Transition and SSA Benefits

1
Transition and SSA Benefits

• Using Work Incentives to Promote Transition
  Outcomes Guidance for the Professional

Deb Russell, M.S., Illinois Department of Human
Services, Office of Rehabilitation Services,
debrussell_at_mindspring.com and Debbie Shelden,
CRC, Ph.D., Illinois State University dlsheld_at_ilst
u.edu
2
Outline

• 1. General purpose of benefits
• 2. Accessing the benefits
• 3. Work incentives
• 4. Transition planning

3
Relationship of benefits to transition outcomes

• Income support
• Access to healthcare coverage
• Access to long-term supports

4
Accessing the benefits

• Before age 18
• SSI Childrens
• Title 2 minor
• Post 18 benefits
• SSI
• SSDI
• SSDAC

5
Eligibility changes at 18th birthday

• Title 2 (SSDI, SSDAC)
• DI and DAC are only available to individuals over
  the age of 18.
• If a Title 2 benefit has been received prior to
  the 18th birthday, it is a benefit because the
  individual is a minor, not because of disability

• Title 16 SSI
• Disability standard (definition) changes to
  include the impairments impact on ability to
  earn money
• Parents income is no longer a factor in
  eligibility even if person continues to reside
  with parents

6
Application for adult benefits

• At age 18, so many parts of eligibility change
  that either a new application must be filed, or a
  continuing disability review will be conducted
• At age 18, the definition of disability is no
  longer functional in nature, it measures the
  impairment against earning capacity

7
Work Incentives

• How do I keep as much of the SSI check as
  possible and work too?

8
Earnings exclusions for students

• Individuals who are full time students (or the
  equivalent) and under the age of 22 are allowed
  to exclude up to 1340/month in earnings (maximum
  of 5410/year) in addition to other work
  incentives to minimize the impact of earnings on
  the SSI check.

9
PASS

• Plan to Achieve Self Sufficiency PASS
• Allows a person to set aside income and resources
  to accomplish an occupational goal.
• Requires a formal plan and monitoring.
• Deemed income can be used to pay for costs of
  PASS
• Resources set aside do not count toward the
  resources test.

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Example of PASS

• John goal is to be employed in a restaurant
  setting working in dining room preparation
  Preparing silverware by rolling them together
  inside a napkin and securing it with a fastener.
• His transition team has estimated that he will
  need job coaching for 35 weeks.
• Cost of Item/service Job Coaching
  5500.00(10/hr_at_20hrs/week for 15 weeks, then 10
  hrs/week for 10 weeks then 5hrs/week for 10
  weeks)
• Income to be used parents deemed income of
  250/month
• Using the PASS, his parents will save the
  250/month for 22 months in a separate savings
  account. During this time, the family will
  receive the full SSI check instead of a reduced
  check due to deeming.
• When the school places John, the PASS money will
  be used to pay for the support he needs to be
  successful.

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Disability Benefits, Work Incentives and
Transition Planning

• Address benefits management in the transition
  planning process
• Discuss whether or not the student receives
  benefits
• Identify supports available to the family for
  applying for benefits
• Identify benefits planning assistance for the
  student

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Disability Benefits, Work Incentives and
Transition Planning

• Include disability benefits issues in transition
  instruction, e.g.,
• Impact of work on benefits
• Responsibilities to SSA
• Identify who will provide instruction related to
  disability benefits
• Education personnel
• Community advocates
• Benefit planners
• Vocational rehabilitation personnel

13
Disability Benefits, Work Incentives and
Transition Planning

• Compile documentation
• Work and vocational training history, including
  supports
• Complete medical documentation

14
Disability Benefits, Work Incentives and
Transition Planning

• Generate ideas of how work incentives can be
  utilized to enhance employment outcomes
• Supports needed in current job
• Plans for long-term career goals
• Entrepreneurship

15
Resources

• Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach (BPAO)
  projects exist in each state
• These projects will provide individualized
  analyses for those wondering what will happen to
  their benefits when they get a job
• All benefits are covered by BPAO, not just Social
  Security Benefits

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Illinois BPAO

• City of Chicago, Mayors Office2102 West Ogden
  AvenueChicago, IL 60612312-746-5743Metropolita
  n Chicago in Cook County
• Department of Human Services, Mental Health160
  N. LaSalle Street10th FloorChicago, IL
  60601312-814-7196
• Adams, Alexander, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Cook,
  DuPage, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hancock,
  Henderson, Henry, Jackson, Jersey, Johnson, Kane,
  Kankakee, Knox, Lake, Macon, Macoupin, Madison,
  Mason, Massac, MdDonough, McHenry, Menard,
  Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Moultrie, Pike, Pulaski,
  Randolph, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, St. Clair,
  Union, Warren, and Will Counties
• Illinois Department of Human Services623 East
  AdamsP.O. Box 19429Springfield, IL
  62704800-807-6962(866) 444-8013 TTY Bond,
  Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Champaign, Christian,
  Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Crawford,
  Cumberland, De Kalb, De Witt, Douglas, Edgar,
  Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Franklin,
  Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Iroquois, Jasper,
  Jefferson, Jo Daviess, La Salle, Lawrence, Lee,
  Livingston, Logan, Marion, Marshall, McLean,
  Montgomery, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Piatt, Pope,
  Putnam, Richland, Rock Island, Saline, Shelby,
  Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Vermilion, Wabash,
  Washington, Wayne, White, Whiteside, Williamson,
  Winnebago, and Woodford Counties

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Indiana BPAO

• The Center for Mental Health1100
  BroadwayAnderson, IN 46015765-641-8382
• 44 Counties in Northern Indiana Adams, Allen,
  Benton, Blackford, Boone, Carroll, Cass, Clinton,
  DeKalb, Delaware, Elkhart, Fountain, Fulton,
  Grant, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Howard,
  Huntington, Jasper, Jay, Kosciusko, Lagrange,
  Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marshall, Miami,
  Montgomery, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, Randolph,
  St.Joseph, Starke, Steuben, Tippecanoe, Tipton,
  Wabash, Warren, Wayne, Wells, White, and Whitley
• Trustees of Indiana UniversityP.O. Box
  1847Bloomington, IN 47402812-855-6508
• 48 Counties in Southern Indiana Bartholomew,
  Brown, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn,
  Decature, Debois, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin,
  Gibson, Greene, Harrison, Hendricks, Jackson,
  Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence,
  Marion, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Ohio,
  Orange, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Putnam,
  Ripley, Rush, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Sullivan,
  Switzerland, Union, Vanderburgh, Vermillion,
  Vigo, Warrick, and Washington.

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Michigan BPAO

• Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit3111
  Grand River AvenueDetroit, MI 482081-888-232-414
  0
• Wayne County including City of Detroit
• The ARC Michigan1325 S. Washington
  AvenueLansing, MI 489101-800-292-7851
• 21 Counties in Southern Michigan Allegan,
  Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton,
  Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson,
  Kalamazoo, Kent, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe,
  Ottawa, St. Joseph, Van Buren, and Washtenaw.
• UCP Association of Metropolitan Detroit23077
  Greenfield RoadSuite 205Southfield, MI
  480751-800-827-4843
• Oakland and Macomb Counties
• United Cerebral Palsy Assoc. of Michigan3401 E.
  SaginawSuite 216Lansing, MI 48912517-203-12008
  00-828-2714 (toll free)
• 59 Counties in Northeast Michigan and the Upper
  Peninsula Alcon, Alger, Alphena, Antrim, Arenac,
  Baraga, Bay, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan,
  Chippewa, Clare, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson,
  Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand
  Tranverse, Graiot, Houghton, Huron, Iosco, Iron,
  Isabella, Kallaska, Keweenaw, Lake, Lapeer,
  Leelanau, Luce, Mackinac, Manistee, Marquette,
  Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Midland, Missaukee,
  Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana,
  Ogenaw, Ontonagon, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego,
  Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac,
  Schoolcraft, Shawassee, St. Clair, Tuscola, and
  Wexford.

19
Minnesota BPAO

• Riverfront Activity Center, Inc.
• 3000 South AvenueLa Crosse, WI
  54601608-784-9450
• Blue Earth, Dodge, Dakota, Faribault, Fillmore,
  Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, LeSueur, Mower,
  Olmsted, Rice Scott, Steele, Wasasha, Waseca, and
  Winona Counties
• Minnesota Department of Economic Security2200
  University Avenue, WSuite 240St. Paul, MN
  55114651-632-5108
• Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big
  Stone, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa,
  Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow
  Wing, Douglas, Grant, Hennepin, Hubbard, Isanti,
  Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson,
  Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the
  Woods, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnonmen,
  Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison,
  Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Otter Tail,
  Pendington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey,
  Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Roseau, St.
  Louis, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens,
  Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wadens, Washington,
  Watonwan, Wiklin, Wright and Yellow Medicine
  Counties

20
Ohio BPAO

• Center of Vocational Alternatives for Mental
  Health, Inc.3770 N. High StreetColumbus, OH
  43214614-294-7117 37 Counties throughout
  Central and Southeastern Ohio Adams, Athens,
  Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton,
  Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey,
  Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson,
  Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Madison, Marion, Meighs,
  Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Perry,
  Pickaway, Pike, Richland, Ross, Scioto,
  Tuscarawas, Union, Vinton, and Washington.
• Legal Aid Society of Dayton333 West First
  StreetSuite 500Dayton, OH 45402937-228-8088
  x108 Allen, Auglaize, Champaign, Clark,
  Clinton, Darke, Fayette, Greene, Hardin,
  Highland, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery,
  Preble, Putnam, Shelby, and Van Wert Counties
• Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati215 East
  Ninth StreetSuite 200Cincinnati, OH
  45202513-241-9400 Southwestern Ohio counties
  of Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren.

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Ohio BPAO (continued)

• Legal Services of Northwest Ohio701 Spitzer
  BuildingToledo, OH 43604419-724-0030
  Northwest Ohio including Crawford, Defiance,
  Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding,
  Sandusky, Seneca, Williams, Wood and Wyandot
  counties.
• Linking Employment, Abilities Potential1468
  W. 25th StreetCleveland, OH 44113216-696-2716
• Northeastern Ohio, including the counties of
  Ashland, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga,
  Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage,
  Stark, Summit, Trumbull, and Wayne

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Wisconsin BPAO

• Employment Resources, Inc.4126 Lien RoadSuite
  104Madison, WI 537041-877-826-1752 Adams,
  Brown, Calumet, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Door,
  Florence, Fond Du Lac, Forest, Green Lake,
  Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Lauglade, Lincoln,
  Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette,
  Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Portage,
  Racine, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, Vilas,
  Walworth, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, and Wood
  Counties
• Independence First600 W. Virginia StreetSuite
  301Milwaukee, WI 53204414-291-7520 Milwaukee,
  Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington Counties
• Riverfront Activity Center, Inc.3000 South
  AvenueLa Crosse, WI 54601608-784-9450
• Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett,
  Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Douglas, Dunn, Eau
  Claire, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jackson,
  Juneau, La Crosse, Lafayette, Monroe, Pepin,
  Pierce, Polk, Price, Richland, Rock, Rusk,
  Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeu, Vernon,
  and Washburn Counties