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Social Security Work Incentives and Benefits

Are you a beneficiary of Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits (you've been in the workforce) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits (you're preparing to enter the workforce)?  If so, the following information will hopefully help you become familiar with Social Security changes that greatly expand your options and opportunities to return to work or begin employment.  (As changes do occur, be sure to check with the Social Security Administration for current information).

On December 17, 1999, Congress passed the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999.  Let's take a look at how this Act can help you!

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Social Security's Ticket to Work Program now offers you greater choices in obtaining services you need to go to work.

If you are 18 or older and haven't reached the age of 65, you may be eligible for a Ticket.  The Ticket is simply a paper document you receive that provides some personal information about you and the Ticket Program.  You take the Ticket to a certified provider of your choice for rehabilitation and employment services.  Providers can be private organizations or public agencies that have agreed to work with Social Security, and have been approved by Social Security, to provide services under this program.

Providers that participate in the Program become part of the  Employment Network.  This means you can take your Ticket to any organization or agency that's part of the Employment Network, or your state Vocational Rehabilitation agency, and receive services.

Shop around!  Before you hand over your Ticket to an organization or agency for services, you are encouraged to contact and visit as many Employment Network organizations and agencies as you like until you find the one that is right for you.  If you begin working with an organization or agency then decide you want to change to another one, that's fine.  You can begin working with another one, or you can work with your state's Vocational Rehabilitation agency.

As you can imagine, this Program is too large for Social Security to manage alone, so Social Security has contracted with MAXIMUS, Inc. to serve as the Program Manager for the Ticket Program.  To get information about the Ticket Program, call MAXIMUS, Inc. at their toll-free number, 1-866-968-7842  or  1-866-833-2967 (TTY), or visit their web site:

MAXIMUS:   Your Ticket to Work

Also, as this program is too massive to implement nationwide all at one time, the Ticket Program is being phased in over a three-year period.  Look for your state below to see when your Ticket Program will become available.

Early 2002:      Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, 
                           New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Late 2002:       Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,
                           Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, 
                           New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota,
                           Tennessee, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

During 2003:  Alabama, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota,
                           Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas,
                           Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, as well as in American
                           Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the
                           Virgin Islands.

The Ticket Program will be in full operation nationwide by January 1, 2004.

For more information, visit the following Social Security web sites or call the Social Security Administration at  1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY).

Social Security web sites for Information:

Ticket to Work Program Information for Beneficiaries, Service Providers, Advocates

The Social Security Worksite for People with Disabilities

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This section will give you a brief description of Social Security Administration work incentive rules designed to provide you with support and assistance while you either attempt to return to work or enter the workforce.  Be sure to check with the Social Security Administration for current information.

As there are differences between Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) - returning to work -  and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - entering the workforce, the work incentives and benefits are listed separately.  In the following Contents list, be sure to refer to the program work incentives that apply to you!

SSDI Work Incentives  -  Returning to Work

Expanded benefits and work incentives include:

           When you return to work, you can receive a  9-month trial work period. 
           During that 9-month period, your Social Security benefits will not be affected.
           The 9 months do not need to be consecutive months, but the 9 months must
           occur within a 60-month period.

           For at least 36 months (3 years) after your 9-month trial work period, you can
           receive a Social Security benefit for any month your earnings fall below Social
           Security's established "substantial gainful activity" level (income amount).

           If you become unable to work again because of the same or related medical
           condition, and it occurs within 60 months after your extended period of eligibility
           (3 years) has ended, you do not need to file a new disability application for
           Social Security benefits.

           If you have premium-free medical hospital insurance from Social Security and
           you start working, you may receive at least 8 1/2 years of extended coverage.
           (That includes the 9 month trial work period).  After that 8 1/2 year period, you
           can continue your Medicare coverage by paying the monthly premium. 

           You can deduct work expenses related to your impairment when Social Security
           calculates your earnings to determine if you are performing substantial work.

           If you medically recover while participating in a vocational rehabilitation program --
           a program leading you toward becoming self-supporting -- your benefits may
           continue until the program ends.

           If you get Medicare and have a low income and few resources, your state may
           pay your Medicare premiums and possibly other Medicare expenses, such as
           deductibles and coinsurance.  You'll need to contact your state or local welfare
           office or Medicaid agency to see if you qualify.

           In Oregon:   Also contact the Oregon Senior and Disabled Services Division
           for referral information or to see if you might qualify for the Employed Persons
           with Disabilities Program.  This program provides Medicaid health coverage
           to persons with disabilities who are working.  Call 1-800-282-8096 (Voice/TTY)
           or visit their web site for information:

           Employed Persons with Disabilities Program  (Oregon)

For more information on Social Security work incentives, visit these Social Security web sites!

Work Incentive Programs - Social Security

Working While Disabled  -  How We Can Help

Social Security's Publications List  (Information Publications)

State Work Incentives  -  Social Security's State Listings

Links to individual states for information on initiatives, activities, and programs
that can help people with disabilities prepare for employment.

 

Additional Resource:

WorkWORLD

WorkWORLD, a support software program produced by the Employment 
Support Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University, is designed to help 
people with disabilities, benefit counselors, and others explore and decide 
how to best use the work incentives associated with the various Federal and
State disability and poverty benefit programs.  It automates the computation 
of benefits, and takes into account the complex interaction of income, benefit programs, and work incentives.  The software is being distributed by the 
Employment Support Institute under a contract funded by the Social Security Administration.

 

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SSI Work Incentives  -  Entering the Workforce

Expanded work incentives and benefits include:

           If you work, you may continue to receive SSI payments until your income
           that counts exceeds the SSI limits.

           If you become unable to work because of your same or related medical
           condition, and your SSI disability benefits have ended because of your
           earnings from work, you have 60 months to request reinstatement of
           benefits without filing a new application.

           Your Medicaid may continue even if you earn over the SSI limits if you
           cannot afford similar medical care and depend on Medicaid in order to work.

           You may set aside income and resources to use toward an approved plan --
           receiving training or starting your own business, for example -- for achieving
           self-support.

           Your work expenses that relate to your disability may be subtracted from your
           earnings when Social Security calculates and determines your eligibility and
           payment amount.  If you are blind, the work expenses do not need to be related
           to the impairment.

           If you recover while participating in a vocational rehabilitation program that will
           lead you toward becoming self-supporting, benefits may continue until the
           program ends.

           If you work in a sheltered workshop, Social Security can exclude some of your
           earnings when they figure your SSI payment.

           Most scholarships or grants used to pay tuition, books, and other expenses
           directly related to getting an education don't count as income if you go to
           school or are in a training program.  You may also exclude a certain amount
           of earned income.  Check with Social Security for the current earning limits
           at this web site:   

           Social Security Student Earned Income Exclusion

           If you get Medicare and you have low-income and few resources, your state may 
           pay your Medicare premiums and perhaps other expenses you pay, such as
           deductibles and coinsurance.  Contact your state or local welfare office or 
           Medicaid agency to see if you qualify.

           In Oregon:   Also contact the Oregon Senior and Disabled Services Division
           for referral information or to see if you might qualify for the Employed Persons
           with Disabilities Program.  This program provides Medicaid health coverage
           to persons with disabilities who are working.  Call 1-800-282-8096 (Voice/TTY)
           or visit their web site:

           Employed Persons with Disabilities  (Oregon)

For further information on SSI work incentives, visit these Social Security web sites!

A Desktop Guide to Social Security and SSI Work Incentives

Working While Disabled  -  How We Can Help

Social Security's Publications List   (Information Publications)

State Work Incentives - Social Security's State Listings

Links to individual states for information on initiatives, activities, 
and programs that can help people with disabilities prepare for 
work.

 

Additional Resource:

WorkWORLD

WorkWORLD, a support software program provided by the Employment
Support Institute at the Virginia Commonwealth University, is designed to
help people with disabilities, benefit counselors, and others explore and
decide how to best use the work incentives associated with the various
Federal and State disability and poverty benefit programs.  It automates
the computation of benefits, and takes into account the complex 
interaction of income, benefit programs, and work incentives.  The software
is being distributed by the Employment Support Institute under a contract
funded by the Social Security Administration.

 

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