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1 1 Welcome! The webinar will begin shortly.

2 2 Plan to Work! Who we are:! Community Work Incentives Coordinators! Experts on federal, state, and local benefits in relation to employment goals! A community resource to beneficiaries and service providers! What we do:! Provide free and confidential benefits planning services to individuals who are on a disability-based benefit from Social Security and who have questions about employment! Provide both general assistance with understanding benefits and work incentives, and long-term individualized services

3 Plan to Work: Who we Serve 3! To qualify for services an individual must:! Receive a Social Security disability-based benefit (SSI or SSDI) " Or be a client of the Washington Access Fund " Or a client of Spokane County DDD! Be between the ages of 14 and Full Retirement Age! Live in the state of Washington! Have work-related questions We also serve service providers, advocates, agencies, friends, and family members!

4 Social Security Disability Benefits 4! There are two types of benefits: SSI and SSDI! Individuals can receive both types at the same time! Benefits are entirely different " They respond differently to employment, unearned income, resources, living arrangements, etc " They have different health insurance and different benefit amounts " There are different timelines associated with each

5 SSI vs. SSDI 5 SSI! Need-based and meanstested! Maximum amount for an individual of $710 (2013)! Medicaid! Impacted by all income or in-kind support! Benefit amount varies depending on other income SSDI! Based on previous work history! Benefit amount varies! Medicare! Only impacted by employment! Receive entire benefit or no benefit no middle ground

6 Work Incentive Comparison Chart 6 SSDI! Trial Work Period! Extended Period of Eligibility! Impairment Related Work Expense! Subsidies! Unsuccessful Work Attempt! Unincurred Business Expenses! Continuation of Medicare! Section 301! Expedited Reinstatement! Ticket to Work! Medicaid Buy-In SSI! Student Earned Income Exclusion! Impairment Related Work Expense! Blind Work Expense! 1619 (a)! 1619 (b)! Property Essential For Self Support! Plan for Achieving Self-Support! Section 301! Reinstatement without new application! Expedited Reinstatement! Ticket to Work! Medicaid Buy-In

7 7 Working While Receiving SSDI: Utilizing Work Incentives Work Incentives provide the safety net so you can: Try different jobs Be trained Build skills Gain confidence Start a new career

8 SSDI 8! Requires previous work credits through FICA! Can also be from a parent s work record (DAC/CDB) or a deceased spouse (DWB)! 5-month waiting period for cash benefits! Medicare! Starts 24 months after entitlement! Part A is free, Parts B and D may have premiums! No asset limit! Continuing disability reviews every 3, 5, or 7 years! Substantial Gainful Activity rules

9 Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) 9! SGA is a basic test used by SSA to establish disability status! SGA is the performance of significant mental and/or physical duties for profit.! It is usually determined to be gross earnings (before taxes) above a specific yearly threshold! 2013 SGA for non-blind individuals = $1040/month! 2013 SGA for blind individuals = $1740/month! SGA involves an ongoing pattern of work behavior not an isolated month or two! If you re above SGA, your check may be paused or terminated, unless you have work incentives to use

10 Time-Limited Phases 10 Social Security offers two work incentive Phases that offer safety nets beyond the SGA rules: Phase 1: Trial Work Period Phase 2: Extended Period of Eligibility Phase 3: Cessation and Grace Period

11 Phase 1: Trial Work Period (TWP) 11 A 9-month phase that allows you to work and receive your cash benefit, no matter how much you re earning. # Months do not have to be consecutive # In order to use a TWP month, you must earn a minimum of $750 a month (2013) or work 80 hrs/month in Self-Employment # Once you use all 9 months within a 60-month window, you move into Phase 2

12 Phase 2: Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) 12 A 36-month period that allows you to maintain your SSDI eligibility even if your check is paused! Begins in the month following the Trial Work Period, whether you are working or not! Cash benefit continues for all months earnings are below SGA! Any month earnings are above SGA, your cash benefit is paused, but you remain eligible for your check! You do not have to reapply if your earnings fall below SGA just notify Social Security about the change in earnings

13 Tools SSA Uses to Make an SGA Decision 13! Can reduce the amount of earnings used to calculate SGA! Only apply during Phase 2 (Extended Period of Eligibility) and after (not during the Trial Work Period)! Must be accompanied by proof! There are many work incentives that may apply to your situation: $ Impairment Related Work Expense $ Subsidies $ Special Condition $ Unsuccessful Work Attempt $ Income Averaging $ Unincurred Business Expenses $ Unpaid Help $ Continuation of Medicare $ Section 301 $ Expedited Reinstatement $ Ticket to Work $ Medicaid Buy-In

14 Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWEs) 14! Out-of-pocket costs for items needed to work are excluded from SGA! Can be one-time expenses or repeating expenses! Must be correlated with SSA diagnosis or for a medical condition being treated by a physician. " Medication, assistive devices, service animal costs

15 Subsidy 15 Extra support or services provided by your employer! Social Security excludes the value (either a dollar amount or a percentage) of the supports provided from SGA! Examples:! Fewer/easier duties! Frequent rest breaks! Irregular hours! Extra help/supervision

16 Special Conditions 16 Assistance provided by someone other than yourself or your employer! Only count the wages that are based on your own productivity the value of the assistance is excluded from SGA! Job coach! Medical devices! Assistive technology

17 Other Work Incentives 17! If you ve been working at or above SGA for less than six months and have a significant break in work activity due to your disability OR! If your monthly wages fluctuate from month to month, sometimes going above the SGA threshold amount... Talk to a benefits planner to get accurate work incentive information about your specific situation!

18 Phase 3: Cessation Month and Grace 18 Period! The cessation month is important because it is the first month in which SSA determines a person to be officially engaging in SGA.! The cessation month may occur during or after the EPE. Title II disability payments are due in the cessation and the next two grace period months! Beneficiaries who never engage in SGA never use this work incentive phase

19 Expedited Reinstatement (ExR) 19 Individuals who become ineligible for SSDI benefits due to work at the SGA level may request to reinstate benefits without filing a new application.! You must be unable to work and earn SGA because of the same or similar medical condition! You must file the request for reinstatement with Social Security within 60 months from the month your benefits are terminated.! SSA will provide up to six months of provisional benefits (including Medicare) while a case is being reviewed.! Note: Individuals always have the option of re-applying for benefits

20 What Happens to My Medicare if I Go 20 Back to Work?! If you are a Medicare beneficiary, if you continue to have a disability as defined by the Social Security Administration, and you return to work, you can keep your Medicare coverage for at least 93 months after you return to work.! During this Extended Period of Medicare Coverage (EPMC), you will continue to receive Part A (premiumfree hospital insurance) and Part B (elected medical insurance coverage with a monthly premium), and Medicare prescription drug coverage if applicable.

21 Other Ways to Access Healthcare 21 Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities (HWD) is a Medicaid Buy-In Program, and covers your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums Eligibility:! Between 14 and retirement age! Meet federal disability requirements! Are employed! Have monthly net income at or below 220% of the federal poverty level Monthly premium is never more than 7.5% of your total income

22 22 Working While Receiving SSI: Utilizing Work Incentives Work Incentives provide the safety net so you can: Try different jobs Be trained Build skills Gain confidence Start a new career

23 How earnings affect SSI payments 23! First $20 of income (earned or unearned) is excluded! First $65 of earned income is excluded! SSA only counts ½ of remaining earned income! Example: You earn $850 a month in wages and have no other income " $850-$20-$65 = $765 " $765/2 = $382.50! SSA will deduct $ from your SSI check, so you will end up with an SSI check of $327.50! Your total monthly income will be $1,177.50! Remember, after the first $20 income exclusion, unearned income is counted dollar for dollar!

24 Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWEs) 24! Out-of-pocket costs for items needed to work are deducted from earnings before the earnings are halved! Example: You earn $850 a month in wages and have $200 in Impairment-Related Work Expenses " $850-$20-$65 = $765 " $765 - $200 for an IRWE = $565/2 = $ " SSA will deduct $ from your SSI check, so you will end up with an SSI check of $ " Your total monthly income will be $1,277.50!! Can be one-time expenses or repeating expenses! Must be correlated with SSA diagnosis or for a medical condition being treated by a physician.! Medication, assistive devices, service animal costs

25 Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) 25 If you are receiving SSI benefits, are under age 22, and regularly attending school, SSA will not count up to $1,730 of earned income (wages) per month while attending school and working, up to the maximum yearly exclusion of $ 6,960 (2013) SSA s definition of regularly attending school is:! You take one or more courses of study and attend classes:! In a college or university for at least 8 hours a week; or! In grades 7 12 for at least 12 hours a week; or! In a training course to prepare for employment for at least 12 hours a week (15 hours a week if the course involves shop practice), or! For less time indicated above for reasons beyond the student s control, such as illness. # Note: if you are home schooled because of a disability, you may be considered regularly attending school by:! Studying a course or courses given by a school (grades 7 12), college, university or government agency; or! Having a home visitor or tutor who directs the study.

26 Medicaid and Returning to Work 26 # If your earnings are so high that your SSI check stops you can still receive Medicaid if you # Remain disabled # Have assets under $2000 ($3000/couple) # Need Medicaid # Have annual earnings below the State Threshold $29,269 (2013) *An individualized threshold amount may be available if your medical costs are high.

27 27 Ticket to Work

28 What is a Ticket to Work? 28 A voluntary program for people who want help reaching employment goals that allows you to access free-of-charge services from Employment Networks Participating in the Ticket program provides:! Greater choice through an increased network of Vocational Service Providers! Suspension of the Continuing Disability Review when actively using their Ticket! The National Program Manager for SSA is MAXIMUS! / (TTY/TDD)!

29 Using Your Ticket 29! Assign Ticket to an Employment Network! They work for you: interview Employment Networks to find the best fit! Employment Networks:! Accept your Ticket to work! Provide services to help you remove barriers to employment! Help you reach your employment goals! Employment Networks can be:! Private companies! Public organizations! State Vocational Rehabilitation agency! Employment agencies, schools, etc.! Under contract with Social Security

30 Other Resources in your Return to Work 30! Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) helps individuals move toward employment goals through targeted services! WorkSource helps individuals find work through job readiness classes and job listings! Benefits Planners help individuals plan ahead for employment goals and benefit needs! Disability Rights Washington helps individuals with legal questions related to disabilities! Independent Living Centers help individuals with advocacy related to disabilities

31 Asset Development and SSDI 31! There is NO asset limit for SSDI!! There are asset development programs for individuals on a limited income such as:! Individual Development Account (IDA) Matched savings accounts to help you save for an expense related to employment! Home Buyer Assistance Programs! Something Else? Maybe EITC? *Keep in mind - if you receive additional benefits other than SSDI your assets may impact your eligibility!

32 Partnering with Plan to work 32 What we can do for you:! Be the experts on federal, state, and local benefits for you! Work alongside you in planning ahead for your future! Be a resource and a hub of information to collaborate with family members, friends, and service providers

33 How to Contact Us 33 Toll-free statewide hotline: / (TTY) Emma: (509)