Broadening Our Horizons 2011

1. Broadening Our Horizons 2011 Sheila Stoeckel Community Work Incentive Coordinator, IWIPA

2. Iowa Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (IWIPA) Funded under a cooperative agreement with the Social Security Administration known as Work Incentive Planning and Assistance Overseen by the Governance Group of Iowa, which includes: • Iowa Workforce Development • Iowa Dept for the Blind • Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council • Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services • Iowa Dept of Education • Iowa Dept of Human Rights • Iowa Dept of Human Services

3. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) • Needs based • Resource Limit • Financially needy program • No Auxiliary or survivors benefits • U.S. Treasury general funds • No state supplement in IA • Work Incentives • Medicaid

4. Social Security Disability Insurance • Regular Social Security benefits • FICA contributions/qualified worker • Dependent of a qualified worker • Individualized benefit • Medicare • Work Incentives

5. Under age 18 • Child must not be working and earning over $1000/month • Child must have a physical or mental condition • Be expected to last at least 12 months, or result in death • If child’s condition results in “marked and severe functional limitations” for at least 12 months • Household income or resources • Apply/ Redetermination Age 18

6. Parent to Child Deeming (under 18) • Parental income/resources shared with the child is “deemed” • Doesn’t matter if the money is actually provided to child • Not all income/resources count • Deemed income from a parent to an eligible child is treated as unearned income • May be used as for a PASS

7. Age 18 Redetermination • SSA will gather medical and other information to see if the 18 year old is eligible to receive benefits as an adult • A person receiving benefits as a child may not be eligible under the adult rules • Be prepared!!!!!

8. Strategies for Redetermination • Don’t assume that the student will get SSA benefits as a adult • Start planning early • Document work expense • Understand the purpose of the questions • Appeal if determined ineligible

9. Section 301 • Social Security Provision • Allows for continuation of benefits while the beneficiary completes an appropriate Vocational Rehabilitation Program or similar services. • In order to be eligible for Section 301, one must have determined by SSA to be “medically recovered” or to no longer meet the medical qualifications through a medical CDR or during the age 18 re-determination

10. SSI Work Incentives • Basic Earned Income Calculation • Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) • Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) • Student-Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) • 1619 (a) & (b) • Blind Work Expense (BWE) • Property Essential to Self Support (PESS) • Expedited Reinstatement

11. Earned Income Exclusion 400 Gross earnings -20 General Exc. 380 -65 Earned Income Exc. 315 315 /2 remainder divide by 2 157.50 Countable Earnings

12. Earned Income Exclusion cont. 674 2011 Federal Benefit - 157.50 Countable Earnings 416.50 Reduced SSI payment + 400 gross Income $816.50 Total monthly gross income

13. Student Earned Income Exclusion • Must be under 22 • regularly attending school • College - 8 hrs a week • Grades 7-12 - 12 hrs a week • Training Course - 12 hrs a week • Home study due to disability can also be considered • Allows student to exclude $1,640 per month/maximum of $6,600 per year and their SSI is not reduced in 2011

14. 1619b If your earnings are so high that your SSI payments stop: • Medicaid continues until you earn above a threshold • People with high medical costs can earn even more

15. Other important Work Incentives • Impairment Related Work Expense • Blind Work Expense • Plan for Achieving Self Support • Property Essential to Self Support

16. Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS Plan) Allows an individual to set aside income and/or resources for a specified period of time to achieve their work goal.

17. PASS facts • Already receiving SSI or must meet eligibility requirements • Must have income/resources to set aside • To increase or maintain income producing capability • A chance to achieve a vocational goal • To make it financially feasible to set aside or save income/resources • PASS can start as early as 14 years old.

18. Examples of PASS Expenditures • Supported Employment services • Items & Capital for a Business • Educational & Training expenses • Attendant Care • Child Care • Equipment or tools • Uniforms or special clothing • Etc

19. Social Security Disability Insurance Social Security Childhood Disability Benefits Have worked and paid Social Security taxes (FICA), be a qualified worker, or an adult disabled child of a qualified worker.

20. SSDI Work Incentives • 9 month Trial Work Period allows you to work and receive benefits • Automatic reinstatement for the first 3 years • Additional 5 years of reinstatement if work stops and there is no medical improvement

21. Other SSDI Work Incentives • IRWE • Higher SGA for Blind • Subsidy • Extended Medicare coverage • Unincurred Business expenses • Unsuccessful Work Attempt • Continued payment under a VR or similar program

22. Medicaid for Employed People With Disabilities ~ Title 19 • Must be disabled • Must have earned income from employment • Must be under age 65 • Must meet income and resource requirements (higher than SSI requirements) • Same as Title 19 - administered by DHS • Some individuals may pay a premium

23. Iowa Work Incentive and Assistance Project Suzie Paulson 430 E Grand Ave Des Moines, IA 50309 515-281-9009 866- 528-4019 Relay 711 Suzanne.paulson@iwd.iowa.gov Sheila Stoeckel 600 South Pierce Ave Mason City, IA 50401 641-422-1500 877-424-9472 Relay 711 Sheila.stoeckel@iwd.iowa.gov