For Example:
Who
can have a PASS? |
Anyone
that receives SSI or could be eligible for SSI can have a
PASS plan. PASS plans are designed to help individuals set
aside income/resources for a specified time period for a work
goal. The intent of the PASS program is to assist persons
in achieving self sufficiency and reducing their dependency
on SSA benefits. |
Who
may help set up a PASS plan? |
Anyone
can help set up a PASS plan, including BPAO project personnel,
other human service professionals/consultants and advocates,
vocational rehabilitation counselors and SSA personnel. SSA
PASS Specialists will play a very major role in both the
application process and the review process. Both PASS specialists
and ESR personnel can be reached via 1-800 phone lines and
are located around the country in regional and local SSA offices.
|
Can
students under the age of 18 establish a PASS to assist with
the transition process? |
Students
under age of 18 can establish a PASS if they have earned/unearned
income or resources of their own, or have deemed income or
resources from an ineligible parent to set aside.
|
Does
an Individual need to be determined eligible for SSI prior
to establishing a PASS? |
The two processes typically occur simultaneously for persons
interested in establishing a PASS that are currently not SSI
eligible. These individuals will have to go through the SSA
application process to determine eligibility prior to the
PASS resulting in the SSI cash benefit being issued. Individual's
already receiving SSI will not be required to meet initial
SSI eligibility. |
| Can
wages be excluded under a PASS in determining SSI Eligibility??
|
One
of the eligibility criteria for SSI eligibility determination
is that the individual is either currently not working or
if working, earning under SGA. While income/resources that
are set aside in a PASS are not counted in the SSI eligibility
determination process, wages that are set aside in the PASS
cannot be deducted from gross wages for SGA determination.
|
How
are PASSes and IRWEs different?
|
The
PASS work incentive allows an individual who is receiving
SSI or could be found eligible for SSI to set aside income
and/or resources for a specified period of time to purchase
items and/or services necessary to achieve a work goal. The
IRWE work incentive allows individuals to deduct certain impairment
related items and/or services that are necessary to maintain
employment from their gross earnings on an ongoing basis as
needed. |
Is
it possible to use a PASS and IRWEs at the same time?
|
It
is possible and allowable to have a PASS and also use IRWEs
at the same time for ongoing expenses not included in the
PASS. For concurrent beneficiaries, it is also possible to
use the exact same expense as a PASS for the purpose of SSI
and simultaneously claim it as an IRWE for the purpose of
the SSDI, assuming that the expense meets the requirements
of the two work incentives. In addition, during the SSI eligibility
process, an individual could use an IRWE that is also included
as a PASS expense to reduce gross monthly countable income
below SGA. Only, during SSI eligibility determination may
the same expense be counted as an IRWE and included in the
PASS simultaneously. |
Would
an individual be penalized if they did not reach their work
goal at the end of the PASS?
|
An
individual would not be penalized if they did not reach their
work goal at the end of their PASS if:
- They
followed their PASS steps to reach their work goal as established/revised,
-
Spent the set aside income and/or resources as outlined
in the PASS,
- Kept
records of the expenditures including receipts, and
- Actively
sought employment at the end of the PASS.
|
