Navigating Employment and SSI/SSDI Benefits

(WIPA) Work Incentive Planning and Assistance WIPA services are free! WIPA Programs are housed in community based organizations funded through Social Security. Purpose - To assist beneficiaries in making informed choices about going to work. WIPA services are free! WIPA staff have been trained and certified as Community Work Incentive Coordinators (CWICs). CWICs provide individualized, accurate information on how employment and earnings will affect benefits and healthcare.

WIPA in Georgia There are two projects in Georgia: GVRA (844) For-WIPA WIPA@gvs.ga.gov Shepherd Center (800) 283-1848 benefitsnavigator.org

Who is eligible for WIPA services? Individuals between the ages of 14 and full retirement age who are: Already receiving SSI /SSDI due to disability. Interested in employment. Have questions about how going to work and having earned income will affect the cash benefits and healthcare coverage they receive.

Ticket To Work (TtW) Program Provides beneficiaries with more choices for receiving employment services. Provides greater incentives for the entities providing employment services. Provides protection from a medical review if you are meeting timely progress goals. Ticket use does not change how earnings affect benefits! For more information: 1-866-968-7842 voice or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY www.choosework.ssa.gov

Guide to SSDI and SSI Work Incentives Social Security has special rules that make it possible for people with disabilities receiving SSDI and/or SSI to work and still receive monthly payments AND Medicare or Medicaid. Social Security calls these employment supports, “Work Incentives” SSI and SSDI treats earned income very differently and each has different work incentives.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

SSDI Eligibility To qualify for SSDI payments, a person must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for enough years to be covered under Social Security insurance, some of the taxes must have been paid in recent years, and the beneficiary must be: The worker or the worker’s adult child or widow(er), AND Considered medically disabled, AND Not working, or working but earning less than SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity).

Trial Work Period (TWP) 9 month period in which no amount of earned income will cause your SSDI check to stop. Not necessarily consecutive and used within a rolling five year period. Trigger amount that indicates use of TWP month changes each year ($840 for 2017, $850 for 2018) or over 80 hours of work per month if self employed.

Substantial Gainful Activity SGA is level of work activity and earnings as defined by Social Security. Social Security uses term “substantial gainful activity” (SGA) to describe a level of work activity and earnings. Work is “substantial” if it involves doing significant physical or mental activities or a combination of both. If you earn more than a certain amount and are doing productive work, Social Security generally consider that you are engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA). Individuals earning SGA would not be eligible for disability benefits.

Substantial Gainful Activity Cont. In the SSDI program, SGA is also used to determine eligibility for benefits to continue after an individual returns to work and completes the Trial Work Period. An earnings guideline is used to evaluate whether work is SGA. This year (2017) SGA is gross monthly earnings over $1,170/month for disabilities other than blindness. The SGA amount is usually adjusted every year based on increases in the national wage index. SGA for 2018 is $1,180.

Net Earnings from Self Employment “NESE” The profit reported by a business to the IRS for a year SSA looks at profit – operating cost x 0.9235 (SSA’s exclusion for FICA) $1000 monthly gross receipts: $400 business expenses = $600 IRS Net Income $600 x .9235 = $554.10 NESE/month

Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) Begins the month after the 9 month Trial Work Period (TWP) ends Last for 36 months 3 month grace period after TWP ends Must continue to report earnings to Social Security each month Earnings above SGA cause suspension of cash benefits for that month Earnings below SGA cash benefits can be started again without a new application

Expedited Reinstatement of Benefits EXR Termination - the first month after the EPE ends in which a person has countable earned income above SGA EXR may be requested within 60 months of termination 6 months of provisional benefits while SSA reviews your medical condition to make sure you are still disabled

Cash Benefits continue regardless of earned income TWP 9 Months Cash Benefits continue if countable earned income is less than SGA EPE 36 Months 60 months to restart benefits without new application EXR

Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) Approved IRWEs can be used to reduce gross countable earnings/income: Must be disability related Must be work related, i.e. items or services that a person with a disability needs in order to work Must be paid for out-of-pocket Not reimbursed by a third party Must be approved by SSA Applicable after the Trial Work Period (TWP)

Subsidy and Special Conditions Supports received on the job Job coaching, extra supervision, fewer tasks Can be provided by employer or third party Must be approved by SSA Can be used to reduce countable earnings

SSDI Work Incentives and Self Employment IRWE - Usually more advantageous to use as business expense when calculating Net Earnings from Self Employment (NESE) Subsidy and Special Conditions – “Unpaid Help” Reasonable value of any unpaid help provided by family members or others can be deducted when SSA figures NESE. Un-Incurred Business Expenses - SSA deducts business expenses incurred and paid by another person or agency when figuring NESE – example : VR purchases a piece of equipment for the business.

Medicare Medicare comes in 3 parts Part A – Hospitalization, provided at no cost Part B – Supplemental, monthly premium Part D – Prescription Drug Coverage Or Advantage Plans which have all three (3) parts If SSDI check stops due to earnings, Medicare will continue for at least 93 months after the Trial Work Period As long as you are eligible for your check, you will have Medicare

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI Eligibility SSI is designed to help aged, blind and disable individuals who have little or no income and provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter: Needs based. Must have limited income and resources to be eligible. Must meet disability criteria as defined by Social Security.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) Amount changes every year FBR Individual 2017 $735 / 2018 $750 / Couple 2017 $1,103 / 2018 $1,125 Resource Limit = $2,000 individual / $3,000 couples Any gross income over $85/month may cause a reduction in the SSI cash benefit: $20 General Income Exclusion (GIE) $65 Earned income Exclusion (EIE) After the first $85, SSI cash benefit will be reduced $1 for every $2 earned income

$685 gross earned income/month - $85 GIE + EIE -------- $600 divide by 2 $300 = countable income $735 2017 FBR -$300 subtract countable income $435 = adjusted SSI check $685 + $435 = $1120 monthly gross income

Continuation of Medicaid -Section 1619 b Medicaid will continue if: 2017 Breakeven Point 2017 = $1,555 Medicaid will continue if: SSI cash benefit stopped due to earned income You still have the disabling condition You still meet the resource limit (*Consider an Able Account if appropriate) You need Medicaid in order to work Earned income is below state Threshold amount 2017 Georgia threshold : $30,797 SSA has approved higher Threshold

Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) Approved IRWEs can be used to reduce gross countable earnings/income: Must be disability related Must be work related. I.E. Items or services that a person with a disability needs in order to work Must be paid for out-of-pocket Not reimbursed by a third party Must be approved by SSA

Blind Work Expenses (BWE) If your disability is blindness any earned income used to meet expenses for working is not counted when SSA determines the SSI cash benefit. Examples of BWEs: Expenses for guide dog Cost of meals while at work Federal and State income taxes Transportation

Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) Students under the age of 22 AND Regularly attending school or approved training program May exclude up to $1,790 per month of earned income for 2017, with an annual maximum of $7,200 and NO affect on their SSI Cash Benefits. The SEIE amount changes each year.

Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS) A Pass plan allows individuals with goal to reduce or eliminate the need cash benefits to set aside income and resources over a reasonable time to save for items or services that will assist in reaching a work goal. Pass funds can be used to obtain training and education, purchase a vehicle or equipment or establish a business. Income and resources set aside under a PASS are not counted when SSI determines eligibility and payment amount. Must have income other than SSI to fund the PASS!

PASS and Self-Employment When using a PASS for a goal of Self Employment, a detailed business plan must accompany the PASS Application! PASS can provide a source of ongoing funds to support operating costs during business start up. PASS funds are considered “Owner’s Equity” – available cash not counted as business income for tax purposes.

PROPERTY ESSSENTIAL to SELF- SUPPORT (PESS) PESS is a Social Security provision that lets you exclude counting certain properties (resources necessary for your self-support) when calculating your SSI benefits. For example: The full value of tools or equipment used for trade or business (for example, carpenter tools, mechanic tools, computers, wheelchairs, or inventory used for a trade or business) Certain amounts of the value of non-business properties that are used to produce goods, (i.e., land used to produce vegetables or livestock solely for consumption by the individual’s own household) Some amounts of non-business, income-producing properties, provided that the property yields a profit PESS does not apply if a business is incorporated!

1-866-968-7842 (voice) or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY) For questions or guidance specific to your situation please call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 (voice) or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday (8:00 AM - 8:00 PM EST) For general inquiries email: support@choosework.ssa.gov Visit the Ticket to Work website at www.choosework.ssa.gov SSA’s toll free number 1-800-772-1213

If in doubt remember your… A – Ask B – Benefit C – Counselor

Thank you ! Adrienne Williams Linda Garrett Manager Benefits Coordination GVRA Work Incentive Navigator WIPA Program Office: 404-417-6730 Adrienne.Williams@gvs.ga.gov WIPA@gvs.ga.gov Linda Garrett GVRA Work Incentive Navigator (WIN) Phone: 404-710-0892 Linda.Garrett@gvs.ga.gov Thank you !

Shepherd Center’s Benefit Navigator Sally Atwell Director Shepherd Center’s Benefit Navigator WIPA Program Office: 404-350-7589 sally_atwell@shepherd.org www.benefitnavigator.org