The Importance of WIPA Services in Transition Planning This document is funded through a Social Security cooperative agreement. Although Social Security reviewed this document for accuracy, it does not constitute an official Social Security communication. This document was published at U.S. taxpayer expense.

Learning Objectives Define WIPA Investigate the origin and purpose of WIPA services Identify the different Social Security disability benefits transition-aged students receive Investigate current myths surrounding employment and Social Security benefits (i.e. that students who receive Supplemental Security Income cannot work) Analyze the current research supporting employment for transition aged students Learn the various work incentives associated with each benefit and implications for transition planning

What is WIPA? Work Incentives Planning and Assistance for Social Security disability beneficiaries WIPA projects provide assistance in the following areas: Individualized benefits verification & analysis Accessing work incentives Resolving benefits issues Exploring employment options Identifying local service providers Accessing community resources Follow-up services WIPA projects also conduct outreach to underserved populations (transition- aged youth, veterans, Native Americans, and other ethnic, disability, socioeconomically disadvantaged or minority populations)

Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Designed by Social Security as one solution to a serious and growing problem Associated with the Ticket to Work program to help Social Security disability beneficiaries engage in employment and reduce or eliminate the need for benefits Reduce overpayments WIPA is all about work!

Current problems Link between disability & poverty

relationship between poverty and disability in the U.S. Poverty rate of working age people with disabilities in 2013 was 28.4% (compared to 12.4% for those without disabilities) Poverty rate for people with disabilities in 2015 was 28.5% Almost half experiencing income poverty for at least 12 months had one or more disabilities Almost 2/3 experiencing consistent income poverty (36 months of 48 months) have one or more disabilities - WIPA & Community Partner Work Incentives Counseling National Training Curriculum, 2016 Edition

relationship between poverty and disability in the U.S. Other hardships people with disabilities face (including families caring for a child with disabilities): Food insecurity Inability to pay mortgage, rent, and utilities Inability to get needed medical care More than half are “unbanked”- no access to checking, savings, credit, or other financial opportunities - WIPA & Community Partner Work Incentives Counseling National Training Curriculum, 2016 Edition

Beneficiaries of social security disability programs More than 70% of individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and 30% of individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) live below the federal poverty level Federal poverty guidelines for 2017: $12,060/year or $1,005/month for one individual $16,240/year or $1,353.33 for family of two $20,420 or $1,701.67/month for family of three In 2015, the average SSI benefit was $541/month- 55% of federal poverty level for family of one. The 2017 maximum federal SSI amount for one individual is $735/month (less than 75% of federal poverty level for one individual) In 2014, the average SSDI benefit was $1,031/month- 105% of federal poverty level for family of one WIPA & Community Partner Work Incentives Counseling National Training Curriculum, 2016 Edition

Primary Reason for not engaging in employment Some causes of economic hardship among Social Security disability beneficiaries: Low rates of employment Fewer hours when working Lower wages when working Fear of losing healthcare benefits

Other problems poor employment rates Growing number on SSI & SSDI rolls In 2011, only 13% of Social Security disability beneficiaries worked during the previous year In 2011, beneficiaries who worked while still receiving benefits averaged 22hrs/wk and earned averages wages of $6.38/hr and $637/month (significantly below federal poverty guidelines) Steady growth pattern since the General Accountability Office (GAO) began studying it in 1994 People are staying on the rolls longer (between 1985 and 1992 there was a 93% increase in beneficiaries on rolls for more than 15 years) Termination rates are declining: Younger average age of beneficiaries the last 10-15 years Decline in medical CDRs Terminations from employment almost non- existent (in 2003, 1 in 500 SSDI beneficiaries left rolls by returning to work)

solutions Wipa services & ticket to work program

Purpose of wipa services Primary Objectives: Promote employment outcomes for Social Security disability beneficiaries Increase financial stability and independence

the goal of WIPA services as outlined by Social security Increase number of Social Security disability beneficiaries who engage in paid employment or self-employment Support beneficiaries in successfully maintaining employment over time Provide accurate and timely work incentives planning and assistance services that enable beneficiaries to increase their earnings capacity over time and maximize the financial benefit of working Reduce dependence on disability benefits and other income support programs Increase financial independence and stability of beneficiaries through self-sustaining employment, asset development, and improved management of fiscal resources - WIPA & Community Partner Work Incentives Counseling National Training Curriculum, 2016 Edition

The employment continuum WIPA services are individualized and support beneficiaries in 4 stages of employment Services are ongoing and based on collaborative partnerships Contemplative Stage Preparatory Stage Job Search Stage Employment Stage

Cwics: the heart of WIPA services Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs) are certified specialists trained by Virginia Commonwealth University in partnership with the Social Security Administration CWICs attend an intensive, week long initial training, and complete ongoing assessments and annual Continuing Certification Credits to maintain certification CWICs provide the bulk of WIPA services: Give specific, individualized information to Social Security disability beneficiaries Complete individualized written reports called Benefits Summary and Analyses (BS&As) Conduct outreach Attend IEP meetings for transition aged youth who receive disability benefits Collaborate with other agencies

Kelli Freeman,CWIC OWIPA University of Oklahoma CWICs are passionate about what they do! Kelli Freeman,CWIC OWIPA University of Oklahoma “All too often people with disabilities are told what is best for them and what they can and cannot do. I enjoy being a CWIC because I get to empower beneficiaries to make their own decisions, by providing them with individualized information that is relevant to their specific situation and goals.”  

Social Security disability programs SSDI

SSDI Social Security Disability insurance In order to qualify for SSDI, individuals: Must be determined medically disabled by Social Security standards Are not working or working less than Substantial Gainful Activity- SGA- ($1,170/month in 2017) Have paid into Social Security system (or be disabled and eligible on a parent’s record- see slide 20) No resource limit associated with SSDI Amount of monthly cash benefit is based upon prior earnings

SSI Supplemental Security income In order to qualify for SSI, individuals: Must be determined medically disabled by Social Security standards Have a lack of sufficient work history Have limited resources & income: Resource guidelines: $2,000 single/$3,000 couple Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) for 2017 $735/month single person who pays all shelter & food $489/month VTR (value of 1/3 reduction) $1,103/month couple rate

disability Benefits transition-aged youth may receive SSI Cdb / ssdi If under age 18, child must be medically disabled by SSA’s standards, and both child’s and family’s income and resources must be below certain limits Once child is 18, income of parents is no longer considered but child must meet medical requirements for adults with disabilities (SSI Age 18 Redetermination) SSI benefit amount may differ depending on person’s living arrangement In most states, SSI beneficiaries receive Medicaid automatically. Oklahoma beneficiaries must apply for Medicaid If child is born disabled or becomes disabled before age 22, and has a parent who is deceased, disabled, or retired, he or she may receive Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB) based on work record of parent Must be age 18 or older to receive CDB If student has worked, he/she may receive SSDI benefits based on his/her own work history and earnings. After 2 years of entitlement to SSDI, they become eligible for Medicare

What happens when disability beneficiaries go to work? Social security Work incentives

Work incentives overview: ssdi / cdb Trial Work Period (TWP): beneficiaries receive 9 months to “get their feet wet” with no impact on benefits. 2017 TWP amount is $840/month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE): 36 months after TWP Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA): 2017 SGA level is $1,170/month Blind Substantial Gainful Activity: 2017 level is $1,950/month Extended Period of Medicare Coverage (EPMC): beneficiaries maintain Medicare eligibility for up to 93 months from end of TWP; Medicare buy-in options if EPMC ends Expedited Reinstatement (EXR): beneficiaries have up to 5 years from date of termination to apply for EXR; receive payments while SSA makes a determination Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE): out-of-pocket expenses can reduce countable earnings if cleared by SSA Subsidy and Special Conditions: support provided by employer, or on the job assistance (VR or job coach) that may result in your receiving more pay than the actual value of the services you perform

Work incentives overview: ssi IRWE or Blind Work Expenses (BWE): Must be cleared through SSA. Lowers countable income and increases cash payment. BWE rules are less stringent than IRWE Income Exclusions: General Income Exclusion ($20) & Earned Income Exclusion ($65) Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS): Allows beneficiaries to set aside income besides SSI and/or resources for a specified period of time so that they may pursue a work goal that will reduce or eliminate the SSI or SSDI benefits they currently receive. SSA does not count income set aside under a PASS when they figure SSI payment amount Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE): SSI recipients under age 22 and regularly attending school may qualify. SSA does not count up to $1,790 of earned income per month when they figure SSI payment amount- maximum yearly exclusion is $7,200. These amounts are for the year 2017; SSA usually adjusts these figures each year based on the cost-of-living 1619(b) Extended Medicaid Coverage: Protects Medicaid and SSI eligibility when earnings cause SSI checks to stop (2017 break even point for SSI is $1,555/month). The 2017 yearly threshold in Oklahoma for 1619(b) is $30,310

SSI income exclusions General Income Exclusion - $20 Earned Income Exclusion - $65 IRWE costs are excluded Divide in half

Ticket to work program Free and voluntary service for beneficiaries who want to work and participate in planning their employment Increases available choices when obtaining employment services, vocational rehabilitation (VR) services, and other support services you may need to get or keep a job Beneficiaries might not be subject to a continuing disability review (CDR) while they are using their Ticket and making adequate and timely progress toward employment goals Employment Networks (ENs) are private organizations or government agencies that have agreed to work with Social Security to provide employment services to beneficiaries with disabilities. Where do I get more information? 1-866-968-7842 (Voice) 1-866-833-2967 (TTY) For a list of approved ENs, visit www.chooseworkttw.net/findhelp

SPOTLIGHT ON Student earned income exclusion SEIE is an important work incentive for SSI beneficiaries under 22, working, and regularly attending school What does “regularly attending school” mean? “Regularly attending school” means that you take one or more courses of study and attend classes: In a college or university for at least 8 clock hours a week; or In grades 7-12 for at least 12 hours a week; or In a training course to prepare for employment for at least 12 hours a week (15 hours a week if the course involves shop practice); or For less time than indicated above for reasons beyond the student's control, such as illness Additional types of students: homebound, homeschooled, online schooling See SEIE handout

seie During SSI Calculation, SEIE is applied before General Income Exclusion & Earned Income Exclusion

SSI Age-18 redetermination A closer look

SSI age-18 redetermination process Usually occurs within 12 months after the 18th birthday. Individuals are required to meet adult disability standards as defined by SSA. Individuals not determined eligible for SSI benefits as an adult will be entitled to receive two more months of payments after the date of determination. This means the date on which the recipient is notified of the outcome of the age-18 redetermination. Overpayment may occur if an ineligible individual continues to receive payments after the two- month grace period.

SSI age-18 redetermination process Serious Issues: SSI recipients and their families typically have no idea that this process occurs, nor how it differs from the regularly scheduled CDRs. In the 2014 annual SSI report to Congress, Social Security indicated that 55% of all young adults who were redetermined in that year failed to meet the adult disability standards (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/oact/ssir/SSI14/index.html). Ineligibility causes the loss of SSI cash payments and associated Medicaid coverage. Failure to establish SSI eligibility at redetermination also means losing access to valuable work incentives at a critical transition point for youth. In addition, when eligibility ends a student no longer has access to the Ticket to Work program. VCU, Work Incentives Planning and Assistance National Training and Data Center

SSI age-18 redetermination process CWICs CAN HELP!! Age 18 Benefits Check-up for Transition Age Youth: the year following the 17th birthday, CWICs can help families proactively plan for benefits changes or other issues that may occur upon turning 18 with a written summary regarding individualized information about: Current benefits issues Parent-to-child deeming rules Medicare & Medicaid Expectations for benefits changes Options if student is denied SSI at redetermination Work incentives counseling Other individualized information Representative Payees

Why is wipa so important for transition age youth? The bottom line

Social Security has prioritized transition age youth for a reason! Cash benefits and medical insurance are valuable resources as students with disabilities transition to adult life Work incentives are designed to increase employment and earnings over time Early intervention and education about benefits and work incentives helps prevent future problems (overpayment, unplanned or unexpected loss of benefits, financial hardships, etc.) Failure to educate on benefits is a missed opportunity which may cause harm “Effective Work Incentives Counseling for Transition Age Youth” VCU, Work Incentives Planning and Assistance National Training and Data Center

wipa services are often missed during formal transition planning Many factors to this issue, but primarily due to a breakdown in service systems: Public Schools aren’t aware of benefits issues don’t consider this life domain within scope of their responsibility do not receive training on Social Security benefits and work incentives, and feel unprepared to address this complex matter VR Agencies do not receive training on Social Security benefits and work incentives most only meet with transition age students during the final year of school= too much planning in too short a period of time students who withdraw from school must take personal responsibility to contact VR and may slip through the cracks “Social Security Disability Benefit’s Issues Affecting Transition Age Youth” January 2016 VCU, Work Incentives Planning and Assistance National Training and Data Center

Education & career development CWICs take an active role in helping students identify needs & make referrals! PASS Ticket to Work Vocational Rehabilitation

Education & career development CWICs take an active role in helping students identify needs & make referrals! American Job Centers Individual Training Accounts: American Job Centers (formerly known as One-Stop Career Centers) provide job seekers, with and without disabilities, a variety of tools and services to help them get back to work. Services include training, referrals, career counseling, job listings and other similar employment-related services. Tools, many of which are available on-line, assist job seekers with career exploration, skill assessments (including identifying transferable skills), credential listings, and job openings. Customers can visit a Center in person or connect to the Center’s information through PC or kiosk remote access. Many American Job Centers are also Employment Networks and can accept ticket under the Ticket To Work Program.

Education & career development CWICs take an active role in helping students identify needs & make referrals! TANF- Individual Development Accounts (IDAs): if working with limited income, may be eligible for an IDA through the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program or an Assets for Independence Act (AFIA) grant. An IDA is a trust-like bank account that helps individuals save earnings to go to school, buy a home, or start a business. When they make a deposit to the account, a participating non-profit organization matches their deposit. Typical match is one dollar for each dollar that you deposited. Federal government adds an additional match, limited to $2,000 for an individual or $4,000 for a household over the life of the program (usually five years).

Education & career development CWICs take an active role in helping students identify needs & make referrals! PELL grants and educational loans: Certain grants, scholarships, fellowships, and gifts are not counted as income and resources up to 9 months for SSI purposes SSA does not count any portion used to pay for tuition, fees, and other necessary educational expenses at any educational institution including vocational and technical education. Read the policy at https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0500830455

Please see provided handout! supports to assist transition aged youth from the social security redbook, 2017 Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Accounts AmeriCorps American Job Centers Child Welfare Information Gateway Section 301 Hands on Banking/ El future en tus manos Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) Job Corps National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN) Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS) State’s Parent Center State’s VR Agency SEIE Youth.gov YouthBuild Please see provided handout!

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