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Resource Guides
  • (NEW) Self-Advocacy:A Guide to Action
    PDF | Word

Briefing Papers

  • Understanding Health Coverage Options - Vol. 16, August 2005

    For many Social Security beneficiaries accessing employer sponsored benefits is a work incentive that is mostly untapped. Many individuals consider employment as a way to improve their quality of life through increased income. Accessing employer sponsored benefits such as health coverage, short term or long term disability income coverage and life insurance can allow individuals to support their needs as well as those of a spouse and/or dependants. Many employers offer benefits to an individual who has worked for a specified period of time and hours. This briefing paper will focus on accessing employer sponsored health coverage when entering or re-entering the workforce.
    Health Coverage Options-PDF     | Health Coverage Options-Word |

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  • Wage Employment vs Self-Employment - Vol. 15, April 2005
     (Updated 2006)

    It is not uncommon for Benefits Specialists to encounter individuals who receive some form of income, but who are unclear about whether or not this income counts as “wages” for Social Security purposes. Furthermore, in some instances, it is difficult to determine if the income a person gets is from wage employment (i.e.: an employer-employee relationship exists) or if the person is actually self-employed. This is further complicated by the fact that some businesses pay workers as if they were self-employed (i.e.: independent contractors), when, based on U.S. Department of Labor wage and hour laws, they actually meet the definition of employees. This document was written to provide a general understanding of how wage employment and self-employment differ, and how SSA decides which situation applies to a beneficiary with earned income.
    Wage vs Self-Employment-PDF     | Wage vs Self-Employment-Word |

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  • The Effect of Income on SSI Eligibility And Cash Benefit Amount - Vol. 14, April, 2005
    (Updated 2006)

    Supplemental Security Income or SSI is an economic “needs-based” program intended to supplement any income an individual may already have to meet minimum needs for food and shelter. After initial eligibility for SSI is established, SSA continues to assess the countable income of eligible individuals, couples, and deemors on a monthly basis. Countable income is that part of total income received after all applicable work incentives or other exclusions or deductions are applied. This paper will explain how SSA treats income for the SSI program. The rules apply to both the Federal Benefit as well as Federally Administered State Supplementary payments, in the States where such payments exist.
    Income-PDF

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  • Supplemental Security Income: Programmatic Differences for Individuals Who are Blind
    Vol. 13, March, 2005     (Updated 2006)

    When the Supplemental Security Income program was created in 1974, it was the product of consolidating state poverty programs for people who were over age 65, blind or disabled into a federal program. The distinction between age, blindness and disability continues in the present program. This paper will outline how the benefits for individuals with legal (statutory) blindness differ from the benefits for individuals with disabilities other than blindness.
    SSI for Individuals who are Blind-PDF     | SSI for Individuals who are Blind - Word |

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  • Eligible Couples, Vol. ll
    February, 2004

    The Social Security Administration defines an eligible couple as two SSI eligible individuals who are legally married under the laws of the State where they have a permanent home, living together in the same household and holding themselves out as husband and wife to the community in which they live, or determined by SSA to be entitled to either husband’s or wife’s Social Security benefits as the spouse of the other. It is important to understand that eligible couples only exist when both members of the couple are SSI eligible, not when an eligible individual is married to an ineligible spouse.
    Eligible Couples-PDF | Eligible Couples-Word | Eligible Couples-Text

    • Calculation Sheet
    The above briefing paper refers to an "Eligible Couple Calculation Chart" for Benefits Specialists to use when helping recipients understand the effect of earned income on cash and medical benefits. Here it is:
    Eligible Couple 2004-HTML | Eligible Couple 2004-Word | Eligible Couple 2004-Rich Text

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  • Understanding Medicare
    Vol. 1, Number 2. July, 2003

    Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older, certain people with disabilities who are under age 65 and people of any age who have permanent kidney failure. It provides basic protection against the cost of health care, but it doesn’t cover all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care.
    Understanding Medicare-PDF     | Understanding Medicare-Word | Understanding Medicare-Text

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  • Extended Medicare Provisions
    Vol. 1, Number 1. June, 2003

    Beneficiaries of the Title II disability programs often believe that Medicare entitlement stops when cash payments stop. In fact, this is not necessarily the case. The Extended Period of Medicare Coverage (EPMC) provision allows most beneficiaries who meet the Social Security disability standard to continue Medicare coverage for at least 93-months after the Trial Work Period ends, even if cash benefits ceased due to Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level employment.
    Extended Medicare-PDF     | Extended Medicare-Word | Extended Medicare-Text

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  • Special Medicaid Beneficiaries
    Vol. 10, June, 2003
    (Updated 2006)

    For the purposes of this paper, a “special Medicaid beneficiary” is someone who lost SSI payments due to receipt of or increases in Title II benefits (SSDI, CDB, DWB), but who is allowed to retain Medicaid coverage. This paper will not cover the extended Medicaid provisions for persons who lose SSI payments due to earned income, otherwise known as the 1619(b) provisions. For more information about 1619(B) refer to the VCU BARC briefing paper entitled “Understanding 1619 (b)".
    Special Medicaid-PDF     |Special Medicaid-Word |

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  • Social Security Disability Benefit Issues Affecting Transition Aged Youth
    Vol. 8, April, 2003
    (Updated 2006)

    The successful transition of students with disabilities from school to work and full community participation is a major policy initiative within several federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor. In recent years, school to work transition has also become a growing emphasis for the Social Security Administration (SSA). Since many students with disabilities are receiving Social Security disability benefits such as SSI or Title II Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB), and so few become employed at substantial levels after completing school, it makes sense for the SSA to be an active partner in these initiatives.
    Transition-PDF | Transition-Word |

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  • SSI and Resources
    Vol. 7, February 2003
    (Updated 2006)

    SSI is a means-tested program intended for people with disabilities who have little income and few resources. Because of this, income and resources affect whether individuals are eligible, and how much in SSI payment they are due. Income is what people receive in a month and resources are cash and items a person owns that can be converted to cash.
    Resources-PDF | Resources-Word |

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  • Understanding 1619(b)
    Vol. 6, June 2002
    (Updated 2006)

    Section 1619(b) of the Social Security Act provides one of the most powerful work incentives currently available for SSI recipients. 1619(b) offers continued Medicaid to those eligible working individuals whose earned income is too high to qualify for SSI cash payments, but not high enough to offset the loss of Medicaid. This document will assist Benefit Specialists to understand the eligibility and process of utilizing Section 1619(b).
    1619(b)-PDF | 1619(b)-Word |

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  • Expedited Reinstatement (EXR)
    Vol. 5, April 2002     (Updated 2006)

    Available to SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients, Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) is an easy way to return more easily to Social Security disability benefits when work is significantly reduced or stopped because of an individual‘s original disabling condition. EXR permits up to 6-months of provisional benefits while the request is processed. This document offers insight into the eligibility and program process.
    EXR-PDF | EXR-Word |

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  • Parent to Child Deeming
    Vol. 2.3, March 2005
    (Updated 2006)

    When applying for or receiving SSI, the eligibility and amount of payment for a child SSI recipient below the age of 18, is determined by considering the income and resources of parent(s) responsible for the child SSI recipient’s welfare. This document will explore the deeming process and the information Benefits Specialists need to know.
    Parent to Child Deeming-PDF | Parent to Child Deeming-Word

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  • Introduction and Overview of Deeming
    Vol. 3.1, April 2002
    (Updated 2006)

    Deeming is a term SSA uses to describe the process of considering another person’s income and/or resources to be available for meeting an SSI claimant’s (recipients) basic need for food, shelter, and clothing. The concept of deeming is based on that notion that, in some situations, those who have a responsibility for others share their income and resources for the benefit of these persons. This document will address the various deeming situations identified by SSA.
    Deeming-PDF | Deeming-Word |

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  • Subsidy and Special Conditions
    Vol. 2, March 2002
    (Updated 2006)

    An SSDI work incentive, where subsidy and special conditions takes into consideration the need for extra assistance, a reduced production rate, frequent breaks, or fewer job duties than co-workers without disabilities in a similar job. SSA uses a subsidy and/or special condition in assessing earnings that can be attributed directly to the individual and the earnings potential if those supports were not in place. SSA adjusts the value of the income by deducting the cost attributed to the extra help or special condition that each person experiences when determining the SGA.
    Subsidy-PDF | Subsidy-Word |
  • Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)
    Vol. 1, March 2002
    (Updated 2006)

    A PASS is an SSI work incentive that allows a person with a disability to set aside income and/or resources for a specified period of time to achieve a work goal. Any person on SSI (with other income/resources) or SSDI and could qualify for SSI can have a PASS plan. This document will offer guidance on this ‘dream-making’ work incentive.
    PASS-PDF |PASS-Word |

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