1. Illinois Assistive Technology Program
Wendy Partridge,CWIC
Presentation:
Work Incentive Planning and Assistance
Welcome thank you for coming Before we get started we should review some housekeeping: restrooms, stand up and stretch, snacks. Please feel free to ask questions. Very informal. Relaxed setting. Be comfortable asking questions. Let’s make sure everyone has their handouts. 2 things to remember. My name and my number. Going over a lot of information. Very overwhelming and confusing. Listen and if it sounds like something youd be interested in looking into I can help you understand what might be something you’re interested. We’ll work with you individually.

2. A little about the WIPA program
WIPA stands for the Work Incentive Planning and Assistance program
The WIPA program is designed to help people receiving SSI, SSDI , or both understand how earnings will affect both the State and Federal benefits they receive (SNAP/Food stamps, Subsidized housing, Veterans Benefits……)
WIPA also educates beneficiaries on the work incentives that they may be eligible to receive
I am Certified as a Community Work Incentive Coordinator through Virginia Commonwealth University
I’m new, so I may not have every answer to each question immediately, but I promise to go back and research it and get back to you.

3. Two SSA Disability Programs
SSI – Supplemental Security Income
- No work history or very little.
Federal Benefit Rate $721 for 2014 (Couples $1082)
SSDI – Social Security Disability Insurance
- An individual draws benefits according to how much they have paid into FICA, credits accrued.
Highest monthly benefit anyone can receive.
How many have seen FICA taken out of your paycheck. This is taken out so you can receive an SSDI benefit. My job is to help you once you ARE on benefits learn about work incentives and income impacting your benefits
$473.34
In Kind Support and Maintenance – given food or shelter by another person, ssi considers these gifts to be a specific type of unearned income which they refer to as inkind support and maintanence. SSI caps the amount that counts against the SSI beneficiary. Presumed Maximum Value is always 1/3 of the applicable Federal Benefit Rate (approx 240 +$20). So, when the beneficiary doesn’t contribute anything to their own food and shelter SSI uses a different lower federal benefit rate VTR value of one third reduction.

4. SSI General Income Exclusion ($20.00) Earned Income Exclusion ($65.00)
Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE)
Every $2.00 of earnings, reduces your SSI check by $1.00.
Refer to SSI Calculation Sheets
Always Report Earnings to SSA
Have wipe off calculation sheet. Have big wipe board to give example. Bring my own dry erase marker and wipe board?
Bring a copy of one done. With $500 of monthly income. Remainder is $415 so that’s so SSA would only count that –
Take it the next step. It is reduced to $ BUT your TOTAL montly income is $1, compared to So, most of the time, with working, you’re going to come out ahead.

5. Keep Track of Your Monthly Earnings
Report to SSA/FCRC (aka Public Aid)/Subsidized Housing/or other agency as needed
Each month calculate and write down your monthly earnings (Gross Monthly Earnings)
Keep track of who you spoke with and when (utilize a notebook with date; time; phone number; person contacted; agency; etc.)
Always ask for a receipt.
Spiral notebook. Any time you have contact with someone, name, date and time of contact, phone number, name of agency, and summary of what was said. On Dec 12 at 2 oclock at SSA and she said blah blah

6. Impairment Related Work Expense
Also known as an IRWE
Examples:
Co Pays for medication
Doctor office co pays
Hearing Aids
Assistive Technology
Specialized transportation
Attendant Care
Residential Modifications
Diagnostic Procedures
It has to be related to your disability and you have to have it in order to work.
Now we’ll talk about work incentives: out of pocket expenses that allow you to work. These expenses may be deducted from countable income. Some examples are:

7. Blind Work Expense Service animal expenses
Transportation to and from work
Federal, state, and local income taxes
Social Security taxes
Attendant Care services
Visual and sensory aids
Translation of material into Braille
Professional association fees and Union dues
Expenses someone might have if they have a visual impairment.

8. Student Earned Income Exclusion
Under age 22
SSA will exclude up to $1,750 for 2014 of earned income per month, up to an annual exclusion of $7,060 for 2014
You must contact SSA to activate this work incentive
This is a very exciting and someone unknown work incentive for students enrolled in school called SEIE
Gross earnings before any other allowable exclusion
See handouts and hand out and review Joey example.
6 credits before the age of 22.

9. Medicaid Medicaid (apply separately at FCRC)
1619B – Keep your Medicaid even if your SSI check is reduced to $0.00 from Earned Income (Until $27,829 for 2014)
Contact SSA to activate this work incentive. SSA will release your eligibility to FCRC
Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities (HBWD) – Medicaid Buy-in program
Application directly to HBWD.
Illinois is a 209B state so you musts apply seperately for Medicaid.
The good news is that if your ssi and medicaid eligibile before you go to work you will be able to keep your medicaid for free as long as income is under $27, This is called the 1619b provision. FCRC calls it the OBRA list.
Sometimes there’s a glitch in the system between SSA and FCRC to make it happen.
So 1619 sheet. Everyone should have one of these. Take this sheet to SSA and it has instructions to SSA and the other side to FCRC. And this will usually get rid of the glitch.
HBWD is a very helpful program that allows people with disabilities to earn up to $3,351 (NET income /single household) AND allowed assets up to $25,000. For people who are working and can pay a small premium and we’ll go over a little later.

10. Plan for Achieve Self Support “PASS PLAN”
A Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) allows an SSI Recipient to set aside income and/or resources for a specified time for a work goal
For example, you could set aside money to pay expenses for education, vocational training, or starting a business as long as the expenses are related to achieving your work goal
The money in your plan will not count as an asset for SSI and Medicaid eligibility
Allows person to put money aside to be used at a later date for specific work goal.
Any thing that will make you more self sufficient as far as a vocational goal. The money you put in doesn’t count as income for SSI for that month. The less income that is counted each month when calculated each month when calculated your income for SSI the less your SSI check will be reduced.
Even the playing field; a way to give back to the work force. A written plan of action. Identify a job or business, the steps you would take in order to achieve yoru work goal. It helps you set aside money for Educaiton, training, assistive technology, child care,
Use any income other than SSI benefits. So you could use income from SSDI, work, parents money
Needs a timetable
Its not a grant program, its not a loan program. You’re literally self funding your own program.
There are milestones.
A lot of times its one piece that gets you over the hump.
Working, lose transportation, can make a PASS plan for
People try to get the vehicle before they have a job, that just doesn’t work.

11. SSDI Trial Work Period (TWP) $770 (2014)
Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) non-blind $1070, Blind SGA $1800(2014)
Grace Period
So, now we’re going to switch gears and talk about SSDI – Social Security Disability Insurance. If Someone who receives SSDI and goes to work, they will turn their earnings to SSA and ask for a receipt. Any month over $770 triggers use of TWP month; 9 TWP and 5 years to use them. During this time you get your full SSDI check no matter what your h earnings are. After use all 9 TWP motnhs you move into what’s called an EPE. The EPE lasts for three years and at this time SSA is looking for $ this is called SGA. Any month at or above SGA you will nto receive your SSDI check. Any month under you will receive your Full SSDI check. After the first time you have SGA at or above after your EPE, your benefits will be terminated.
Get out your sheets for TWP and EPE
Let’s recap: EPE 36 months or 3 years. The SGA for 2014 is 1070 gross monthly income; if over no check; if under fullcheck.
When over after EPE benefits will be terminate.
Grace Period is a one-time incentive that can occur within or after your EPE. The first time you earn at or above SGA leve, the Grace period begins and lasts for three months. These three months are consecutive.

12. Keep Track of Your Monthly Earnings
Report to SSA/FCRC (aka Public Aid)/Subsidized Housing/or other agency as needed
Each month calculate and write down your monthly earnings (Gross Monthly Earnings)
Keep track of who you spoke with and when. (utilize a notebook with date; time; phone number; person contacted; agency; etc.)
Agin, keep track of your monthly income. Report it! Ask for a receipt. Keep track in a notebook.
Stop right here, does anyone have any questions.
My name and number is mostly what you need to know. We can go over on an indivdualized basis.

13. Subsidy/Special Condition
A subsidy is a work incentive available to SSDI/DAC beneficiaries. A subsidy is the value of additional support a person receives in order to be able to perform substantial work.
Examples: Job Coach, performing fewer duties that others doing the same work, taking extra rest periods, etc.
Please Note: A Subsidy/Special Condition can only be applied once working above SGA
If approved, SSA will approve and that is what SSA will count as your gross monhtly income. You can only use subsidy if at or above SGA and have compoleted TWP months. Examples: job coach, duties, extra rest periods
Let’s say a non blind individual has $2,000 above SGA so not eligible for SSDI; but if SSA approves a 50% subsidy, SSA will only count $1,000 is now BELOW SGA and eligible for full SSDI check.
I have a fact sheet if you’d like that sent to you.
In some situations, dollar for dollar 100% could be subsidized so wages wouldn’t count.
Calculate what that percent is –what is counted as gross monthly income.
Very powerful

14. Medicare Medicare Part A (Hospitalization Insurance) Free
Part B (Medical Insurance)
- $ (2014) deducted from SSDI check each month
Medicare Savings Programs(if limited income and assets)
QMB (pays premium and deductible)
SLIB (pays premium)
Part D (Medication)
Extra Help
You have to be eligible for SSDI to receive Medicare. There is a two year waiting period to become eligible. This is where HBWD might be useful way to cover health care costs while you’re in that two year period.
QMB will pay Part B premium and deductibles. And SLIB program pays part B premium only. Part D is medication coverage and it has premium and deductibles depending on what plan you choose.
If you meet certain income and asset limits or if you’re eligible for Medicaid regular or HBWD you will be eligible to receive Extra Help. EH will pay for Part D costs and you may only have small copays for your medication.
Medicare Savings program would cover your premium and deductible.

15. Spenddown
Income limit for a family size of one $ $25 Exemption = $997.50
Earnings less than $ No Spenddown (Free Medicaid)
Any income above this amount ($997.50) causes a spenddown
SSI and Medicaid before you go to work you’ll be eligible until you have gross annual earnings before $27,000 or your assets are above $2,000. If youre not eligibile and earnings increase above income limits you’re not eligibile to receive the 1619 b provision and you will get what is called a spend down. A dollar amount you have to spend out of your own pocket before medicaid will have to pay anything. If below $ you will receive medicaid for free. If above you will have a spend down. There’s a program HBWD that may be able to help with that spend down.

16. Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities (HBWD)
Also called Medicaid Buy-in
Pay monthly premium each month for Medicaid Card (same Medicaid as through your local DHS Office (also known as Public Aid)
Apply through Springfield
(Website: )
Working and paying into fica tax you’ll be eligibile for HBWD. Only a small monthly premium instead of a large spend down for your medicaid coverage. Coverage is exactly the same, but you have to apply to springfield office.

17. HBWD continued $25,000 asset limit vs $2,000 for local Medicaid
Retirement Savings are exempt (IRA & 401K)
A home and one car exempt asset
Spouses income counts toward premium amount
25,000 asset limit compared to 2,000 with regular medicaid. Retirement savings do not count. One car one home do not count. Spouses income DOES count toward your monthly income toward your montly amounts.

18. HBWD continued 2013 Income Limits per month: 1 - $3,351 2 - $4,524
3 - $5,696
4 - $6,869

19. Example of Premium Amount
$600 Earnings from Work and $800 SSDI is $69 per month premium
Your Spenddown would have been Approximately $400
If receiving SSI and have resources below $ b is the best option because there is the spenddown protection
If receiving SSI and have resources above $2000 asset limit will cause a spenddown
This is when HBWD would be a benefit.
$600 Earnings from work and $ SSI is $13 per month premium

20. Subsidized Housing Disallowance of Earned Income Program
Months 1 through 12 increased income due to Earnings from Employment does not count toward Rent
Months 13 through 24; only 50% of increase in income due to Earnings from Employment count toward Rent calculation
Disallowance of Earned Income Program offers 4 years to complete this program
The clock begins the first month of calculation
There’s something called Disallowance of Earned Income Program and its fo rpeole with a Section 8 voucher only. If you are unemployed or underemployed then go to work, the Housing authority will nto count any of your increased earned income in their rent calculation for the first year. Therefore youre rent amount will not icnrease for the first year. The second year they’ll only count 50% THE PROGRAM LASTS FOR FOUR YEARS AND THE FOUR YEARS START WITH THE FIRST MONTH OF YOUR INCREASED EARNINGS. ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR.

21. SOCIAL SECURITY Ticket to Work
Now, lets’ talk about TTWSocial Security’s primary program that can help you find a job, is the Ticket to Work program. We’d like to discuss that program with you now.

22. What is a Ticket to Work?
A ticket you can use to get free employment services
A ticket you can use to get employment services. This is what it looks like. It’s a symbolic document so you do not need a ticket all you need is your name and social security number.
Social Security established the Ticket to Work program in order to offer beneficiaries more choices when it comes to vocational rehabilitation, job preparation, and job placement services. By using your Ticket, your chances of getting the help you need increases.
You receive the paper ticket in the mail yet you do not need to have it in hand to take advantage of this program. If you have lost your ticket or are not sure of your eligibility, the handout we will give to you will have the phone number to call.

23. Who will take my Ticket? Employment Networks:
Private companies
Public organizations
State Vocational Rehabilitation agency
Employment agencies, schools, etc.
Under contract with Social Security
Contact Maximus for a list of Employment Networks!
ENS are agencies in your area that are there to help with different aspects of becoming employed. In essence they help you get tow work. Ticket holders can choose which service providers, called employment networks to work with. You should “shop” for an employnumber at end of powerpoint.
ment network that best suits you and your employment goals. We will be talking a little later today about how you can select and negotiate with an Employment Network.
We have some of our local Employment Networks here today to meet with you and a full list of those serving this area is included in your handouts (WIPA should prepare this from

24. Why use your Ticket? No medical review while ticket is in use
The program is voluntary
You are in charge!
You select the Employment Network
Employment Network works for you
Change your Employment Network if necessary
Assigning a ticket improves your chances of finding employment, obtaining training, and other vocational services.
Medical reviews can cause your cash and medical benefits to stop; using your Ticket removes this risk.
You are not required to use your Ticket to Work.
Your disability benefits will not stop if you do not use your ticket. You will still be subject to periodic medical reviews of your disability if you have not assigned your ticket.
Employment networks have choices too – generally they seek someone with a commitment to going to work.

25. Selecting and Negotiating with an Employment Network (EN)
SOCIAL SECURITY
Selecting and Negotiating with an Employment Network (EN)
Now let’s talk about Selecting an Employment Network
Under the Ticket to Work, you can assign your ticket to an Employment Network of your choice. Assigning a ticket simply means that you and the Employment Network have agreed to work together to reach your employment goals.
Before you have a chance to meet with some of the Employment Networks who are here today, we would like to give you some things to think about in selecting and negotiating an agreement with an Employment Network.
Each Employment Network is different – you need to “shop” for the one you feel best about.
When you meet with your Employment Network act like you are meeting with an employer. Dress like you would for work, and ask questions. Show an Employment Network how serious you are about getting a job. Have ideas about what you are good at and what kind of job you want.
If you have a resume, take one with you. If you do not have a resume, that’s okay. Make a list of all the work you have done. Include volunteer work and your education. Also include dates started and ended. This will help you in discussions with Employment Networks before you select one to work with. If you don’t know where to start with putting this information together, that is ok too. Once you have assigned your ticket, your Employment Network will help you take this information and turn it into a resume you can use.

26. Examples of Services Skills testing Interest testing
Resume preparation
Interviewing skills training
Job search & placement services
Work Incentives counseling
Job Coaching or other ongoing services
Mock interviews to help you feel a little more comfortable. Refer you to work incentive counseling.
You should give some thought about what services you might need or be interested in before you begin shopping for an EN.
Skills testing can determine what job(s) you are able to do or learn, while interest testing will tell you what jobs you might enjoy best. The EN can help you put together a resume of your education, work experience, and anything else you would like prospective employers to know about you. They can also help you prepare for an interview to give you the best chance of being a successful applicant. They will help you search for the best job match, and will contact employers on your behalf if you prefer that approach. They will ensure that you have the information you need about the work incentives before you begin working as well as after, and if you require on the job support, they can arrange for that as well.
Include description of each of these

27. When you contact an Employment Network
Discuss work goals & disability as it relates to reaching your work goal
Ask about their success rate
What will they do for you and what is expected of you?
Open and honest about disabilitiy – interests, gifts and challenges
Success rate –
Expectation – what responsibility do you each have to work toward voc goal together
Remember that while you are interviewing and selecting an Employment Network you want to work with, they also are deciding if they think they can help you under the Ticket to Work. Stay positive, enthusiastic and make sure you convey your interest and commitment to working.
Your Employment Network will ask you questions.
Your Employment Network should focus on work and be much less concerned about your disability. This is a delicate balance. They need to know about your disability, but an employer is more interested in what value you bring to the job. Your Employment Network should help you stay focused on the type of work you want to do and are able to do.
Feel free to discuss your disability and any concerns you have about your disability or anything else going on in your life that might impact your ability to work. Your work and your life impact each other. Your Employment Network must respect your privacy but also be willing to listen to all of your concerns.
At the same time, this is YOUR opportunity to find out what you can about the Employment Network and decide if this is the one YOU want to work with. You may want to ask: What can they do for you? How will they help you? And, What will be expected of you?

28. Selecting an Employment Network to work for you
Did you feel welcome and comfortable?
How do they assign a counselor?
Did you develop the plan together?
Can you and your EN both follow through on the plan?
Very important to develop a plan together. You should have a plan TOGETHER. You need to be open and honest about that. NOTE TO PRESENTER: The following are some notes that you may want to use in preparing your statements that accompany this slide.
You should have a “feeling” about working with an Employment Network Finding and keeping a job and developing a satisfying career is one of the most important activities we all do. It is truly a very personal activity. Successful outcomes are affected by how comfortable you are with your Employment Network.
Does your Employment Network assign you a specific counselor or team of professionals to work with you? DO they describe how they will work with you? Is this the kind of working relationship that you want and need? Personalized service and consistency is critical to success.
When you assign your ticket with an Employment Network, you will work together to develop an Individual Work Plan (IWP). This plan describes your work goal, the steps you will take to get there, and the services and supports the Employment Network will provide to help you. You should expect a great deal of input into developing your Individual Work Plan. This is YOUR career and nobody can make effective decisions about it but you! You and your Employment Network will be partners. No one can “get you a job”. It is your skills and how you act that will make an employer hire you. All your Employment Network can do is open doors for you and guide you. Expect to work as a team.
Remember the Ticket to Work Program is about WORK. Will your Employment Network be there for you if you need to interrupt your plan? Can the commitment be kept by the Employment Network and you? Once you choose an Employment Network it is VERY important that you follow through on your plan. Remember, the program is voluntary on your Employment Network ‘s part just as it is on yours. If you do not meet the terms of the agreement in your Individual Work Plan, your Employment Network WILL return your ticket to you and stop services. However, if you become ill or are somehow unable to continue your plan, your Employment Network should be understanding and helpful to you in terms of working with you to get back to the point where you are able to continue.
If you have an interest in working, start now. It will take time. A good Employment Network does not just “put” you into a job. An Employment Network wants to help you keep your job too. They do that by taking time to help you find the job that is right for you.
Even if you like what one employment network offers that doesn’t mean the next one might not have something even better.
Remember, an Employment Network can choose whether or not to take your ticket, just as you can choose whether you want to work with them. If an Employment Network does not take your ticket, don’t think that means you cannot get a job. Keep shopping for the Employment Network that’s right for you.

29. Where to start?
Learn more about work incentives Connect with your employment team – State VR or EN Stay positive; look for opportunities #1 #2 #3
Get ahold of CWIC that serves. Fill out referral and two releases. Need both of them.
We’ll get a BPQY a summary of your benefits.
If not working, you’ll receive a packet of general information. If working, we’ll complete an intake over the phone and we’ll create a detailed analysis and how work will affect each one of them. Both the packet and the benefits analysis will include work incentvies we discussed today.
VR or EN Help you find work
Stay positivie
This is greatly simplified but offers the beginnings of a plan for you. Remember, your employment team is here to help you.
First, learn more about work incentives – talk with our staff to learn about the work incentives that you are eligible for and how you might apply those to your plan. We are here to help you get started.
Second, identify the services you might need to get ready for work – these may be educational, vocational training, skills building, job preparation, resume writing, getting ready for the interview process and more. We can help you identify how to use work incentives to gain these services and State Vocational Rehabilitation counselors and Employment Networks can also help you with this. [refer to handout]
Going to work – Work can mean a lot of different things, especially as you are just getting started. This could be spending time on a job site to learn more about that particular job (called job shadowing), finding someone in the field you’ve chosen who can mentor you through school or a training program and into the job search process (mentoring), or applying for paid or unpaid internships to get valuable experience. It could even be volunteer work that helps you gain skills and experience. Work also can be full time or part time, depending on what you are ready for.
Work with your counselor/EN to develop and execute a plan that builds on your initial work experience – look to the future and where you want to go and how you can get there.
Remember to stay positive. Show an Employment Network how serious you are about getting a job. Have ideas about what you are good at and what kind of job you want.
Look for opportunities by talking to your employment team and various employment networks. Make sure you understand the full range of opportunities that might be available.
Each of you may be at a different point in the process of going to work. Some of you may know what you want to do and be ready to assign a ticket, others may need to further explore options and educational opportunities. Wherever you are, we have people here today that can help you get to the next step.
NOTE TO PRESENTER: At this point, invite the beneficiaries to talk with the CWICs, the PABSS, the Employment Networks, or any other community partners present at the seminar (e.g. AWIC, local office SSA rep)

30. Resources currently available
Maximus Call Center: ( )
Maximus (Ticket Manager) Division of Rehabilitation Services or Employment Network. (same number)
SSA Spotlight Website :
SSA Redbook online:
Maximus – list of employment networks.
Spotlight website: wonderful details of each subject.
Hard copy of redbook. Or way to get access online.

31. Contact Information
Wendy Partridge, CWIC
Phone: ( )
Illinois Assistive Technology Program
1 West Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 100
Springfield, IL 62701
Thank you for coming and have a great trip home!