Returning to Work Making SSI and SSDI Work

Returning to Work Making SSI and SSDI Work Incentives Work for You! This presentation is funded by a grant from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The contents of this presentation are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not represent the official views of SSA.

SSI (Supplemental Security Income) • Must have a qualifying disability that prevents you/or severely limits you from working at a substantial gainful activity level ($1, 010 per month in 2012); • Must have limited income and resources; • The most you can receive in SSI in PA in 2012 is $720. 10 (for an individual) - $698 is what the federal government pays and $22. 10 is what Pennsylvania kicks in; • The amount of your monthly SSI cash benefit depends on how much other monthly income you receive. Your SSI cash benefit will never be more than $720. 10 per month (for an individual in Pennsylvania in 2012); • You automatically receive Medicaid if you get SSI.

Basic SSI Calculation Gross Monthly Earnings Received - $85 General+Earned Income Exclusion = Remainder ÷ 2 = Countable Earned Income Maximum SSI Amount Eligible to Receive - Countable Earned Income = Adjusted Monthly SSI Cash Benefit

SSI Calculation Example: $1, 000. 00 Gross Wages Per Month Received - $85. 00 General+Earned Income Exclusions = $915. 00 ÷ 2 = $457. 50 $698. 00 Max Federal SSI for Individual - $457. 50 Countable Income = $240. 50 + $22. 10 PA State Supplement = $262. 60 Adjusted Monthly SSI Cash Benefit

New Total Monthly Income: $1, 000. 00 Gross Monthly Earnings + $262. 60 Adjusted SSI Cash Benefit $1, 262. 60 Total Monthly Income $1, 262. 60 vs. $720. 10

SSI and Gross Wages • For SSI purposes Social Security counts gross earnings that are received in the month (i. e. how many paychecks you get in the month)

Work Incentives SSI: • Basic: General and Earned Income Exclusions ($85. 00 = $20. 00 General + $65 Earned); counting only ½ of the remainder; All SSI recipients who work are eligible for the Basic income exclusions. • Medicaid While Working (1619 b): In PA, you can keep your Medicaid and SSI eligibility until your gross yearly earnings reach $30, 953 (for 2012); Most recipients who work are eligible for 1619 b.

SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) • • You must have a qualifying disability that prevents you from working or severely limits your ability to work at the SGA level ($1, 010 in 2012); You could be eligible for SSDI if you have enough work credits paid in to Social Security; You might be eligible for SSDI based on the work record of a retired/deceased/disabled parent if you became disabled prior to age 22; or you could be eligible based on the record of a deceased spouse if you are at least 50 years old and have a qualifying disability; You are generally eligible for Medicare benefits after a 2 -year waiting period from the time you start getting SSDI cash benefits. Medicare includes Part A (Hospital), Part B (Medical), and Part D (Prescription); Your monthly cash benefit could be high or low based on the number of work credits on your or someone else’s (parent/spouse) record. You are allowed to test your ability to work during a Trial Work Period, during which your benefits will not stop due to work. If you work at SGA after the TWP, your benefits will stop. If you stop working at SGA within 36 months after the TWP your benefits will be reinstated without a new application.

SSDI and Gross Wages • For SSDI purposes, Social Security counts gross wages that you earned during the month (i. e. how many hours did you work during a calendar month? )

Work Incentives for SSDI Beneficiaries Most SSDI beneficiaries will be eligible for the: • Trial Work Period (TWP): during the TWP, you can earn as much as you’re able to and continue to receive your full monthly SSDI cash benefit; a month counts for the TWP if you earn $720 gross/month (for 2012); the TWP is completed when you have worked 9 TWP months (not necessarily consecutive) within a rolling 60 month period. • 36 -month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE): immediately following the completion of your 9 th TWP month; you can be reinstated to your full SSDI cash benefit for each month your earnings are below SGA ($1010 gross/month or greater for 2012 non-blind)

More SSDI Work Incentives • Continuation of Medicare: Once you start working, you can keep your Medicare for 93 months (7 years and 9 months) from the completion of your Trial Work Period. • Subsidy/Special Condition: Social Security will not count all of the income you earn if you receive special assistance on the job (i. e. job coaching, extra supervision, assistance from co-workers to perform job duties, etc. ) – this is beneficial if your gross monthly wages are at least $1010 (2012) at the end of your Trial Work Period.

SSI and SSDI Work Incentives • Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE): Social Security will deduct your out-of-pocket expenses for items or services that allow you to work. The expense can be related to your SSA qualifying disability or a condition for which you are receiving healthcare services. – SSI: IRWE is subtracted in the SSI calculation immediately after the earned income exclusion is applied – SSDI: IRWE is deducted from gross monthly earnings that are $1010 or greater (2012).

More SSI/SSDI Work Incentives • Expedited Reinstatement of Benefits (EXR): If you terminate from the SSI or SSDI programs because of successful work, you can begin receiving benefits again within 60 months from the month you terminated from SSI or SSDI if you stop working at the SGA level. You must still have a disability that is the same as or related to your original qualifying disability. You may start getting provisional benefits right away (up to 6 months) while Social Security determines if you are still disabled.

Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) • MAWD is Medicaid (MA) for WORKING individuals with disabilities. • MAWD allows workers with disabilities to purchase MA at a reasonable monthly premium. • MAWD provides MA coverage to working individuals with disabilities who otherwise would not qualify for it because of earnings and/or resources above allowable limits. • Average monthly MAWD premium is around $50. 00.

Who is Eligible for MAWD? ü Is 16 to 64 years of age ü Is employed and receiving compensation ü Has a disability that meets SSA standards ü Has monthly countable income less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) ü Has countable resources equal to or less than $10, 000

To Apply for MAWD Contact your local County Assistance Office (CAO) OR, apply online at – http: //www. compass. state. pa. us

Ticket to Work • Allows eligible SSI/SSDI beneficiaries the opportunity to receive employment, vocational, or other services to help them go to work or earn more money. • Services are provided by approved Employment Networks (EN), which are private organizations or governmental agencies that have agreed to work with SSA to provide these services to SSI/SSDI beneficiaries. • The Ticket to Work Program is voluntary!!

Ticket Benefits to Beneficiaries • COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY program that can be used by the beneficiary when they’re ready (or, never has to be used) • FREE OF CHARGE • Provides greater CHOICE to beneficiaries in determining and accessing employment support services • While ticket is “in use” SSA medical reviews are SUSPENDED

For Work Incentive Planning and Assistance Services… Contact Lynnette Shirk – Community Work Incentives Coordinator 1 -866 -541 -7005 x 1 lshirk@yourgoodwill. org