Busting Down the Myths about Benefits and Work Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Bust the Myths  Combination of public benefits create a basic safety net  Each benefit has it’s own set of work rules  Complexity of the rules create MYTHS! Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Page 2

Know the FACTS  Benefit programs have work rules that support working- Work Incentives  Don’t let the complexity and myths be a barrier to employment  Know and Share the FACTS Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Page 3

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services THE BASICS: SSDI PAYMENT AND MEDICARE  SSDI – Cash Benefit:  Meet SSA definition of disability, and  Be “insured” or draw off “insured” worker who is disabled, retired, deceased  Check amount based on work history  No asset test  SSDI – Health Insurance:  Medicare (after 24 month waiting period) Page 4

SGA Countable Income Test Summary Page 5 The Basic SGA Test $ Gross Wages (earned in a month) (-) $ Sick/Vacation/Holiday pay (-) $ IRWE (-) $ Subsidy/Special Conditions (-) $ Unincurred Business Expenses/Unpaid Help (=) $ Countable Earnings SSA uses Countable Earnings to determine if earnings are above or below SGA

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services THE BASICS: SSI PAYMENT AND MEDICAID (OHP+)  SSI – Cash Benefit:  Meet SSA definition of disability;  Little to no assets (less than $2,000-individual);  Little to no income (countable income less than $721individual/2014);  Check amount-maximum $721 (individual/2014), lower if other income  SSI – Health Insurance:  Medicaid (OHP+) Page 6

Page 7 Step 1: Countable Unearned Income $______ Unearned Income (-) $______ General Income Exclusion ($20) (=) $______ Countable Unearned Income Step 2: Countable Earned Income $______ Earned Income (-) $______ Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) (-) $______ General Income Exclusion (if not used) (-) $______ Earned Income Exclusion ($65) (-) $______ Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE) (=) $______ Remainder (/) Divide by 2 (-) $______ Blind Work Expense (BWE) (=) $______ Countable Earned Income

Page 8 Step 3: Total Countable Income $______ Countable Unearned Income (Step 1) (+) $______ Countable Earned Income (Step 2) (=) $______ Total Countable Income Step 4: Adjusted SSI Check Amount $______ Federal Benefit Rate ($721/$1,082/480.66) (-) $______ Total Countable Income (Step 3) (=) $______ Adjusted SSI Check Amount Step 5: Total Income $________ Unearned Income (+) $________ Adjusted SSI check (+) $________ Earned Income (=) $________ Total Income

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services 7 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #1: Benefit Program Rules Determine How Much I can Earn FACT #1: Combining Several Work Incentives can Support you in Reaching your Work Goal!  Determine your work goal (type, amount, wage) Page 9

7 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #2: I will lose my SSDI if I work FACT #2: Work Incentives exist that allow you to maintain the SSDI check or eligibility status when you work:  Trial Work Period  Extended Period of Eligibility  Impairment Related Work Expenses, Subsidy, Unsuccessful Work Attempts Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Page 10

7 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #3: I’ll lose my Medicare if I work FACT #3: There are 2 Work Incentives that allow you to maintain Medicare indefinitely!  Extended Period of Medicare Coverage  Medicare for People with Disabilities Who Work Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Page 11

7 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #4: I get SSI and have heard I will have less money when I work FACT #4: Work Incentives exist to make sure you financially get ahead when you work  Basic deductions: General Income Exclusion, Earned Income Exclusion, One-Half Disregard  Additional deductions: Student Earned Income Exclusion, Impairment Related Work Expenses, Blind Work Expenses Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Page 12

7 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #5: I have to keep a $1 of SSI or I’ll lose my Medicaid (OHP+) FACT #5: If EARNINGS cause SSI to drop to $0, you can KEEP MEDICAID!  1619b- earn at least $32,725/year (2014) and keep Medicaid  Employed Persons with Disabilities- earn at least $58,500/year and keep Medicaid (2014) Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Page 13

7 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #6: There are not any resources to help me reach my work goal of self-sufficiency FACT #6: There are work incentives that match funds you set aside to pay for work expenses  Plan for Achieving Self Support  Individual Development Account Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Page 14

7 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #7: If I work I’ll end up with an overpayment FACT #7: There are strategies to prevent overpayments  Report regularly;  Get a receipt from SSA to document you reported; and  Create a folder to save paystubs and SSA letters Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Page 15

Final Questions?? Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Page 16

Work Incentives Programs in Oregon  The Work Incentives Network  Paula Fitch:  Gene Rada:  Plan for Work (Disability Rights Oregon)  Arlene Jones: Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services