People Who receive SSA Benefits Can Work Presented by: Teri Chang, CWIC Whittier Union High School District Sheri Hightower, CWIC Capistrano 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 benefits Qualify with the adult criteria (on their own) Consider living situation - In Kind Support ** After you qualify

How to Apply for SSI Benefits Form # 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 also on-line at (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) Blind Work Expenses (BWE) Plan to Achieve Self Sufficiency (PASS)

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 10 th of the next month.  Be sure to include: 1. name and 2. complete Social Security number 3. 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 2x 2 =$1690  Add $ = $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

Contact Log Person you Contacted Date of Contact OutcomeFollow-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  Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool 1 (800) TTY 1 (800) Visit your SSA Work Incentive Liaison SSA Red Book