1. Work and Benefits: An Overview Brian Forsythe, CWIC

2. What is BenePLAN?
A team of Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs) who are trained and certified by Virginia Commonwealth University and the US Social Security Administration (SSA).
Possess extensive experience in both employment and public benefits
A part of Work Without Limits at the Disability, Health and Employment Policy unit at UMass Medical School
Goal: Increase awareness and understanding of how working and earning wages impacts SSI, SSDI, healthcare & other public benefits.

3. When children are under 18
They may qualify for SSI if under 18 and Disabled :
And meets SSA’s definition of disability
Physical or mental condition that severely limits functioning
The condition is expected to last for at least 12 months
The family has limited income and resources

4. When a Child Turns 18
Social Security will evaluate or re-evaluate eligibility using medical standards for adults
What will be needed for SSA
Documentation of disability
Individual’s living situation
Resources: how much money does the individual have or will have at 18 (not the family’s income)

5. For Starters… Get An Application At your local Social Security office
Available online at
REMINDER 1: Must be 18 and over
REMINDER 2: Write down the application number so you can go back to it anytime

6. Social Security Benefit Programs
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
A beneficiary receives SSDI based on:
Their own work record
Being a minor dependant or the widow/er of a worker
Childhood Disability Benefit* (CDB or known as DAC-Disabled Adult Child)
Medicare eligibility after 2 years on SSDI
Can apply for MassHealth while waiting for Medicare
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Provides assistance to elderly, blind and disabled people who have limited income and resources
A low income program
Must have less than $2,000 in the bank
No work history is needed
Automatically eligible for MassHealth Standard

7. Childhood Disability Benefit: (CDB)
Social Security has an additional benefit for adults with disabilities whose parents have worked enough to qualify:
A young person must be:
The child of a parent who worked and is now deceased, disabled or retired
Disabled before the age of 22
18 years of age or older
Since turning 22, has never earned money at or above the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level which this year is $1,130.00

8. Myths about Working
I will lose all of my benefits immediately if I work
I will be worse off financially if I work too much
I will lose MassHealth
I will lose Medicare
If I lose my benefits I will never get them back if I
need them

9. Work is Possible! Work is an attainable goal
It is possible to work and come out financially ahead even if benefits are reduced or stop all together
Work Incentives can help beneficiaries get ahead financially
It is possible to work and keep MassHealth
If benefits stop there are “safety nets” to reinstate them
There is help and support to figure all of this out

10. Please Note:
It is imperative to report all work and other income to Social Security every month!

11. SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME
(SSI)

12. SSI Payment Levels
The amount of SSI received is based upon the living situation and marital status of the beneficiary in Massachusetts, the five amounts for 2016 are:
Living Alone: $ ($733 FBR + $ SSP)
Shared Living: $ ($733 FBR + $30.40 SSP) (including group homes)
Household of Another: $ ($ FBR + $87.58 SSP)
Blind Individual: $ ($733 FBR + $ SSP) regardless of living situation
Couples Rate: $ ($550 FBR + $90.03 SSP) each for married and both collecting SSI
FBR = Federal Benefit Rate
SSP = State Supplemental Payment*
*SSP is paid separately from the SSI check, but comes on the same day.
Please note the amounts shown are maximum amounts and could be lowered by other factors.

13. SSI and Working
Individuals have more money each month in their pocket when they work, even though the SSI check goes down.
They will keep all their money from work and will still receive a (reduced) SSI check.
There are Work Incentives that can help them keep even more money!

14. SSI Employment Calculation
When an individual works their SSI check will be reduced in proportion to the amount of money they earn.
Basically, the SSI check will be reduced $1 for every $2 earned over $85.00 each month.
SSA does this calculation each month so it is very important that earnings are reported before the 6th of the month to SSA.
Work earnings can be reported to SSA by using either the Phone in Wage Reporting System or the Smart Phone App. 14

15. The SSI Calculation:
An individual living alone receiving $ in SSI and earning $800. gross per month:
Gross Work Income $
- $ $ /2 $ $
- $ $
Disregarded Income
Countable Income
Old SSI Amount
Countable Income
New SSI Amount

16. An SSI and Working Example
An individual living alone receiving $ in SSI and earning $800. gross per month:
Income before working:
$ SSI
Income after working:
$ Reduced SSI
+ $ Earnings
= $1, SSI & Earnings
This is an increase of $ a month as a result of working!

17. Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)
Must be a student under the age of 22, expires on 22nd birthday
SSA’s definition of a student:
Must be regularly attending school (grades 7-12 at least 12 hours a week)
College or university (8 hours a week)
Other training designed to prepare for a paying job Including vocational or technical training (12 hours a week)
Fewer hours acceptable if due to disabling condition
Job Corps
May be used during the summer if planning to return to school in the fall
SSA will exclude the first $1,780 earned each month up to an annual maximum of $7,180.

18. SSI Example - SEIE
Jim, who is 20 years old and in college, collects SSI in the amount of $ per month. He starts working a part-time job 20 hours per week at $10.00 per hour. In a four week month, how will his SSI payment be affected?

19. $847. 39 a month in SSI working and earning $800
$ a month in SSI working and earning $ a month with Student Earned Income Exclusion
Gross Earned Income $ Student-Earned Income - $ Countable Income $ 0.00 Base SSI Payment $ Total Countable Income - $ 0.00 New SSI Payment $ Gross Earned Income $ New SSI Payment + $ Total Gross Monthly Income $ 1,647.39

20. SSI and Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs)
An IRWE is something paid for by the individual, due to the disability, that is needed in order to work.
Half of what spent for the IRWE will come back in the SSI payment.

21. Examples of IRWEs Co-Payments for Medication
Co-Payments for Doctor’s Visits
Cost of Specialized Transportation if needed to get to and from work
Specialized Equipment needed as a reasonable accommodation at work, if the individual purchases or leases them

22. The SSI Calculation with an IRWE
An individual living alone receiving $ in SSI and earning $800 gross per month with a $50 per month IRWE:
Work Income $
- $ $
- $ $ /2 $ $
- $ $
Disregarded Income
IRWE
Countable Income
Old SSI Amount
Countable Income
New SSI Amount

23. An SSI, Working and IRWE Example
This person living alone and is earning $ gross/month, plus they have an IRWE of $50:
Income before working:
$ SSI
Income after working:
$ Reduced SSI
+ $ Earnings
= $1, SSI & Earnings
This is an increase of $ a month as a result of working and using an IRWE!

24. REMEMBER!
SSI recipients will always have more money to spend each month by working!

25. Healthcare Coverage 25

26. MassHealth Standard
Eligibility for MassHealth Standard is based on income
Adults with disability – income less than 138% of Federal Poverty Level or $1,367 per month
SSI recipients are automatically eligible for MassHealth Standard
MassHealth will count SSDI as income
MassHealth is considered comprehensive coverage

27. Health Coverage under 1619b:
SSI-1619b
Health Coverage under 1619b:
When the SSI check stops due to earnings, MassHealth benefits WILL NOT stop if:
Earnings are below $39,662 per year (Blind Individuals $40,511) in 2016 AND;
Assets remain below $2,000 (individual) or $3,000 (couple) AND;
The individual remains medically eligible and uses MassHealth at least once a year.

28. MassHealth CommonHealth
MassHealth CommonHealth is a program for people with disabilities whose earnings are too high for MassHealth Standard (Single = $1,367/month 2016)
Individual must meet one of three eligibility criteria:
Be working at least 40 hours per month
Have worked 240 hours or more in the previous 6 months before application or review
Meet a one-time deductible based on income if they are not working
Must pay a monthly sliding scale premium based on gross income
There is no income limit or asset test

29. What You Need to Report to SSA
When you start or stop working
Your monthly work income before taxes
IRWEs, or other Work Incentives being used
Other income (unemployment, child support, alimony, lottery winnings)
Changes in living situation
Change of address
Change in Bank or Bank Account
Hospitalization
Incarceration

30. How to Report Earnings to Social Security
Save all paystubs to submit to SSA and make copies for your own records (for SSDI & SSI)
Mail or hand deliver paystubs to the local SSA office (for SSDI & SSI)
Telephone Wage Reporting or Smart Phone App. (Only for SSI recipients who are not using work incentives)

31. Summary… When individuals work they will be better off financially!
Earnings from work will affect benefits so be informed and stay on top of things.
Work incentives can be used to help keep more of the SSI check.
It is important to report any changes to Social Security so that the check is correct.
Avoid overpayments and underpayments!
Individuals will have access to healthcare when they work!
Don’t make work decisions based on hearsay and myths!
GET THE FACTS!

32. JobsWithoutLimits Job Seekers To get started visit:
Are you a person with a disability looking for a job in Massachusetts?
Work Without Limits is excite to announce the launch of their new job board.
Jobs Without Limits is a unique online job site created to connect job seekers with disabilities with committed employers in Massachusetts.
To get started visit:

33. Website Resources BenePLAN Disability Law Center, Inc. SSA Red Book
Disability Law Center, Inc.
SSA Red Book
SSA Work Incentives
security.gov/work
Medicare Cost Information
MassHealth:
One Care Information

34. THANK YOU! Brian Forsythe, CWIC 508-856-2513