Transcript WISE - Home - The Hadley School for the Blind

SOCIAL SECURITY
Work Incentives
SSDI
SSI
Social Security
Disability
Supplemental Security Income
Disability
1. Based on Work
1. Based on Need
2. Must be Insured (FICA
based on your earnings (or
those of your spouse or
parents) $1120=1 Qtr
2. Must have limited income
($694) & limited resources
($2000)
3. Payment amount based on
earnings
3. Maximum payment is $674
a month
4. Medicaid
4. Medicare after 24 months
5. Paid on the 3rd of the
month; or the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th
Wednesday
5. Paid on the 1st day of the
month
Applying for Disability
www.SSA.GOV
To apply for ‘SSI’ call 800-772-1213
for an appointment.
Statutory Blindness

Central Visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the
better eye with the use of a correcting lens.

Limitation in the Field of vision in the better
eye, such that the widest diameter of the
visual field subtends an angle no greater
than 20 degrees.
Letter options
(effective 4/15/10)

Standard print notice by first class or certified mail;

Standard print notice by first class mail and a follow-up
telephone call to read the notice within five business
days of the date of the notice;

Standard print notice and Braille by first class mail; or

Standard print notice and a compact disc (CD) in
Microsoft Word format by first class mail.
SSDI Work Incentives
What happens if I go to work?
A 9-month Trial Work
Period allows you to
work and receive
benefits no matter how
high your monthly
earnings may be.
These months do
not have to be
consecutive, but do
have to fall in a 5 year
(60 month) period.
What happens if I continue to work after I
complete my 9 month Trial Work Period?
− During the 3 years (36 months) following
your Trial Work Period - benefits are paid
for any month your earnings are ‘not’
substantial.
− In 2011 gross earnings of more than $1000
($1640 if you are blind) are considered
substantial.
− At the end of the 3 year (36 month) period
there is an additional 5 years during which
benefits can be reinstated if work stops and
there is no medical improvement.
(Expedited Reinstatement)
What happens to Medicare if
SSDI benefits stop?

Continues for at least 93
months (apx 7 ½ years)
after the 9 month Trial
Work Period
 After the 93 month period
you may be able to
purchase Medicare
coverage
 You may be eligible for
Medicaid Buy-In from your
State
Additional SSDI Work Incentives

Subsidy
− We only count the value of a beneficiary’s work. For
example, if an SSDI beneficiary is paid $10 an hour
but is only able to perform half the duties someone in
his position usually performs, we will only charge
them with $5 per hour.

IRWE
− During the extended period of eligibility, we deduct
certain impairment related costs from countable
earnings.

Averaging
− During the extended period of eligibility we can
average earnings over a period of time if it is more
advantageous.
SSI Work Incentives
How earnings affect SSI
payments

SSA counts less than half of your earned
income
For example:
 $885 in wages
 $400 counts against SSI
 $1,159 total income (persons with ONLY SSI &
income from wages)

Certain impairment related work
expenses can also be deducted from your
gross wages.
Blind Work Expenses
for SSI claimants
Expenses necessary for an individual to work
are deducted from countable earnings.

Examples:
Service Dog
Transportation to and from work
Taxes (Federal, state, local and FICA)
Attendant Care
Meals during work hours
Medication
Union fees
Uniforms
What happens if my earnings
are so high that my SSI stops


Benefits can start again if
you stop working or your
earnings decrease
If your earnings are so
high that your SSI
payments stop:
− Medicaid continues until
you earn above your
States’ threshold during
the calendar year
− People with high medical
costs can earn even more
Other SSI Work Incentives
•IRWE (Impairment Related Work Expenses)
•Expenses related to disability necessary for individual to work.
See included chart.
•Student Earned Income Exclusion
•For 2011 - $1640/month, but no more than $6600 for the year.
•PASS (Plan to Achieve Self Sufficiency)
•Allows us to exclude additional income and resources if used
towards the achievement of a specific vocational goal.
•PESS (Property Essential for Self Support)
•We exclude resources necessary for self employment.
Ticket to Work
What is a Ticket to Work?
A ticket can be used to get free employment
services
TICKET TO WORK
Employment Networks provide beneficiaries
with more choices when it comes to vocational
rehabilitation, job preparation, and job
placement services
For the Ticket Holder:
• No Medical review while ticket is “In Use”
• Free employment support services
MEDICAID BUY-IN

Must meet the disability requirements of the
Social Security Administration
 Be employed or self employed, part or full time
 For more information:
Contact your State Vocational Rehabilitation
Office
or
Contact your WIPA
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/work/WIPA.html
37 STATES Offer Medicaid Buy-in
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Connecticut
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Work Incentives Planning &
Assistance (WIPA)
Information about how your benefits are
affected by working
 Benefits Analysis- A more personalized
explanation about how benefits are
affected by a particular vocational goal
 Help to explore employment options and
long term supports (Federal, State & local
employment programs and incentives)
www.yourtickettowork.com/wipas
