SSA Benefits & Work Incentives
for Persons with Disabilities
OMHSAS Employment Forum
Facilitator & Disclaimer
John Miller, Vice President, AHEDD (717)
763-0968 ext 118
[email protected]
 The contents are the sole responsibility of the
author and do not represent the official views of
the Social Security Administration nor the PA
Department of Public Welfare.
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Barriers
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Fear of losing benefits
Fear of screwing up (e.g. overpayments)
Fear and preoccupation about making and
saving too much money
Entitlement among beneficiaries
Entitlement among professionals in respect to
beneficiaries whom they serve
Myths, wrong information, partial information
Life Choices & Options Among SSA
Beneficiaries
US Pop
SSDI
SSI (18-64)
Married
53%
50%
19%
Never Married
29%
21%
46%
< HS
19%
23%
44%
More than 12
yrs school
52%
38%
20%
Own home
68%
62%
37%
Food Stamps
9%
16%
44%
SSA Demographics – MH
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SSI @ 5.5 million has increased avg. 2.2% last 5 years
– 5.5% among persons w/ MH. Largest disability
cohort (40%). Over 40% of SSI/MH younger than 30.
SSDI tends towards older persons, with 67% being 50
or older. Beneficiaries w/MH are the largest disability
cohort among DI (29%), and nearly half are younger
than 50.
In PA, there are currently 146, 384 persons with
primary MH eligible for TTW.
Do (can) SSDI Beneficiaries Work?
Comparison SSDI to SSDI Workers By Age
25000
ALL SSDI
2500000
20000
2000000
15000
1500000
10000
1000000
5000
500000
0
0
Under 30
30–39
ALL SSDI
40–49
50–59
Successful SSDI Workers
60–FRA
SSDI Successful Workers
3000000
Can (do) SSI Beneficiaries Work?
SSI - Working By Age
1400000
100000
90000
80000
1000000
70000
800000
60000
50000
600000
40000
400000
30000
20000
200000
10000
0
0
13–17
18–21
22–29
SSI
30–39
40–49
SSI Working
50–59
60–64
SSI Working
ALL SSI
1200000
Programs through Ticket to Work &
Work Incentives Improvement Act
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Work Incentives Planning Assistance
(WIPA) Program
Enhanced Work Incentives
Medicaid Buy-in (state option)
Ticket & Employment Network
Work Incentives Planning Assistance
Model
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Confirm current status (optional);
Context of work history, education, relevant personal
facts;
Scenario Analysis of Earned Income;
Applicable Work Incentives;
Address unusual circumstances;
Recommended form letters & benefits management
tools;
Comment on Beneficiary’s capability of benefits
management
Impact of Work on SSI (CY 2009)
$2,500
$2,000
$1,500
$1,000
$500
$Earned Income
SSI
1
$$674
2
3
4
$300
$625
$980
$567
$404
$227
5
6
7
$1,432 $1,433 $2,380
$1
$-
$-
PA Provides an SSI supplement of $27.40 not included in this display!
Key Points to Remember
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Which benefit am I getting?
If SSDI: Time is the essential factor. For
example, Work post eligibility and status with
Trial Work Period, Extended Period of Eligibility
If SSI: What is my other income this month?
Impact on other benefits for the individual as
well as family members (e.g. spouse)
Report my earnings monthly via pay-stubs.
Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) happen.
Benefits Planning Query
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The BPQY communicates information on SSA records
specifically for beneficiaries with disabilities and encourages
financial planning for a return to work. The information is
generally accurate but if earnings were not reported by the
beneficiary or if work reports were not processed by SSA, the
data must be updated and corrected.
A BPQY (SSA-2459) is given to beneficiaries upon request.
The BPQY and its cover letter (SSAL-634) will be mailed directly
to the beneficiary at the address shown on the current SSA
record.
PA Medicaid Buy-In
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Medicaid for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD)
Department of Public Welfare www.dpw.state.pa.us
January 2002
Disabled per SSA guidelines, except earnings and
income
250% of federal poverty
$10K or less in assets
Monthly premium 5% of countable income
Ticket to Work
•Preferential
access to
employment
services by
beneficiaries;
•Opportunity for
states, local
communities and
providers to
increase revenue
stream to support
employment
services.
Medicaid Infrastructure Grant
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Promote Medicaid Buy-In and Ticket to Work;
Marketing Activities
Mini Grants
Staff Development
Expansion of WIPA