State as a Model Employer Training Series

1. Youth Transition Toolkit State as a Model Employer Training Series Basics of Social Security Disability Benefits: Your First Step Towards Benefits Planning

2. Overview • Benefits of accessing benefits and working • Social Security Disability Benefits • Work Incentives available • Benefits Planning Tools, Tips, Skills and Resources

3. Benefits and Transition Planning • Getting benefits can be your bridge to greater independence – but it isn’t a lot of money to live on… • Receiving benefits does not necessarily mean living in poverty • Will lead you to working, becoming a tax payer and you will be able to buy products and services you need and want • Once benefits are accessed, learn the work incentives!

4. Social Security Disability Benefit Programs • Social Security Administration (SSA) • It is very important to understand which program your receive your benefits from and the difference between the SSDI and SSI programs • Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) • Based on your own work recordor your parent’s work record (Childhood Disability Benefits) • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) • Based on need • SSI and SSDI = “Concurrent Benefits”

5. How are SSI and SSDI similar? • You must qualify as having a “disability”: • To be eligible for SSI or SSDI, Social Security’s definition of disability must be met • You also must be unable to work at a certain level, (which Social Security calls “Substantial Gainful Activity”) for at least 12 months due to a physical or mental impairment • 2012 Substantial Gainful Activity = $1010 or $1690 for blind individuals • They both provide cash benefits and health insurance

6. How are SSI and SSDI different? • You get SSI because you have a disability and have low income and resources: • You and/or your parents make under a certain amount of money • You have less than $2000 in any of your bank or savings accounts (called “assets” or “resources”) • You get SSDI because you have a disability, and you or your parents have enough “work credits” • You or your parents have worked and paid into the “Social Security trust fund” • You can have savings, there is no resource limit

7. How much SSI or SSDI will I receive? 2012 California SSI Monthly Payment Rates • $854.40 (Individual-own household) • $625.17 (Individual-household of another) • $909.40 (Blind individual) • $680.17 (Blind-household of another) SSDI Payment amounts are based upon you or your parents’ Social Security earnings record

8. What benefits am I on? • Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) • A brief report with details about your SSI and/or SSDI benefits, health coverage and work and earnings history • Request from your local Social Security Office • Call the Social Security Administration (SSA) at: 800-772-1213 (voice); 800-325-0778 (TTY) • To learn more about the BPQY see the “What benefits am I on now?” Article on the DB101 home page: http://ca.db101.org

9. Medicare vs. Medi-Cal • Both are types of health insurance which are provided to individuals with disabilities. • Medicare – comes with SSDI or CDB • Medi-Cal – comes with SSI, or you can get it by applying at your local County Social Services office • You can have Medi-Cal, Medicare, and/or private health insurance at the same time

10. Medicare Card

11. Medi-Cal • Medi-Cal is a health insurance program that pays medical expenses for people with low income and little or no resources

12. Work Is Good and Knowledge Is Power! • While working you will be earning Social Security credits that can lead to SSDI eligibility and retirement benefits in the future • In general, young people who get SSDI, CDB or SSI will be better off financially when they go to work • Work Incentives differ among programs • Knowing how working may or may not affect benefits can affect employment decisions and overall quality of life • Use Disability Benefits 101 and the benefits calculators – planning is key! www.db101.org

13. SSI and SSDI Work Incentives

14. Benefits Planning Tools, Skills and Resources for Results • The Benefits Binder: your notebook and log of phone calls, office visits, and names of service staff you contact. File original paycheck stubs, government letters and receipts here. • Reporting Requirements: Who is responsible, when? If you have a payee, the payee is responsible to report changes to Social Security. If not, it’s the beneficiary. Report income and other life changes timely • Know your appeal rights. A Notice of Action explains them. • Utilize Benefits Planning Tools and Resources: Disability Benefits 101 website (www.db101.org), and local benefits planners. These tools, rules and skills can result in timely and improved customer service with benefit programs

15. Mary’s Story • Receiving SSI and Medi-Cal benefits, living independently, and going to community college • SSI benefits not enough to live on – interested in going to work part-time but worried about losing benefits • Visits www.disabilitybenefits101.org, learns she is able to keep all benefits plus her earnings from a part-time job at Target through the Student Earned Income Exclusion work incentive program – can now afford to go shopping! • Reports earnings to Social Security by sending in paystubs, keeps track of paperwork in her benefits binder