1. Michael Dalto Consultant 2018
How to Get Benefits from Social Security, Go to Work…and Live to Tell About It
Michael Dalto
Consultant
2018

2. Why People Grow Attached to Social Security Benefits
It often takes over a year after applying to start receiving disability benefits from Social Security.
People who have to appeal denials often wait over two years.
Applicants often have little or no income while waiting for benefits.
Even if an individual isn’t concerned about her benefits, someone else in her life probably is – family, advocates, residential program staff.

3. Why People Grow Attached to Social Security Benefits
When you apply, it’s common for Social Security and others to tell you that you have to be too disabled to work in order to qualify for benefits, although that is NOT TRUE.
Cash benefits become a person’s “livelihood”, covering basic expenses.
Medical benefits are a person’s lifeline, covering medical needs and often the services they need to live in the community.

4. Go to Work While Getting Benefits? Are You Kidding?

5. Go to Work While Getting Benefits? Are You Kidding?

6. Go to Work While Getting Benefits? Are You Kidding?

7. Good News! You Can Be Better Off Working
Most people who get cash payments from Social Security are BETTER OFF WORKING!
You can work and have more money than if you only receive cash payments from Social Security.
Special rules called “work incentives” help protect benefits while you work.
Work incentives help make sure you are better off working.

8. What Are These Magical “Work Incentives” of Which You Speak?

9. What Are These Magical “Work Incentives” of Which You Speak?
Work incentives are safety nets that provide layers of protection for benefits
Work incentives:
Let people keep cash payments from Social Security longer – sometimes permanently – and/or at higher levels while working
Protect medical benefits even if people work their way off their cash payments

10. What Are These Magical “Work Incentives” Of Which You Speak?
Let people get payments back quickly and easily if they stop working
Offer additional benefits (Medical Assistance; bigger tax refunds) to people who work

11. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI is a need-based benefit
It provides a monthly payment to people with significant disabilities who have very low income and assets
Maximum monthly payment for an individual = $750 (in 2018)
Makes a person automatically eligible for Medicaid (Medical Assistance)

12. SSI Work Incentives
SSI payments are reduced when you go to work, but by less than half your gross wages
You’re always better off working than not working if you get SSI
Some special rules let you keep more SSI while working – especially if you:
Are a student under age 22, or
Pay for certain work-related expenses, or
Use a special plan to reach a career goal

13. SSI Work Incentives
If you earn enough to reduce your SSI checks to $0, you can still:
Keep your Medical Assistance
Get your SSI payments back easily if you later stop working. You just need to call your local Social Security office, and don’t have to reapply.
Protection lasts until your earnings are over $40,000/year – and often much higher

14. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI is an insurance benefit. You qualify by having a significant disability, and by having worked and paid Social Security taxes on your earnings. It provides cash payments.
Some people qualify for Social Security Disability through the work record of a parent who is retired, disabled or deceased.
SSDI makes you eligible for Medicare after a 2-year wait.

15. SSDI Work Incentives
You can work at least 12 months and keep full benefits, no matter how much you earn.
After that, earnings over a certain amount ($1,180/month for non-blind people in 2018) can stop your payments, BUT…
You’re allowed deductions from earnings to keep the difference under $1,180/month

16. SSDI Work Incentives You can use deductions for:
Expenses you pay for related to your disability that are needed for work
Reduced productivity
Extra help you get to do the job (e.g., job coaching)

17. SSDI Work Incentives
If you earn enough to stop your payments, you can get payments back again just by calling Social Security if you later lose your job (time limited).
You can keep Medicare for years longer, and often even indefinitely, if you lose SSDI due to work.
You can use the Employed Individuals with Disabilities (EID) Program to qualify for Medical Assistance if you’re working and don’t qualify for Medical Assistance another way.

18. Am I REALLY Better Off Working?

19. Am I REALLY Better Off Working?
SSI Example
Melody started out getting only SSI ($750/month).
She started working 20 hours a week and earning $9.25/hour.
Next, she worked 35 hours a week and still earned $9.25/hour.
Finally, she got a better job working 40 hours a week and earning $11/hour.

20. Am I REALLY Better Off Working ?
SSI Example

21. Am I REALLY Better Off Working?
SSDI Example
Buster received only SSDI ($770/month).
He started working 20 hours a week and earning $9.25/hour, and kept SSDI.
He got a better job working 40 hours a week and earned $13/hour. His SSDI stopped.

22. Am I REALLY Better Off Working ?
SSDI Example

23. You ARE Better Off Working!

24. How Can You Get Help Using Work Incentives?
Call MD WIN – NOT Michael Dalto – MD WIN! to get free benefits counseling
Maryland Work Incentives Network (MD WIN) is a free benefits counseling project funded by Social Security
Serves all of Maryland

25. How Can You Get Help Using Work Incentives?
DORS
If you have a case open with the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS), your counselor can arrange benefits counseling for you.

26. Any Questions?