Frank TorañoWork Incentives Coordinator

South Florida Area

•We’re Listening

•We’re Learning

•We’re Responding

In Social Security

You’ll learn….You’ll learn….

• The types of disability benefits SSA offers

• The difference between them

and…

• How work affects the benefits you receive

DEFINITIONDEFINITION

•A physical or mental condition

•That keeps you from working

• It lasted or it’s expected to last at least for 12 months or result in death

A QUESTION FOR YOU..A QUESTION FOR YOU..

•WHO CAN GET DISABILITY?

WHO CAN GET DISABILITY?WHO CAN GET DISABILITY?

• Disabled Worker ( SSD )• Disabled Adult Child ( SSD )• Disabled Widow or Widower (SSD)

• Disabled person with low income and low assets (SSI)

Who can get Disability?Who can get Disability?

SSI• Low income

• $694 per month for individual in 2011• $1,031 per month for couple in 2011

• Low assets• $2,000 maximum for individual• $3,000 maximum for couple

Special Issues for ChildrenSpecial Issues for Children

• Parent’s income and assets are deemed to under age 18 child living with parents (SSI)

Can you get both?Can you get both?

DISABILITY

SSD

Based on someone's work

SSI

Low income

Low assets

MEDICAL BENEFITSMEDICAL BENEFITS

•MEDICARE

•MEDICAID

Medicare and MedicaidMedicare and Medicaid

SSD

Medicare

24 months after disability starts

SSI

Medicaid

No waiting period

DISABILITY

TWO DISABILITY PROGRAMS

• Title II, Social Security, SSD, SSDIMEDICARE

• Title XVI, Supplemental Security Income, SSI

MEDICAID

How Work Affects SSD Checks

How Work Affects SSD Checks

SSDI Work IncentivesSSDI Work Incentives

• Trial Work Period• Expended Period of Eligibility• IRWE’s• Subsidy• Unsuccessful Work Attempts• Expedited Re Instatement• Medicare Continuation

Trial Work PeriodTrial Work Period

•9 month trial work period•Wages must be at least

$720.00 to count as trial work month

•9 months must be in 60 month period

•SSA keeps paying the SSDI check for the 9 months of the TWP Red Book page 29

WORK ? SGAWORK ? SGA

•Substantial Gainful Activity

•SGA = WORK for SSDI

•WORK ≥ than $1,000.00 in 2010

Extended Period of Eligibility

Extended Period of Eligibility

• For 36 consecutive months

• IF YOU EARN MORE THAN $1,000 A MONTH WE WILL NOT PAY YOU A CHECK FOR THAT MONTH

• IF YOU EARN LESS THAN $1,000 WE WILL PAY YOU FOR THAT MONTH.

RedBook page 29

Impairment Related Work ExpenseImpairment Related Work Expense

• Item enables work• Needed because of impairment• Not reimbursable from another

source• Reasonable• Paid for by disabled person• Paid for in a month person was

workingRedbook page 23

• Subsidy- support received from the employer that may result in pay higher than the actual value of the services performed

• Special Conditions - provided by someone other than the employer such as a vocational rehabilitation agency

SUBSIDY & SPECIAL CONDITIONS

SUBSIDY & SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Unsuccessful Work AttemptUnsuccessful Work Attempt

A work attempt that stopped or earnings went below $1,000 after a short time (6 months or less)

• Due to impairment• Removal of special considerations

Redbook page 22

Work Incentives Work Incentives

TWP •9 non consecutive months•Checks paid no matter how much $$

$$$ you make

EPE•36 consecutive months•More than $1,000.00- no check •Less than $1,000.00 – check is paid

If you are still at disabled• Medicare continues least 7 yrs & 9

months after trial work period ends• After that, Medicare can be bought

Does Work Stop Medicare?Does Work Stop Medicare?

Redbook page 32 - 33

Expedited ReinstatementExpedited Reinstatement

• Within 5 years of termination• Same or related disability• Pays 6 months benefits while a new

disability decision is being made

Redbook page 28

How Work Affects SSI Checks

How Work Affects SSI Checks

Smaller SSI checkSSISmaller SSI checkSSI

Mucho $$$

Smaller SSI check

+ $2.00 - $1.00 + $2.00 - $1.00

How Work Effects SSI ChecksHow Work Effects SSI Checks

• Reduces check $1.00 for every $2.00 in Reduces check $1.00 for every $2.00 in wages over $85.00 in a monthwages over $85.00 in a month

• Wages affect check 2 months after they Wages affect check 2 months after they are paidare paid

• Example $485.00 wages in June Example $485.00 wages in June

•August check reduced $200.00August check reduced $200.00

•Earned Income Exclusion=$85.00Earned Income Exclusion=$85.00

+ $2.00 - $1.00 + $2.00 - $1.00

It Pays to Work!It Pays to Work!

• John’s SSI check $674.00

• John gets a job & will earn $800.00 gross wages monthly. He has no other income.

• We do not count the first $85.00

•We count half of the remainder$715.00 ÷ 2 = $357.50

•John’s countable income = $357.50

$800.00 - $85.00 $715.00

It Pays to Work!It Pays to Work!

$674.00 John’s SSI check-$357.50 countable income $316.50 SSI check $800.00 Gross wages

+$316.50 SSI check $1116.50

John’s income before working $674.00John’s income after working

$1116.50

•Student under age 22and regularly attending school

•We do not count the first $1,640 of earned income in a month up to a calendar year maximum of $6,600

(Effective January 2010)

Student Earned Income Exclusion

Student Earned Income Exclusion

Plan for Achieving Self-Support

P.A.S.S.

Plan for Achieving Self-Support

P.A.S.S.

• SSI work incentive • A plan to reach a specific work goal• Can set aside income or an excess

resource to pay for things needed to reach a work goal

What Is A PASS?

ATLANTA REGION PASS CADRE ATLANTA REGION PASS CADRE

Social Security AdministrationSEPSC1200 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.Birmingham, AL 35285-0001

Phone: 1-800-254-9489FAX: 205-801-3367

What Happen to my SSI/Medicaid ????

What Happen to my SSI/Medicaid ????

• If I become entitled to one of my parents records to a $1,500 check every month?

• What happen if I work and my SSI check goes down to $0.00 or -$0.00?

If you become entitled on one of your parents

records..

If you become entitled on one of your parents

records..

•Your Medicaid will continue if you receive the money from one of your parents records

If check goes to $0.00 because of WORK

If check goes to $0.00 because of WORK

•Your Medicaid will continue…..

The reporting requirements do not change because of it.

SSA & SSISSA & SSI

Ticket to WorkTicket to Work

• Social Security mails a paper ticket• Must be 18 or older & receiving

benefits based on adult disability rules

• Most important…• No medical review while using ticket

to work• Reporting requirements do not

changeRedbook page 26

What is MAXIMUS?What is MAXIMUS?

• MAXIMUS, INC. is a company that helps Social Security run the ticket program.

• MAXIMUS toll-free 1-866-968-7842• TTY 1-866-833-2967• Website is

www.yourtickettowork.com

WIPAWIPA

• SSA has arranged for work incentives planning and assistance services for beneficiaries who reside in the areas where there is currently no WIPA project

• The toll-free number is: 866-426-1132 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

Red Book, page 9

DISABILITY RIGHTS OF FLORIDA

DISABILITY RIGHTS OF FLORIDA

Formerly the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc.

Organizations that provide beneficiaries with information and legal advice on Vocational Rehabilitation, employment services or other work related matters

Tel 800-342-0823 Fax 850-617-6677

Thank YouThank You

Francisco.torano@ssa.gov