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Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP)

Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP). State Administration of the SSP January 24, 2012 1 Ashburton Place 21 st floor Conference Room Boston January 26, 2012 Webinar. Welcome and Introductions. Welcome and Introductions Today you will hear

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Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP)

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  1. Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP) State Administration of the SSP January 24, 2012 1 Ashburton Place 21st floor Conference Room Boston January 26, 2012 Webinar

  2. Welcome and Introductions • Welcome and Introductions • Today you will hear • About the transfer to state administration • Goal of a seamless system • Outreach Transition Plan Timeline to April 1st

  3. Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP) Overview • The MassachusettsSSI State Supplement Program (SSP) is a Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) and Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) program. • The program provides additional cash payments that supplement federal SSI benefits. • Those supplemental payments have become what is now known as the “SSI State Supplement Program” or “SSP.”

  4. Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP) Overview • In Massachusetts state supplemental payments have been administered by the Social Security Administration to SSI recipients since the program’s inception in 1974. • Massachusetts will become the 43rd state to administer its own SSP due to the rising cost of federal administration. • Benefit levels for SSP payments will not change. • The Commonwealth currently pays in excess of $25M per year to the Social Security Administration to administer the SSP. • Projected annualized savings from state administration are approximately $15M, increasing annually as the federal cost increases and the state cost decreases.

  5. Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP) In April, Massachusetts will become the 43rd state to administer its own SSP 42 5 3

  6. MassachusettsSSPStateAdministration • Transition to State Administration: • Eligibility requirements for SSP will not change • Application for SSI or SSP will not change • SSP payment amounts will not change • SSP payments will be paid on the same day as SSI payments Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP)

  7. Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP) SSA Administration Current Program Model

  8. Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP) Program Model State Administration as of April 1, 2012

  9. There are approximately 196,000 recipients in Massachusetts • 91% are eligible for SSI benefits • 9% of the total recipients are eligible for SSP-Only Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP)

  10. 9% Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP) 91%

  11. Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP) Disability Determinations • SSA will continue to determine disability for all SSI and SSDI recipients. • UMass Disability Evaluation Services (DES) will determine disability for the SSP caseload who are not eligible for SSI or SSDI, less than 1%. • Applicants with a valid determination on file with DES will not be subject to another evaluation.

  12. Massachusetts SSI State SupplementProgram (SSP) • Recipients of SSI and SSP will receive two payments to be issued at the same time: • An SSI Payment from SSA • An SSP Payment from the state • Recipients of SSP-Only will receive one monthly payment from the state. SSPPayments

  13. Massachusetts SSI State SupplementProgram (SSP)

  14. Massachusetts SSI StateSupplement Program (SSP) SSPCustomerServiceCallCenter • Beginning Monday, February 13, 2012, the SSP Customer Service Call Center will be available during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Toll-Free Number: 877-863-1128 • All contact with recipients will be handled by phone or mail.

  15. Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP) After April 1, 2012 • Eligibility requirements are NOT changing. • Payment amounts are NOT changing. • If SSI/SSP eligible, you will receive • Your SSI payment from the Social Security Administration. • Your SSP payment from the state. • If SSP-Only eligible, you will receive • Your SSP payment from the state.

  16. Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP) • SSI recipients will continue to report changes to the Social Security Administration. • SSP-Only recipients will report changes to the state to the Customer Service Center. • The SSP Customer Service Call Center will handle all SSP inquiries. • Information will also be provided through a Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program website at EHS. After April 1, 2012

  17. Massachusetts SSI State Supplement Program (SSP) • An application for SSI will continue to serve as an application for SSP. • Approval for SSI benefits will continue to result in approval for SSP. • Cases denied SSI due to income will be considered by the state for SSP eligibility. • All current info used by Medicaid and DTA to administer programs will continue to be provided. AfterApril 1, 2012

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