2010 Red Book

A SUMMARY GUIDE TO EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES UNDER THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE AND SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAMS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

WHAT’S NEW IN 2010?

• Automatic Adjustments Effective January 1, 2010
• Demonstration Projects Update

HOW TO REACH SOCIAL SECURITY

RESOURCES FOR EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS

• Area Work Incentives Coordinator (AWIC)
• Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) Cadre
• Benefits Planning Query (BPQY)

RETURN TO WORK PLANNING & ASSISTANCE

• Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Organizations (WIPA)
• Work Incentives Seminar (WISE) Events
• State Vocational Rehabilitation Providers
• Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS)
• Disability Program Navigators
• EARN Job Seeker Network
• Individual Development Accounts (IDA)

OVERVIEW OF OUR DISABILITY PROGRAMS

• Social Security Disability Insurance Program (SSDI)
• Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI)
• Concurrent Entitlement
• Comparison of the SSDI and SSI Disability Programs
• How Do We Define Disability?
• What is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)?
• How do we Evaluate Your Work Activity for SGA Purposes?
• What if You Are Self-Employed?

RETURNING TO WORK

• What Are Your Responsibilities When You Return to Work?
• When Will We Review Your Disability?
• When Will Your Benefits Stop?

HOW DO EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS HELP?

• SSDI Employment Supports
• SSI Employment Supports
• Guide to Employment Supports

SSDI AND SSI EMPLOYMENTS SUPPORTS

• Subsidy and Special Conditions
• Unsuccessful Work Attempt (UWA)
• Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)
• Ticket to Work
• Continued Payment under a Vocational Rehabilitation Program or Similar Program (Section 301)
• Expedited Reinstatement (EXR)

SSDI ONLY EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS

• Trial Work Period (TWP)
• Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)
• Unincurred Business Expenses (Self-Employment)
• Continuation of Medicare Coverage
• Medicare for Persons with Disabilities Who Work

SSI ONLY EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS

• Earned Income Exclusion
• Student Earned Income Exclusion
• Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)
• Property Essential to Self-Support (PESS)
• Special SSI Payments for Persons Who Work - Section 1619(a)
• Reinstating SSI Eligibility Without a New Application
• Special Benefits for Persons Eligible Under 1619 and Enter a Medical Facility
• Medicaid While Working – Section 1619(b)
• State Threshold Amounts for Persons with Disabilities
• States with Separate Threshold Amounts for Blind Persons

SPECIAL RULES FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND

• How SGA is Applied under SSDI to Persons Who Are Blind
• Blind Work Expenses (BWE)
• Accommodations for Persons Who Are Blind or Visually-Impaired

ADDITIONAL HELP WITH HEALTH CARE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

• Medicaid Buy-In for Working Persons with Disabilities
• Help with Medicare Part A Premiums

EXAMPLE OF CONCURRENT BENEFITS WITH EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS

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