Benefits Planning Summary
Supplemental Security Income

This is a summary of the work incentives available to you if you get SSI.  We talked about the items checked below.  See the comments section for any specific issues or recommendations.


Consumer Name: ____________________________  SS#: ______________________________

Counselor Name: ___________________________  Phone: ____________________________

____ Continuation Of SSI—Working SSI recipients who are blind or disabled may continue to receive payments until countable income exceeds SSI limits.

Comments:




____ Continuation Of Medicaid Eligibility—Medicaid may continue for SSI recipients who are blind or disabled and earn over the SSI limits if they cannot afford similar medical care and depend on Medicaid in order to work.

Comments:




____ Impairment-Related Work Expenses—Certain expenses for things a person with a disability needs because of his/her impairment in order to work may be deducted when counting earnings to determine if a person is eligible and to figure the payment amount. For working persons who are blind, the work expenses need not be related to the impairment.

Comments:




____ Plan For Achieving Self-Support—An SSI recipient who is blind or disabled may set aside income and resources toward an approved plan for achieving self-support (PASS).

Comments:




____ Students With Disabilities—Tuition, books and other expenses related to getting an education may not be counted as income for recipients who go to school or are in a training program. Student may exclude up to $1,340 of earnings a month ($5,410 a year).

Comments:




OVER

____ Blind Work Expenses---Earned income that a blind individual uses to meet the expenses of working does not count when we determine SSI eligibility and payment amount. The expenses do not need to be related to blindness and include earned income used to pay income taxes, meals consumed during work hours, transportation costs or guide dog expenses.

Comments:




____ Sheltered Workshop Payments—Pay received in a sheltered workshop is treated as earned income, regardless of whether it is considered wages for other purposes. This enables Social Security to exclude more of the sheltered workshop employee’s earnings when computing his/her SSI payment.

Comments:




____ Recovery During Vocational Rehabilitation—If a person recovers while participating in a vocational rehabilitation program that is likely to lead to becoming self-supporting, benefits may continue until the program ends.

Comments:




____  Ticket to Work---The Ticket allows beneficiaries/recipients more choices in seeking assistance from Employment Networks to work.  You are protected from a Medical Review by Social Security when you Ticket is assigned to an Employment Network.  The Ticket is voluntary.  You do not have to assign your Ticket to take use these Work Incentives.

Comments:_______________________________________________________________________
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____  Expedited Benefits—As of January 1, 2001, if a beneficiary’s benefits have ended because of earnings from work and he/she becomes unable to work again because of his/her medical condition within 60 months, benefits may begin again without a new application.

Commments:______________________________________________________________________
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Please call me if you have any questions