Work and Benefits Action Plan

WORK AND BENEFITS ACTION PLAN

Name of Self Advocacy Group: Sacramento Wellness and Recover Center

Topic: How work will affect benefits

PART I. KNOWLEDGE SECTION

What knowledge (information) did the self-advocacy group members identify that they want to learn about this topic?

The Ticket to Work Program SSDI work rules SSI work rules Continuing Disability Reviews How do I find out how many trial work months I have used? How do I find out when Social Security will do my next Continuing Disability Review? At what age does Social Security stop doing Continuing Disability Reviews?

What did the self-advocacy group members say they wanted to do with the information that they learn?

I will think about going back to work. I will get a part time job. I will get a full time job. I will have information to make a choice about going back to work. SUB TOPIC DATE

Week 1: Overview of Ticket To Work Oct 15, 2008 Method: Discussion and Review Handouts Materials: Handouts from Social Security’s Web page: Ticket to Work Contacting a Benefits Planner How to contact Social Security How to request a Benefits Planning Query

Week 2: Social Security’s Work Incentives Program Oct 22, 2008 Method: Discussion and Review Handout Materials: Handouts from Social Security’s Web page How Work Affects Benefits – brief handout Trial Work Period – SSDI Pass Plan – SSI Earned Income Exclusions - SSI

SUB TOPIC: DATE

Week 3: Return to Benefits if Needed Oct 29, 2008 Method: Discussion and Review Handout Materials: Handouts from Social Security’s Web page: Unsuccessful Work Attempt – SSDI Reinstatement without New Application – SSI Expedited Reinstatement – SSDI and SSI At what age does SSA stop Continuing Disability Reviews (The answer to this will come from our PABSS employee)

2 Evaluation: Did people learn what they said they wanted to learn about the topic? (If no, what barriers got in the way?)

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WHAT EVALUATION METHOD DID YOU USE? (Please Attach)

I plan to have a discussion about what they learned and ask attendees to fill out the following evaluation form:

3 DISABILITY RIGHTS CALIFORNIA PEER AND SELF ADVOCACY UNIT 100 Howe Avenue Suite 200N Sacramento, CA 95825 (916) 448-7787

HOW WORK AFFECTS BENEFITS EVALUATION

Thank you for attending the How Work Affects Benefits workshop here at the Wellness and Recovery Center. To improve this workshop, please take a few minutes to give your feedback about this workshop. Your comments are greatly appreciated!

What did you want to learn from this workshop?

______

Did you learn what you wanted to learn from this workshop?

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4 Was there any information that you wanted to learn about that was NOT presented? ______

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What suggestions do you have to improve this workshop?

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Thank you for participating in this workshop.

5 CONTACTING A BENEFITS PLANNER http://www.disabilitybenefits101.org/ca/directories/planners.htm

What is a Benefits Planner? Most current benefit planners have training in public health and income support programs such as Social Security disability programs. This emerging field is growing rapidly. More planners are developing expertise on public and private, health and income programs. Benefit planners work with the individual goals of those seeking benefit program information and interaction. Some organizations call this field benefit counseling.

Service Area: Sacramento County Vilma Rodriguez Sacramento Works Career Center—Rancho Cordova 10665 Coloma Road, Suite 200 Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (866) 936-4237 (Toll-Free) Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentives Coordinator

(CWIC)

6 HOW TO CONTACT SOCIAL SECURITY

You may call Social Security at 1 (800) 772-1213 Monday through Friday, eastern standard time.

If you would like to find out if you have used any of your trial work period for Social Security Disability, you can call or go to your local Social Security office and ask for a Benefits Planning Query (BPQY). This form will also tell you when your next Continuing Disability Review is due.

7 http://ssa.gov/redbook/eng/guide-employment-supports.htm#2

Ticket to Work (SSDI and SSI Eligible)

What is a The Ticket to Work Program is an innovative program for Ticket? individuals with disabilities who want to work. It increases your available choices when obtaining employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other support services you may need to get or keep a job. It is a free and voluntary service. You can use the Ticket if you choose, but there is no penalty for not using it. While you are using the Ticket, SSA will not conduct a continuing disability medical review of your case. Where This program is available in all 50 States and 10 United can I use States Territories. Many SSDI and SSI disability a Ticket? beneficiaries will receive a “Ticket” they can use to obtain services from a state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency or another approved provider of their choice. We call these approved providers “Employment Networks.” Employment Networks are private organizations or government agencies that have agreed to work with Social Security to provide employment services to beneficiaries with disabilities. Where For more information on Ticket to Work, including a list of can I use approved Employment Networks, contact the SSA Ticket a Ticket? Program Operations Support Manager, MAXIMUS, at their toll free numbers; 1-866-YOURTICKET (1-866-968-7842) or for TTY/TDD call 1-866-833-2967 between 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time (Monday through Friday).

Current information about the Ticket to Work Program can be found online at

8 www.ssa.gov/work/Ticket/ticket_info.html or www.yourtickettowork.com.

http://ssa.gov/work/receivingbenefits.html#check

How does work affect my check benefits?

First, you should know that if you go back to work, you will NOT automatically lose your disability benefits. The Ticket to Work and special rules called "work incentives" allow you to keep your cash benefits and Medicare or Medicaid while you test your ability to work.

For the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, there is a trial work period during which you can receive full benefits regardless of how much you earn, as long as you report your work activity and continue to have a disabling impairment. The trial work period continues until you accumulate nine months (not necessarily consecutive) in which you perform what we call “services” within a rolling 60-month period. We consider your work to be “services” if you earn more than $670 a month in 2008. For 2007, this amount was $640. After the trial work period ends, your benefits will stop for the months your earnings are at a level we consider "substantial" -- currently $940 in 2008. For 2007, this amount was $900. Different amounts apply to people who are disabled because of blindness. The monthly SGA amount for statutorily blind individuals for 2008 is $1,570.

For an additional 36 months after completing the trial work period, we can start your benefits again if your earnings fall below the "substantial" level and you continue to have a disabling impairment. For more information about work incentives, we recommend that you read the pamphlet, Working While Disabled-How We Can Help (SSA Publication Number 05-10095). If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) your work may affect the amount of your check. However, we do not count the first $65.00 of earnings in a month plus one-half of the remainder. This 9 means we count less than one-half of your earnings when we figure your SSI payment amount. You may still qualify for other work incentives, such as Ticket to Work, and continue to receive Medicaid.

Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) (SSI eligible)

How does it A PASS allows you to set aside income and/or resources help you? for a specified period of time so you can pursue 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.

We do not count the income that you set aside under your PASS when we figure your SSI payment amount. We do not count the resources that you set aside under your PASS when we determine your initial and continuing eligibility for SSI.

A PASS can help you establish or maintain SSI eligibility and can increase your SSI payment amount. For example, if you receive $800 in SSDI, you have too much income for SSI. But if you otherwise qualify for SSI and have a work goal, you could use some of your SSDI to pay for PASS expenses. That could reduce your income enough to be eligible for SSI. The result will be a higher monthly cash benefit with eligibility for both SSDI and SSI. Who can If you receive SSI or could qualify for SSI, you can have a have a PASS. You may not need a plan now, but you may need PASS? one next month or next year to remain eligible or to increase your SSI payment amount. What are the Your PASS must: requirements for a PASS?  Be designed especially for you;

 Be in writing (we prefer that you use our form, the

11 SSA-545-BK). You can get copies of the PASS form, SSA-545-BK, at your local office, from any PASS Expert, or from our web site at: www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-545.html;

 Have a specific work goal that you are capable of performing;

 Have a specific timeframe for reaching your goal;

 Show what money (other than your SSI payments) and other resources you have or receive that you will use to reach your goal;

 Show how your money and resources will be used to reach your work goal;

 Show how the money you set aside will be kept separate from other funds;

 Be approved by us; and

 Be reviewed by us periodically to assure your plan is actually helping you achieve progress. Who can Anyone may help you with your PASS; for example, help you set vocational counselors, social workers, benefit specialists or up a PASS? employers. SSA evaluates the plan and decides if it is acceptable. We also help individuals put their plans in writing. How does a We do not count resources set aside under a PASS towards PASS affect the resource limit. your SSI eligibility When we figure your SSI payment amount, we do not count and/or income set aside under a PASS. We apply this exclusion to payment? your countable income after we apply all other applicable exclusions Where can You can get a PASS Expert’s telephone number by calling 12 you get more our toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and information 7 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit our web site at: about a www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/passcadre.htm. PASS? We also have a pamphlet entitled Working While Disabled – A Plan for Achieving Self-Support (SSA Publication No. 05- 11017) that is available online at: www.ssa.gov/pubs/11017.html. You can also get a copy from your local office or by calling our toll-free number 1- 800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Trial Work Period (TWP) (SSDI eligible)

How does The TWP allows you to test your ability to work for at the TWP least 9 months. During your TWP, you will receive full help SSDI benefits regardless of how high your earnings individuals? might be so long as your work activity has been reported and you have a disabling impairment. When does Your TWP starts the first month you are eligible for SSDI the TWP benefits or the month in which you file for benefits, start? whichever is later. When does The TWP continues until you accumulate 9 months (not the TWP necessarily consecutive) in which you perform what we start? call “services” within a rolling 60-consecutive-month period. We use this "services" rule only to count TWP months.

In 2008, we consider your work to be “services” if your gross earnings are more than $670 a month, or if you work more than 80 self-employed hours in a month. What After you complete your TWP, you begin your extended happens period of eligibility (EPE), unless we conduct a medical when you review of your disability and find your impairment has complete medically improved. After the TWP ends, we take into your TWP? account your work and earnings to decide if you can work at the SGA level (see our chapter, OVERVIEW OF OUR DISABILITY PROGRAMS).

When your TWP is complete, you become eligible for

14 other employment supports and we consider whether any of them apply to your situation.

What else  You are not eligible for disability benefits or a TWP do you if you work at the SGA level within 12 months of the need to start of your impairment(s) and before we approve know about your claim for disability benefits. This is because the TWP? your impairment does not meet our definition of disability (see our chapter, OVERVIEW OF OUR DISABILITY PROGRAMS).

 We can consider medical evidence that might demonstrate your medical recovery at any time. Therefore, it is possible for your benefits to stop due to your medical recovery before the end of your TWP.

 We will not conduct a medical review of your disability if you are participating in the Ticket to Work program and your ticket is “in-use.” (see previous section).

 Unsuccessful work attempts (UWA) do not apply during the TWP (see section below).

 The dollar amount of TWP “services” can be adjusted each year based on the national average wage. Does the No. A TWP does not apply to the SSI program. TWP apply to SSI

Earned Income Exclusion (SSI eligible)

We do not Example of the Earned Income Exclusion count the first $65 of your earnings in a Situation 1 Situation 2 month plus one-half of the Ed receives $361 SSDI Ed receives wages of remainder. This each month, $10 $361 per month, no SSDI means that we unearned income from and $10 unearned income count less than another source and no from another source. one-half of your wages. earnings when $ 0 SSDI we figure your $361 SSDI $ 10 Other unearned SSI payment + 10 Other unearned income amount. income - 20 General income $371 exclusion We apply this - 20 General income $ 0 Countable unearned exclusion in exclusion income addition to the $351 Countable income $20 general $361 Earned income income - 10 Remaining general exclusion (an income exclusion exclusion that is $351 first applied to - 65 $65 Earned income any unearned exclusion income that you $286 may receive). -143 ½ remaining $637 2008 Federal earnings Benefit This table $143 Countable earned 16 Rate income -351 Countable income $286 SSI payment $637 2008 Federal Benefit Available income: Rate $361 SSDI -143 Countable income + 10 Other unearned $494 SSI payment income shows an +286 SSI Available income: example of the $657 Total Monthly $361 Earned income earned income Income + 10 Other unearned exclusion. income +494 SSI $865 Total Monthly Income

Unsuccessful Work Attempt (UWA) (SSDI eligible)

What is an A UWA is an effort to do substantial work, in employment or self- UWA? employment, that you stopped or reduced to below the SGA level after a short time (6 months or less) because of:

 Your impairment; or

 Removal of special conditions related to your impairment and essential to the further performance of your work. (see our section below) What is the benefit When we make a SGA decision to determine if your disability of an UWA continues or ceases because of your work, we do not count your if I receive earnings during a UWA. SSDI? Can a UWA Yes. During the Extended Period of Eligibility (see our previous occur section), we consider UWA(s) as part of our SGA decision(s) for during the months up to and including the month (if any) in which we cease extended your disability. period of eligibility? Can a UWA No. We do not consider UWA during the trial work period (see our occur previous section), or after the month (if any) in which we cease your during the disability. trial work period? Does a For SSI we only consider a UWA at the time you file an initial claim. UWA After that time, a UWA is not considered in figuring your SSI affect my payment. monthly SSI

18 payment?

http://ssa.gov/redbook/eng/guide-employment-supports.htm#14 19 Reinstating SSI Eligibility Without a New Application (SSI eligible)

How If you have been ineligible for a SSI payment due to your does it work, you may be able to restart your SSI cash payment help again at any time without a new application. If you have you? been ineligible for SSI and/or Medicaid for any reason other than medical recovery or work, you may be able to restart your SSI cash payment and/or Medicaid coverage within 12 months without a new application. When your situation changes, contact us and ask about how you can restart your SSI benefits and/or Medicaid. If your cash payment and Medicaid benefits ended because of your work and earnings, and you stop work within 5 years of when your benefits ceased, we may be able to start your benefits again. See the section, Expedited Reinstatement, in this chapter.

Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) (SSDI and SSI eligible)

What is EXR is a safety net for those individuals who successfully EXR? return to work, and later lose their entitlement to SSDI or SSI benefits and payments. If your cash payments ended because of your work and earnings, and you stop work within 5 years of when your benefits ended, we may be able to start your benefits again. How does If you have stopped receiving benefits due to your work, EXR help you may be able to restart them again without a new you? application. The EXR provision allows an individual to receive up to 6 months of temporary cash benefits while SSA conducts a medical review to determine whether the individual can be reinstated to benefits. The individual may also be eligible for Medicare and/or Medicaid during the provisional benefit period. Who can If you meet all the following requirements you are eligible be to request EXR: reinstated?  Previous entitlement to SSDI benefits was terminated due to performance of SGA; or previous SSI disability/blindness eligibility was terminated because of excess earned income or a combination of earned and unearned income;

 Not be performing SGA in the month you apply for EXR;

 Be unable to work at the SGA level due to your medical condition;

 Have a current medical impairment(s) that is the same as or related to the original disabling 21 impairment(s); and

 Request EXR within 5 years from the month we terminate your benefits.

http://ssa.gov/redbook/eng/guide-employment-supports.htm#3

22 Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) (SSDI eligible)

What is the During the 36 consecutive months following the TWP, if EPE? you qualify, we may restart your SSDI benefits without a new application, disability determination, or waiting period. When does The EPE begins the month after the TWP ends, the EPE whether you are working or not. begin? How does The first 36 months of the EPE is the reentitlement the EPE period. During the reentitlement period benefits are paid help you? for months your earnings or work activities are below the substantial gainful activity limits as long as you continue to have a disabling impairment. Benefits are suspended for months your earnings or work activities are over the substantial gainful activity limit. A new application and/or disability determination are NOT required to start your benefits again. (This is a different rule than expedited reinstatement that is described in the section below.) What If we find you have worked above SGA in the EPE for happens the the first time, we will pay for the first month your first time you benefits cease due to SGA and the following 2 months. work above This is referred to as the grace period. SGA? Can you continue to If you are eligible for a benefit payment for the 37th receive month, you will continue to be eligible for benefits until benefits after you: the  Work a month at the SGA level, or reentitlement period  Medically recover. ends?

23 What happens if Your benefits will end if you work above SGA limits after I work after the 36-month reentitlement period. However you may the be able to start your benefits again if you stop work reentitlement within the next 5 years. See the information on period expedited reinstatement, in the section below. ends? Do you get No. The EPE applies only to individuals who receive an EPE SSDI cash benefits under SSI?