SSA Benefits Planning Ensuring accurate and timely benefits

SSA Benefits Planning Ensuring accurate and timely benefits counseling, debunking myths and “success stories”.

Benefits Planning Services • Goal is to help individuals understand how employment may affect their Disability benefits • Services are funded by SSA and authorized by the Ticket to Work (TTW) legislation • Created in an effort to encourage employment and to prevent employment-related benefits issues

Who We Are • Known as Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs) • Trained to counsel beneficiaries on the affect of employment on: Social Security Disability benefits, Medicaid, Medicare, and other benefits • Have required supplemental trainings and are able to assist beneficiaries in various areas

Our Goals 1. Explain which Work Incentives SSA will apply when a beneficiary goes to work 2. Show specific amounts of earned income may affect all benefits 3. Act as referral source to help beneficiary reach employment goals

How We Help • • Screen for usage of specific work incentives Show clients how to use applicable work incentives Help beneficiaries develop and report past wages Explain why and how to report income to SSA on an ongoing basis • Assist with Social Security Work Continuing Disability Reviews

How We Help (cont. ) • Explain letters beneficiaries receive from SSA • Prepare transition age students and their families for the Age 18 Redetermination • Provide case-specific information in writing • Provide ongoing support

Confidentiality • Information discussed cannot be reported to SSA without their consent • This firewall allows beneficiary to speak openly about past employment activity and future employment goals without fear • Form 3288 needed

Debunking Myths: Myth #1 • Myth: If I work at all, my entire Social Security Disability Check and Medicaid or Medicare will stop immediately. • Truth: Various Work Incentives may help an employed person maintain their healthcare and some or all of their Social Security Disability payments while they work.

Debunking Myths: Myth #2 • Myth: If I work part time, my benefits won’t be affected at all for at least 9 months. • Truth: Not everybody has a 9 Month Trial Work Period. Even part time employment can cause an SSI check to be reduced once employment begins.

Debunking Myths: Myth #3 • Myth: If my earnings cause my Social Security Disability check to stop, that means I’m terminated and can’t get it back. • Truth: Even if your check has stopped, you may not be terminated from your Social Security Disability program. If you have to stop working or cut your hours back, you may be able to get your Social Security Disability payments sent to you again without reapplying.

Debunking Myths: Myth #4 • Myth: Once my benefits are stopped, I have to go through the entire application process I went through the first time in order to have them reinstated. • Truth: It can take a long time for someone to have their benefits terminated due to earned income. Once someone is terminated, she may be eligible for an Expedited Reinstatement Process.

Debunking Myths: Myth #5 • Myth: Social Security and Medicaid will know if I’m working. • Truth: If you do not report your earnings monthly, it may take Social Security and Medicaid years to realize that you have begun employment.

Debunking Myths: Myth #6 • Myth: Ticket to Work can protect my benefits from being affected by work. • Truth: Even if you are working with Ticket partners like Louisiana Rehab Services, Employment Networks, LSUHSC HDC Benefits Planning Program or the South Louisiana Benefits Planning Program, your benefits can still be affected by employment.

Debunking Myths: Myth #7 • Myth: My Louisiana Rehab Services Counselor, employer or other agency is reporting my earned income to Social Security, so I do not need to. • Truth: You or your Representative Payee are the only ones responsible for reporting your earnings to Social Security so that they can apply the appropriate rules to your case.

Debunking Myths: Myth #8 • Myth: If I earn above a certain amount, I will lose my Medicaid Waiver Services • Truth: If you receive services from the New Opportunities Waiver, Community Choices Waiver, the Adult Day Health Care Waiver, or Residential Options Waiver you may have a “spend-down” option.

Examples and Success Stories

Who Do We Serve? • Individuals who are currently receiving a Social Security Disability benefit • Beneficiaries between the age of 14 and their full retirement age • Beneficiaries who are interested in employment

Our Process • Intake • Conversations with beneficiary • Benefits verification • Benefits Summary & Analyses (BS&As) and Work Incentives Plans (WIPs) • Ongoing follow-up

DISCLAIMER/Warning “Under NO circumstance should anyone other than a CERTIFIED benefits planner, attempt to provide individualized SSA benefits planning and/or advisement. This is a FREE service funded by SSA and provided by local CERTIFIED benefits planners. ” NOTE: To ensure accurate, individualized planning REFER your client for benefits planning services.

Louisiana’s Benefits Planning Agencies • Advocacy Center South Louisiana Benefits Planning Program • (855) 877 -8599 • LSU-Human Development Center Louisiana Benefits Planning Services • (855) 886 -5123

Benefits Planning Service Areas Green = Advocacy Center Grey = LSU

Questions?