult Disability Standards. Will result in loss of SSI cash payment and associated Medicaid if found ineligible. Eligibility for Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB) may begin at age 18 but must be applied for.

8 Legal Adulthood Legal Adulthood and Representative Payee –Representative payee is someone who receives and manages Social Security or SSI benefits on behalf of another person. –Have authority only over the distribution of the individual’s benefit check. This is a status assigned by the SSA solely for the purpose of managing the beneficiary’s benefits. –Payees are not legal guardians and are not authorized to be representative in any other area than Social Security or SSI payments.

9 Childhood Disability Benefits (sometimes called Disabled Adult Child benefits) To receive CDB, individuals must be at least age 18, disabled per SSA’s definition prior to age 22, be the child of an insured worker who is deceased, receiving SSA retirement or disability, and unmarried (with some exceptions.) No waiting period for payments, but 24 month Medicare Qualifying period does apply.

10 New Section 301 Rules Students who do not meet the adult disability standard at the Age 18 Re- determination may be able to retain benefits while they complete their education program by using the Section 301 provision.  To qualify: You must be participating in an approved vocational, educational, or employment services plan or PASS ( Plan For Achieving Self-Support) before your disability ended under SSA rules; and SSA must review the situation and agree that your continued participation in the program would increase the likelihood of you being permanently removed from the disability benefit rolls

11 Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) Just for Students  For students who are under the age of 22 and regularly attending school, college, or training to prepare for a paying job.  When determining the amount of the monthly SSI check, SSA may exclude the following amount of student earned income; this may result in an increase in the monthly SSI check: $1,780 of earned income per month in Up to $7,180 of earned income per year in  These amounts are adjusted each year based upon cost-of-living increases.

SEIE – Eligibility Requirements Regularly attending high school: -age 14 through completion - In a college or university - Participating in a training course - If unable to attend school, having a home visitor or tutor who directs the study - Studying a course given by a secondary school, college, university, or government agency

More on SEIE As long as the child attends school for at least one day within the calendar quarter, and intends to continue attending school, student status will be applied for all months within the quarter The Social Security Administration verifies student status during the annual re-determination process.

More on SEIE SEIE is NOT automatic Report wages to local SSA office

15 How Student Earned Income Exclusion Works Gross Earned Income $950 Student Earned Income Exclusion (-) $950 Remainder 0 Total Countable Earned Income 0 SSI Federal Benefit Rate $733 Gross Earned Income $733 Total Financial Outcome $1,683

16 Are you eligible for SSI? Can you use money from your SSDI check or paycheck to pay for things that can help you become self-supporting? job training a place to live a car a computer Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)

17  PASS allows you to put money aside towards an occupational goal.  Money put aside in your PASS will not be counted as income when SSA determines the amount of your SSI check.  A PASS can increase the amount of your SSI check.  If you are not currently receiving SSI, a PASS can sometimes make you eligible to receive SSI.  PASS Cadre are special people at SSA who can assist you with developing a PASS  PASS Cadre can be reached at , option 2.  PASS must be in writing and approved in advance by SSA. PASS (continued)

18 When to Refer Facilitate benefits counseling with a Benefits Planning Query (BPQY-SSA Form 2459) from SSA. Contact your local SSA office to obtain the BPQY. Call the WIPA Help Line (V) or (TTY) if general or basic information is needed.

Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (800) (800) benefitsnavigator.org

To learn more about WIPA programs in Georgia and Social Security work incentives: GVRA WIPA program : 844-For-WIPA ( ) or Shepherd Center WIPA program : or benefitsnavigator.org