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Presented By: Tom Brownlee Courtney Edgington Tamera Dalton Ms. Sarah Heuser Kelly Holt Robert Jones Kayci Lynam Amber Orvin Mr. Eric Stoker

Advocates as Leaders

Self Advocacy Speakers’ Network

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HAVE MORE MONEY$

LEARN NEW SKILLS

MEET NEW PEOPLE

SHARE YOUR TALENT AND EXPERTISE WITH OTHERS

HAVE A FEELING OF PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE

So,

Why Do People Freak

Out about Working?

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Myths: Social Security Benefits and Working

If I go to work I will lose my social security money I get every month

If I make money I won’t be able to keep my Medicaid and/or Medicare health benefits

If I lose my job I won’t be able to get them back

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If I go to work I will lose my Social

Security money I get every month

#1 MYTH

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Countable Income

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Federal Benefit Rate

Supplemental Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

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&

SSI is a benefit for low income people 65 or older

or disabled who have NEVER paid working taxes or NOT enough working

taxes

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Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Utah:$771.00 Per Month (Max) Single Person $1157.00 Per Month (Max) Couple

Federal Benefit Rate

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COUNTABLE INCOME SSI

Social Security does not count all of your working income They look at your income for 2 reasons:

Eligibility Ongoing Benefits

Less than ½ of a person's gross earnings are

counted by SSI

Additional deductions of a $20.00 General and a $65.00 Earned Income

Exclusions 13

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VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= bjGz2TM3jko

SSI and Working

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SSI Amount

Total Monthly Income

Countable Income

Less than ½ of a person's gross

earnings are counted by SSI

SSI Federal Benefit Rate minus your working wage

(amount you will receive from SSI)

Working Wage plus your SSI Check

SSI Calculator worksheets assist you with 3 important

pieces of information:

SSI Calculator Guides Check for Yourself

Check out the tools available on the Social

Security Website

www.SSA.gov

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George’s SSI

Calculator

$800.00 Gross Monthly Wages

- $20.00 General Income Exclusion = $780.00 - $65.00 Earned Income Exclusion = $715.00 ÷ 2 (Divide the number by 2)

George works part time and earns $800.00 per month and receives

$771.00 from SSI. He does not use any work incentives.

= $357.50 Countable Earned Income

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$771.00 SSI Federal Benefit Rate

- $357.50 Countable Earned Income

= $413 .50 SSI Benefit Check

$800.00 Gross Monthly Wages + $413.50 SSI Benefit Check

= $1213.50 Total Monthly Amount

Not Working: Total Income: $771.00

Working: Total Income:$1213.50

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Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

SSDI is a benefit for people who have paid into the

Social Security System by paying working taxes or

people who use to work but no longer can due to physical or mental

impairment

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

2019 SGA Limits: Non Blind/$1220.00 Blind/$2040.00

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A term that describes a level of work activity and earnings

Substantial Gainful Employment (SGA)

Work that involves

significant and

productive duties

Work which pays more than the current monthly income

limit set by the Social Security

Earning Guidelines used for eligibility and Continuation of Services

Different rules than SSI

Social Security reviews your level of work by using the SGA Level set every year

Social Security gives credit for other expenses you pay out of your pocket to support your work activity

Gross Monthly Wages - Work Incentives = Total Countable Income

SSDI payment is an all or nothing benefit

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Work Incentives

Work Protections

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&

• Student Earned Income Exclusion

• Impairment Related Work Expense

• Plan to Achieve Self Supports

• Ticket to Work SSI

• Impairment Related Work Expense

• Plan to Achieve Self Supports (PASS)

• Subsidies and Special Conditions

• Ticket to Work

SSDI

Work Incentives

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If you receive SSI benefits and under the age of 22 and

go to school you can earn up to 1,108 per month or $7,550 per year (2019)

without having to give anything back to social

security

Student Earned Income Exclusion

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He uses the “Student Earned

Income Exclusion” work

incentive 25

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With the Student Earned Income Exclusion

Without the Student Earned Income Exclusion

$ 400.00 Gross Monthly Wages + 613.50 SSI Benefit Check

= $1013.50 Total Monthly Amount

$400.00 Gross Monthly Wages + 771.00 SSI Benefit Check

= $1171.00 Total Monthly Amount

Call your local social security office and tell them you are

working

Earns $400.00 per month

Be sure to tell them that you are in school

Explain to them what you do, how much you earn and how often you get a pay check

Tell them that you are interested in using the Student Earned Income Exclusion

Can only be used with SSI

Impairment Related Work Expenses

Social Security will deduct the cost of certain impairments-related items and services from your gross

wages that you need in order to work.

You need the item(s) or services(s) because of a physical or mental impairment

You pay for the item(s) or services(s) and are not

reimbursed by another source such as Medicare, Medicaid, or a private insurance carrier

The cost is ”reasonable” ,that is, it represents the

standard charge for the item or service in your community.

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He chooses to use the “Impairment Related

Work Expense” 28

Costs that YOU pay for so you can work. Transportation Costs Attendant Care Services Service Animals Medical Devices Prosthesis Residential Modifications Prescription Drugs Over the counter Drugs and Medical Services Diagnostic Procedures Non-Medical Appliances and Devices Other Items & Services

Can be used with either SSI and/or SSDI

Minus these costs from your gross pay

$ Gross Monthly Wages + SSI Benefit Check - Impairment Related Work Expense = Total Monthly Amount

If you get SSDI

Notify and Provide receipts to your local social security office

of your expenses

If you get SSI

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A Subsidy is a support that is provided by your employer that may result in more pay

than the actual rate of the work you do.

Subsidy

& Special Conditions 30

Special Conditions Special Conditions are the supports or assistance that you

receive on the job that are provided by your employer or by someone else at your job.

You have a job coach or mentor that helps you on the job

Your employer gives you additional or longer paid breaks than other workers doing the same job

That you are assigned fewer or simpler tasks to complete than other workers doing the same job for the same pay

You receive more supervision than other workers doing the same or similar job for the same pay

IT MIGHT BE:

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He asked questions about the “Special Condition”

work incentive 32

Call your local social security office and tell them you are working or you want to provide them with additional

information about your job

Explain to them in detail about the type of work you do and who helps you do that work

Ask questions about Subsidies and Special Conditions and how they might effect your benefit

(It’s important that you use the RIGHT words)

Can be used with either SSI and/or SSDI

Social Security will contact your employer to evaluate the types of supports and assistance that you receive on the job 33

A PASS plan allows a person to set aside other income so they can pursue

their work goal They can save for: Educational Expenses Vocational Training Assistive Technology used for employment related purpose Starting a Business

Plan to Achieve Self Supports (Pass)

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Used A “Plan to Achieve Self

Supports(PASS)” 35

The plan must be a WRITTEN plan and designed especially for you

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Have a Specific work goal that you are capable of performing

Have a specific timeframe for

reaching your goal

Show what income and resources you have to

reach your goal

Show how you will use your income and resources

to reach your goal

Show how the money you set aside will be kept separate from

other funds

Be approved and Reviewed by Social Security Contact your Local Social Security Office for

more information

PASS Requirements

Ticket to Work

A work program that can help you achieve greater financial independence by providing you access to free

employment support services. You are eligible to obtain services from a state VR agency or

“Employment Networks”

Connecting to an Employment Team

Finding a Job CAN HELP YOU WITH:

No penalty for not using your ticket

Free and Voluntary Services

While using your ticket, you may not be subject to a continuing disability review.

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She chooses to use the “Ticket to Work” work incentive

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Sign up with your local VR office or

Employment Network

Contact the Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday-Friday 8 am-8 pm Eastern Standard Time

OR Visit https://choosework.ssa.gov/

Can be used with either SSI and/or SSDI

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If I lose my job, I won’t be able to get

my benefit back

#2 MYTH

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• Reinstating SSI Eligibility without a new application

• 1619 (b) Medicaid Coverage

• Expedited Reinstatement

SSI

• Trial Work Periods

• Extended Period of Eligibility

• Continuation of Medicare Coverage

• Expedited Reinstatement

• Unsuccessful Work Attempt SSDI

Work Protections

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Trial Work Period (TWP)

Trial Work Period allows a person to try

working for at least nine months without effecting their benefit.

Can only be used if you

are receiving SSDI

During these months, you continue to receive your full benefit no matter how much you’ve

earned as long as you reported your work activity and continue to have a disability impairment

Any one of the 9 months can be within a 3 year period

(does not have to be consecutive months)

Trial Work Month = $880.00

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Can be used if you are

receiving SSI and/or SSDI

Expedited Reinstatement A safety net for people who want to return

to work or had to stop working due to disability.

Social Security rules allows you to receive up to six months of temporary cash while they decide if you are still

eligible for SSI and/or SSDI

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Reinstating SSI Eligibility Without a New Application

Can only be used if you

are receiving SSI

If you are no longer receiving SSI benefits due to your work, you may

be able to restart your SSI cash payments again at any time without a new application

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Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)

Can only be used if you

are receiving SSDI

You are eligible to continue to receive your cash benefit for the next 3 years if:

You receive SSDI benefits

You have completed your Trial Work Period (TWP)

You stay under the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level

(SGA $1,220.00 per month 2019)

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Can be used if you are receiving

SSDI or SSI

Unsuccessful Work Attempt

When a person tries work and you stop or

reduce below the Substantial Gainful

Activity (SGA) level after a short time (6 months or less) because of your

impairment or the removal of special

conditions

#3 MYTH

If I make money, I won’t be able to keep my

Medicaid and/or Medicare health benefits 47

Continuation of Medicare Coverage

If your cash benefit stops because you

are working you can still access Medicare for another 7 years and 9 months as

long as the premiums are paid

Can only be used if you are

receiving Medicare

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Can only be used if you are

receiving Medicaid

1619 (b) Medicaid Coverage

You can still receive Medicaid coverage even if you go to

work and your earnings become too high to receive a

SSI cash benefit

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Know your benefits! Your Wages & your Social Security Benefit

Keep Social Security aware of

your working activity

Find people who can help you find the answers to your questions

Charge up your calculator empower yourself

Be aware of the different

Work Incentives and

Protections that are

available to you

Understand the meaning of the words that affect your benefit

Personal Responsibilities

DON’T stop asking questions! 50

Additional Resources Social Security: National: 1-800-772-1213 or www.SSA.gov Local: Provo Office: 866-366-9549 Fax 801-375-4608

Department of Work Force Services (DWS) Statewide: 866-435-7414 Fax:877-313-4717

(Red Book)

Workforce Services Rehabilitation: Vocational Rehabilitation www.jobs.utah.gov/usor/vr/index.html

Employment Services Utah Work Incentive Planning Services

Utah Center for Assistive Technology Student Transition

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ABLE Accounts The Achieving a Better Life Experience

(ABLE) Act is a TAX-ADVANTAGED savings accounts for individuals who were disabled

before age 26 and their families

Save up to $15,000 a year and use this money to help with a variety of expenses including education,

transportation, housing, employment and personal supports

Utah exempts all ABLE accounts as countable assets against Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition

Assistance Program (SNAP or Food Stamps) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

No impact on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid and other public benefits

www. ablenrc.org

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Contact Information Advocates as Leaders

Self Advocacy Speakers’ Network

155 South 300 West Suite 100 Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

801-245-7353

This project is funded by the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council in partnership with Utah State University, The Center for Persons with Disabilities

Different Abilities Make Us ALL Unique

Ms. Sarah Heuser

Email:sarahh@svacademy.org

Mr. Eric Stoker

Email:estoker@utah.gov