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| Frequently Asked Questions |
| The answers provided on this page are a general overview. Every person's situation is different so the simple answers provided here may or may not apply to you. It is important for you to contact the Benefits Counselor that serves your area to get more detailed information about how your benefits will be affected. Remember, a Benefits Counselor can give you information but Social Security always makes the final determination about your benefits. |
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If I work will my benefit stop?
I get SSI. What will happen to my check when I work? What will happen to my Medicaid when I work? I get as SSDI. What will happen to my check when I work? What will happen to my Medicare when I work? I get both SSI and SSDI how will my benefits be affected? I am a student and I get SSI. What will happen to my benefits? I have a Ticket to Work. What now? What are Impairment Related Work Expenses? What is a PASS plan? If I work will my benefit stop? Not necessarily. Everyone's situation is different but in most cases simply going to work will not cause your benefit to stop. If you are thinking about going to work it is a good idea to talk with a Benefits Planner in your area. The benefits planner will provide you with information so you can make an informed decision about whether or not working is right for you. It is important for you to report to Social Security when you start to work and when you stop working. Only the Social Security Administration can make the final determination about your benefit. Back to Top I get SSI. What will happen to my check when I work? If you get SSI, Social Security will count less than half of your earned income before adjusting your SSI check. They do not count the first $85 of income each month. After the first $85 Social Security will subtract $1 from your SSI check for every $2 you earn. You may have additional costs associated with your job that Social Security will exclude before adjusting your SSI check. These are called Impairment Related Work Expenses. You may also set aside money other than your SSI into a PASS plan. The PASS may allow you to continue to receive your full SSI check. Back to Top What will happen to my Medicaid when I work? In most cases your Medicaid will continue while you are working. Even if you work at a level that will cause your SSI cash benefit to stop for Medicaid will continue under a special work incentive called Section 1619(b). Every state has a threshold amount that will allow a person to work and maintain Medicaid eligibility. In Georgia for the year 2008 the threshold amount is $27,646. It is possible if your Medicaid expenditures are high enough, to set an individualized threshold by talking with your Social Security Representative. Back to Top I get as SSDI. What will happen to my check when I work? when a person receives SSDI Social Security allows for a nine-month trial work period. During this trial work period a person may earn as much as possible without the loss of their Social Security check. At the end of the nine-month trial work period the beneficiary enters a 36 month Extended Period of Eligibility. During the Extended Period of Eligibility Social Security begins to look for earnings at the Substantial Gainful Activity level. For the year 2008 Substantial Gainful Activity for a person who is not blind is $940. For a person who is legally blind Substantial Gainful Activity is $1570. If your gross monthly earnings minus any exclusions is above Substantial Gainful Activity you are not eligible for a check for that month. If your earnings are below Substantial Gainful Activity you are eligible for a check for that month. If at the end of the Extended Period of Eligibility your monthly earnings are below Substantial Gainful Activity you remain eligible for a check until the first month your earnings are above Substantial Gainful Activity at which time you terminate from Social Security roles. Back to Top What will happen to my Medicare when I work? Medicare is provided in two parts. Part A is hospitalization and is provided to you premium free by Social Security. Part B is supplemental insurance for which you pay a monthly premium. This premium is normally deducted from your monthly check. You will continue to receive Part A coverage premium free for 93 months after the end of the trial work period in most cases. During the extended period of eligibility if you are working at below substantial gainful activity and therefore eligible for your SSDI check you will continue to be eligible for Part B deducted from your SSDI check each month. However, if you are working at a level above substantial gainful activity and you are not eligible for a check you may be responsible for paying the Part B premium yourself. As long as you are eligible for a check you will continue to be covered by Medicare. Back to Top I get both SSI and SSDI how will my benefits be affected? If you get both SSI and SSDI you are a concurrent beneficiary. The rules for working are different for each type of benefit. This means that you are subject to two different sets of rules when you work. Please contact the benefits counselor that serves your area to review how working will affect each type of benefit. Remember, Social Security always makes the final decision about your benefits. Back to Top I am a student and I get SSI. What will happen to my benefits? If you are a student under the age of 22 and you get SSI and you work Social Security may exclude $6240 per year of your earned income before your SSI check is affected. Back to Top I have a Ticket to Work. What now? The Ticket is best viewed as one more work incentive offered by Social Security. It can be used to help you receive services from an approved Employment Network to help you get or keep a job. You have a choice in whether or not you choose to use your Ticket. If you choose to use an Employment Network to receive services your Ticket will be automatically assigned. If you choose not to use your Ticket it does not change any of the existing work incentives already in place. What the Ticket can do for you is protect you from a Medical Review from Social Security for up to five years while your Ticket is in assignment. Are you a good candidate for using the Ticket? Ask yourself, are you willing to eventually work at a level that will cause your Social Security benefits to stop? Do you need protection from a Medical Review for a period of time until you can get a job? Do you need assistance in finding or maintaining a job? These are some basic questions you want to consider when deciding whether or not to use your Ticket. For more information on The Ticket go to the Downloads page and get the file Your Ticket to Work: What You Need To Know To Keep It Working For You Back to Top What are Impairment Related Work Expenses? Impairment Related Work Expenses are expenses that you have that you pay for out-of-pocket and you are not reimbursed by a third party which allow you to work. The expense must be related to your disability. Common examples of Impairment Related Work Expenses are the cost of medications, transportation under certain conditions, special equipment that you need in order to work, attendant care in some cases, durable or nondurable medical equipment or supplies, etc. These Impairment Related Work Expenses reduce your gross income to countable income for the purposes of Social Security. It is possible that by using Impairment Related Work Expenses you will be able to keep all or more of your Social Security cash benefit. Back to Top What is a PASS plan? A Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) is a way for a person who receives SSI to save money above the $2000 limit to purchase items or services to help them meet a vocational goal. Money set aside for a PASS has to be income other than your SSI check. That is, if you only receive SSI you would not be eligible for a PASS. You have to have income from work, from SSDI, or from some other source to put into your PASS plan. The PASS can also be used by a person with SSDI to establish eligibility for SSI and Medicaid. This would require setting aside some or all of the SSDI to become eligible. The PASS is time limited, usually approved for 18 months initially, but can be approved or amended for additional amount of time. The PASS is an excellent way to save money over the $2000 limit to purchase items or services you need to reach your vocational goal. You can download a blank PASS form from the Downloads page. Back to Top |
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