Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Children with Disabilities

1. Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Children with Disabilities

2. How is SSI Different from Social Security? • Limited Income and Resources • SSI not based on work • Medicaid eligible • Food stamp eligible in some cases • 65, blind or disabledFunded by general revenues

3. SSI-Who can receive it? • Blind/Disabled-any age • Limited income/resources • Citizenship/Residency • Age 65 or older

4. Citizenship/Residency • U.S. or N. Mariana Islands resident & • Must be a U.S. citizen/national or, • Permanent resident w/40 credits or, • Refugee/asylee (limit of 7 years) or, • Receiving SSI on or before 8/22/96

5. Definition of Disability • Physical or mental impairment that keeps a person from performing “substantial work” • Condition expected to last 12 months or result in death • For child-impairment must result in “marked or severe functional limitations” and be expected to last 12 months or result in death

6. Definition of Blindness • Corrected vision of 20/200 or less in better eye • Field of vision less than 20 degrees

7. Presumptive Disability • Up to 6 months of SSI based on disability if applicant has one of 15 conditions • Determination is made by local Social Security office • If there is a likelihood that case will be approved, DDS can also make a presumptive decision

8. Disability Determination • Approval or disapproval decisions are made in Austin by Disability Determination Services (DDS) • Can be expedited through Electronic Records Express (ERE) • “Blue Book” (Disability Evaluation Under Social Security) available online at : www.socialsecurity.gov

9. Compassionate Allowances • Over 200 rare diseases and cancers • Expedited decisions on these cases • List of impairments found at: www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances • More diseases and conditions to be added over time

10. Limited Income • Countable income must be below $733 per month for an individual (2016)

11. Deeming of Income • If child is under 18, not married and living with parents, portions of their income and resources are treated as though they were the child’s. This called “deeming.”

12. Deeming Not Applicable • Child 18 yrs. or older • Children living in institutions • Children eligible for Medicaid under a State home care plan. • Child not living with either parent • Child whose parent receives TANF and other income used to compute PIM payment

13. Types of Income • Unearned income includes pensions, alimony, support payments, rents, interest, annuities etc. • Earned income means wages, self employment net earnings, royalties, Sheltered Workshop payments etc.

14. Limited Resources • $2000 for an individual • Resources (assets) of parents are considered to belong to the child until he/she turns 18

15. Resource Exclusions • Home where the person lives • Car, depending on use or value • Burial plots for individual and family • Burial funds up to $1500 • Life insurance ($1500 or less) • Term insurance (any amount)

16. Living Arrangements • Determine amount of SSI that a person will receive • Factors like sharing of expenses, rental liability, separate purchase or preparation of food, institutionalization, home ownership can affect determination

17. Medicaid • In most states including Texas, eligibility for SSI means Medicaid coverage • Medicaid is a federal/state program administered by the states • Eligibility is made on a month to month basis

18. Redeterminations • Non-medical review of case can be yearly or less often depending on income and other factors • Can be done by phone or in office • Failure to respond to redetermination request will result in suspension of SSI benefits and Medicaid coverage

19. Continuing Disability Review (CDR) • SSA re-evaluates medical condition every three, five or seven years according to a recipient’s disabling condition • SSI recipients who turn 18 must have their disability reviewed using adult standards. If approved, benefits will continue

20. SSI Work Incentives • Impairment related work expenses • Blind work expenses • Plan for achieving self support (PASS) • Continued Medicaid eligibility (1619 b) • Student Earned Income Exclusion

21. Student Income Exclusions • Under age 22 • Must be in college at least 8 hrs per week • Grades 7-12 at least 12 hours per week • Up to $1780 earned income notcounted to a yearly maximum of $7180

22. Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) • Designed for applicant • Specify work goal in writing • Specific timetable • Money/resources used to reach goal • Needs SSA approval

23. SSI/SSDI Work Incentives • Many programs to assist Social Security and SSI beneficiaries with disabilities to return to work • Description of these is available in the “Red Book” • This is available online at SSA’s website: www.socialsecurity.gov

24. SSI Recipients’ Responsibilities: • Report changes in income/resources/living arrangements • Inform SSA if they leave the U.S. or Northern Mariana Islands • Report entry or departure from an institution • Inform SSA about changes of address

25. Social Security Benefits • Social Security payments based on wages of the worker • Children with disabilities can only draw Social Security benefits on a parent’s record if the parent is currently receiving Social Security benefits or is deceased and had sufficient work credits under Social Security

26. Social Security Benefits • Children with disabilities can also receive their own Social Security benefits if they have worked and acquire “insured status” under Social Security • Child who is 18 yrs old or older that has a disability that began before age 22 can file for Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefit under their parent if that parent is receiving SS benefits or is deceased and has sufficient work credits

27. Social Security Benefits • Disabled Adult Children and individuals receiving Social Security Disability benefits are entitled to Medicare coverage after 24 months • Resources (Assets) are not a factor for Social Security eligibility

28. Social Security Work Incentives • Trial Work period • Extended Period of Eligibility • Continuation of Medical Coverage • Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) • Ticket to Work (TTW) • Subsidies and Special Conditions

29. Medicare • Part A covers hospital expenses. Deductible is $1288 • Part B covers 80% of the doctor expenses after deductible of $166 for the year. Premiums are $121.80 per month • Part C is Medicare advantage plan. These include Medicare managed-care plans, PPO’s, fee for service plans and specialty plans.

30. Medicare • Part D covers a major portion of prescription drug costs • Monthly premium is about $34 • Extra help to pay premium, deductible and co-pays for Part D available for qualified Medicare beneficiaries through Social Security

31. Need More Information? • Go to Social Security website at: www.socialsecurity.gov • Call Social Security Monday through Friday from 7:00 am-7:00 pm 1 800 772-1213

32. Need More Information? • Go to Medicare’s website at : www.medicare.gov or • Call Medicare at 1 800 MEDICARE (1 800 633-4227) This is a 24/7 number.

33. Thank You!