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Plans for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)

One of the most powerful work incentives SSI recipients may access is a Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS). A PASS is a formal plan to achieve a vocational goal. In order to write a PASS, the person must have a feasible vocational goal, money other than SSI to set aside in the PASS, and expenses necessary to meet the goal. Individuals writing PASS plans may contribute some or all of their countable income. Individuals may also contribute cash resources to the PASS. Funds set aside in a PASS are completely excluded for the duration of the PASS. One example of setting resources aside might be someone who receives an inheritance. The SSI recipient sets the inheritance aside in the PASS to pay for an adapted van to allow the individual to meet the vocational goal of becoming a paralegal. Because the inheritance is small, the person also puts some countable work income into the PASS. For the duration of the PASS, the person must follow the plan. The recipient must set the agreed upon resources and income aside in a designated account. The recipient must also keep receipts, and bank statements to demonstrate that the money is being used for the appropriate purposes. On the VCU-BARC website is a briefing document on PASS plans that provides additional information on this valuable work incentive.

Resources

VCU Briefing Paper:

Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS), Vol. 1, March 2002 - PASS-PDF | PASS-Word | PASS-Text

POMS Resources:

FAQ Disclaimer: The VCU-BARC FAQ Pages are general information provided as a public service. The contents do not necessarily represent the policy, interpretations or opinion of the Social Security Administration (SSA). The information contained here is intended to inform readers of issues that may affect Social Security and/or other public assistance benefits. Because individual circumstances differ, the reader should not rely on any information here as being specifically applicable to an individual's situation.