Transcript Social Security Administration Work Incentives

Social Security Administration
Work Incentives
TA Center Webinar
September 9, 2014
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SOAR
SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and
Recovery
Technical Assistance Initiative
Sponsored By:
Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services
Administration
U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services
September 2014
SOAR Technical Assistance
Initiative
 SOAR – SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access & Recovery
 Focuses on people who are experiencing or at risk of
homelessness
 Sponsored by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA) in collaboration
with SSA since 2005
 SOAR is active in all 50 states; no direct funding is
provided to states
 SOAR TA Center helps states and communities by
providing technical assistance and training
SOAR Has Broad Goals
Housing
Community
Investment
Employment
Opportunities
SOAR
Access to
Treatment/
Services
Decrease in
Adverse
Outcomes
Overview of Agenda
SSI/SSDI Basics
Why Employment?
Myth Busting
SSA Work Incentives
Discussion
SSI & SSDI: The Basics
Supplemental Security
Income (SSI)
Needs based; federal
benefit rate is $721 per
month (2014); provides
Medicaid in most states
Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI)
Amount depends on
earnings put into SSA
system; Medicare
generally provided after
2 years of eligibility
Importance of SSI/SSDI for
Individuals
 SSA disability benefits can provide access to:
• Income
• Housing
• Health insurance
• Treatment
• Employment supports
• Other supportive services
 For people with disabilities, SSI/SSDI can be a
critical step towards ending homelessness and
promoting recovery
Working for More than
Income
Self-worth and self-confidence
Define a role for the person in the
community
Foster a connection to others
Add structure to daily life
Critical step in recovery
Common Myths
If you work, your SSI/SSDI application will
be automatically denied
Benefits and health insurance end
immediately when start working
You can only work part-time while
receiving disability
If Social Security knows you are working,
they will say you aren’t disabled anymore
SOAR as an Agent of Hope
Employment is possible during and after an
application for SSI/SSDI
Develop expertise in work incentives
offered by SSA and give examples of how
work will affect benefits
Identify and collaborate with employment
support services
While applying for SSI/SSDI
You can work during the application process
SSA looks at the type and amount of work
◦ Earn up to $1,070/month
Strategy: Encourage work from the start
◦ Can help to strengthen the application
◦ Might find that supported employment works
better for individual
After approval for SSI/SSDI
You can work while receiving SSI/SSDI
Strategy: Connect with work support
programs
◦ SSA’s Ticket to Work
◦ www.chooseworkttw.net
◦ Supported Employment Programs
After approval for SSI/SSDI
Strategy: Utilize Social Security Work
Incentives
◦ Income Exclusion for SSI
◦ Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)
◦ Trial Work Period (TWP)
◦ Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)
◦ Subsidy
◦ Impairment-Related Work Expense (IRWE)
◦ Expedited Reinstatement of Benefits (EXR)
What happens to cash benefits?
“Work pays”
SSI
◦ Income Exclusion
◦ Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)
SSDI
◦ Trial Work Period
◦ Extended Period of Eligibility
Income Exclusion: SSI Only
Certain amounts of earnings are excluded
when calculating countable income
General exclusion: $20
Earned income exclusion: $65
If SSI is sole income, get both
Calculating Countable Income:
SSI
• After Exclusions, SSA Counts $1.00 for every $2.00
earned
Gross Earnings From Work: $1,525
General Exclusion: ($20)
Earned Income Exclusion: ($65)
= $1440
$1 Counted for Every $2 Earned: $1440/2
Countable Income: = $720
Maximum SSI check – Countable Income: $721-720
Amount of SSI Check: $1
Total Income: $1,526
Trial Work Period (TWP): SSDI
Only
9 months of gross earnings (per current
SSA rate)
Need not be consecutive
Are counted within a 5-year period
Trigger a review of one’s continued
eligibility for SSDI
Continue to receive full benefit check
during this time
Trial Work Period Example:
SSDI
It only counts as a TWP month when earnings are $770
or more
Month
Earnings TWP
Jan 2008 $900
Yes-1
Month
Earnings TWP
Jan 2009 $900
Yes-7
Feb 2008 $550
Mar 2008 $770
No
Yes-2
April $600
2008
Aug 2008 $800
No
Yes-3
Jun 2009
Jul 2009
Aug 2009
Sep 2009
Oct 2009
Dec 2009
$500
$500
$500
$500
$500
$800
No
No
No
No
No
Yes-8
Sept $800
2008
Oct 2008 $800
Yes-4
Jan 2010 $800
Yes-9
Nov 2008 $800
Yes-6
Yes-5
When the Trial Work Period
Ends
SSA will look at earnings during the Trial Work
Period and calculate whether the person was earning
SGA
Countable earnings can be reduced with a Subsidy
and/or IRWES
If earning SGA: Benefits cease after a 3 month grace
period
If not earning SGA: Benefits continue
Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE):
SSDI Only
Applies only to SSDI
Lasts 36 months from the end of the TWP (if
applicable)
Applies to any month in which earnings fall below
SGA
Allows beneficiaries to receive SSDI in the months of
non-SGA earnings during the EPE
Subsidy: SSDI Only
Implied Value of extra support received on the job
Examples of supports:
• Extra hours of supervision
• Job coach or mentor
• Reduced workload
“Provided” by employer
Subsidized worker earns the same pay as other
workers doing the same job
Subsidy Example: SSDI
The subsidy is subtracted from earnings when
determining SGA at the end of the TWP
Gross Earnings From Work during TWP: $1100
Subsidy ($200)
Considered Income: = $900
Earning SGA? NO
Impairment-Related Work Expenses
(IRWEs): SSI and SSDI
Apply both to SSI and SSDI at different times
Are out-of-pocket costs that a person must pay that are
(1) related to one’s disability and (2) needed to be able
to work
Examples:
◦ Medication co-pays
◦ Special equipment
◦ Others?
IRWE Example: SSI
• 5 prescriptions, $10 co-pay for each
• The IRWE is subtracted from countable income
Gross Earnings From Work: $500
General Exclusion: ($20)
Earned Income Exclusion: ($65)
IRWE ($50)
= $365
$1 Counted for Every $2 Earned: $365/2
Countable Income: = $182.50
Maximum SSI check – Countable Income: $721-$182.50
Amount of SSI Check: $538.50
Total Income: $1,038.50
IRWE Example: SSDI
•5 prescriptions, $10 co-pay for each
•The IRWE is subtracted from earnings when
determining SGA at the end of the TWP
Gross Earnings From Work during TWP: $1100
IRWE ($50)
Considered Income: = $1050
Earning SGA? NO
Expedited Reinstatement of Benefits
(EXR)
For both SSI and SSDI
Five years after benefits cease due to earnings
Expedited return to payments and medical
benefits
A medical review is done
Applicants should request EXR from the local SSA
office
Health Insurance
SSI: Medicaid
◦ May continue under Federal Rule 1619B even if SSI cash
payments stop
◦ Earnings must remain below state threshold
SSDI: Medicare
◦ Continues for 93 months (7.75 years) after the last month of
the Trial Work Period
◦ May be purchased after 93 months under certain conditions;
premium costs for Part A then apply
Overpayments and Return to
Work
How are people overpaid?
◦ SSI: Excess income, excess resources, change in living
arrangement
◦ SSDI: Earning SGA after TWP
Collecting overpayments
◦ SSI: 10% from future checks until paid off
◦ SSDI: Entire check can be withheld, reductions to
$10/month if needed for living expenses
Option: Request waiver of overpayment
Resources
SSA Web site (www.socialsecurity.gov/work)
◦ Ticket to Work: Employment and VR Services
◦ Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program
◦ Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS or
P&A)
◦ Service Provider Directory for WIPA and
P&A:https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/oesp/providers.nsf/bystate
Disability Program Navigators (DPNs)
◦ Department of Labor, One-Stop Career Centers
◦ http://www.doleta.gov/disability/
Things to Remember
Track and report all earnings to SSA
Don’t risk overpayment
When in doubt, talk to your local SSA field office.
Use your resources!
Let’s Talk About
It!
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Connect with Us
Visit our website: http://soarworks.prainc.com
SAMHSA SOAR TA Center
345 Delaware Avenue
Delmar, New York 12054
(518) 439 – 7415
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/soarworks
@SOARWorks
Used with permission from:
www.dol.gov/vets/grants/hvrp.htm
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
Ticket to Work Program
Pathways to Success
Presented by Donna De Julius and James Wackerbarth
Objectives
 Describe Who’s Who in the Ticket to Work Program
 Identify the role of an Employment Network (EN)
 Review the Ticket to Work program
 Describe why Ticket to Work is a good fit for Veteran
Employment Service agencies
 Clarify the outcome-based payment system and braided
funding
 Review the basic qualifications to become an EN
 Provide resources for further information
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Who’s Who
Social Security
Operations Support Manager
(OSM)
Beneficiary Access and Support
Services
(BASS)
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Service Provider Roles
Employment Networks (EN)
in the Ticket to Work
program:
 Increase the number of
beneficiaries entering
workforce
 Assist the beneficiary in
becoming self-sufficient
 Provide the community with
access to newly identified
and dedicated workforce
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Used with permission from:
www.dol.gov/vets/grants/hvrp.htm
Ticket Program & Veterans
Ticket to Work
Eligibility
• Age 18 through 64
• Currently receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or both
Participation
•Voluntary
•Beneficiary advantages
• Protection from Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs)
• Opportunity to earn more than disability payments alone
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Why is the Ticket Program a Good Fit for Service
Providers that Work with Veterans?
Your Organization
Ticket Program
To provide services to assist in
reintegrating Veterans into
meaningful employment within the
labor force
To provide services to assist
individuals on disability benefits to
enter into meaningful employment
in order for them to become more
self-sufficient
As of 2010- Veterans and their
families consist of 35% of the
beneficiary population
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Why is the Ticket Program a Good
Fit for Homeless Veterans?
• Veterans ineligible for VA
benefits often seek Social
Security benefits
• Protection under the
Ticket program
• Potential for more income
• Ticket program goal is for
beneficiaries to become
financially independent
• Continuing Disability
Review protection
• Benefits protection
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Outcome-based Payment System
and Braided Funding
• The Ticket program is an outcome based program
(Not reimbursed for services)
• Payments to service providers are non-discretionary
funds and can be used as the organization decides
• Braided Funding
• Supplement Ticket funding to support other
programs
• ENs incorporate Ticket into existing programs
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Used with permission from:
www.dol.gov/vets/grants/hvrp.htm
How to Become an EN
Social Security Request for Quotation (RFQ)
Requirements for ENs
• Offeror must have 2 years of experience providing employment
services for people with disabilities immediately preceding the date
of proposal (or 3 years in a 5 year period)
• Offeror must submit with their proposal at least one of the following:
• Proof of grant funding (HVRP grant) to provide employment
related services
• Evidence of contract or vendor agreement with state VR
contract or federal agency
• Evidence of certification or accreditation from national
rehabilitation and employment services accrediting bodies
(example: CARF)
• A copy of the license or certification as required by State law to
provide employment services
All qualifications must be current
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Request for Quotation (cont.)
•
Offeror must provide at a minimum these three core services:
• Career counseling
• Job placement
• Ongoing employment supports
•
Offeror must provide a business plan that describes the services leading to
employment
•
The full application is available at: www.socialsecurity.gov/work/enrfq.html
•
Submit the RFQ by mailing a hard copy to:
Social Security Administration
Employment Network Proposals
Attn: Employment Network Services Branch
P.O. Box 17778
Baltimore, MD 21235-17778
OR
• Email to: [email protected]
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Used with permission from:
www.dol.gov/vets/grants/hvrp.htm
Resources
Contact Information
OSM
Choose Work for Service Providers
www.yourtickettowork.com
1-866-949-3687
Social Security-ORDES
Work Site
www.socialsecurity.gov/work
BASS
Choose Work
www.chooseworkttw.net
1-866-968-7842
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Contact Information (cont.)
Donna De Julius
Initiative Lead
703-336-8044
[email protected]
James Wackerbarth
Account Specialist
703-336-8053
[email protected]
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Additional Resources
• To learn more about effective EN practices, visit
www.yourticketotwork.com.
• Training materials and archived presentations conducted by ENs
and state VR Agencies
• Archives:
https://yourtickettowork.com/web/ttw/effective-practices
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Asking Questions During the Training
• Submit questions in the chat box
on the webinar
• E-mail questions to
[email protected]
• Submit questions through the posttraining survey