Using Your Benefits To Move Toward Self-Sufficiency A Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) can provide advice and support on: Social Security work incentives, Medicaid, Food Stamps, TANF, Housing Assistance, and other disability related benefits. Information about Social Security benefits is provided on an individual basis. Plans for additional services are developed with the client as needed. Accommodations will be provided upon request. Social Security Benefits SSI (Supplemental Security Income): Cash assistance payments to aged, blind and people with disabilities (including children under age 18) who have limited income and resources. SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance): Provides benefits to disabled or blind individuals who are "insured" based on the worker's contributions to the Social Security trust fund. Social Security work incentives are supports which help you try to work and become self-supporting. PASS (Plan for Achieving Self-Support): A PASS is a plan for your specific work goal. A PASS lets you set aside income and resources to achieve the work goal. IRWE (Impairment Related Work Expenses): This incentive is for SSI and SSDI beneficiaries. It allows work related expenses needed due to a disability that can be excluded when counting your earnings. Examples include medications, medical supplies, service animals, attendant care, etc. Subsidies: These are supports you receive on the job that may result in you receiving more pay than the actual value of the services you perform. The existence of a subsidy is considered when Social Security makes a Substantial Gainful Activity decision. BWE (Blind Work Expenses): A BWE allowable expense need only be a work-related expense needed by the SSI beneficiary. TWP (Trial Work Period): This incentive is for SSDI beneficiaries and allows you to test your ability to work for at least 9 months, you will receive full SSDI benefits no matter how high your earnings might be, so long as you have a disabling impairment. SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity): Beginning January 1, 2010, a SSDI beneficiary can earn $1,000 a month and remain eligible for benefits; however, with some work incentives it could be more. SEIE (Student Earned Income Exclusion): This incentive is for SSI beneficiaries and allows people under the age of 22, who regularly attend school to exclude up to $1,640 of earned income per month and $6,600 annually in 2010. 1619(b): In certain situations you may be eligible to continue to receive Medicaid even if you are earning so much in wages that you are no longer receiving an SSI check. Work incentives assistance to the individual and their selected representatives include but are not limited to: Identification and referral to employment related education, training, placement services, personal support services, and consumer advocacy services as needed. Assistance in establishing eligibility with other public programs such as food stamps, housing, and TANF. Analyzing benefits and how they support your returning to work. Development of a PASS to set aside income and/or resources for a specific work goal. Would you benefit from Protection and Advocacy Services? The Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) program is a federally funded initiative to assist beneficiaries of Social Security who are trying to return to or begin working. This project is staffed by licensed attorneys and advocates who are able to provide legal and advocacy assistance with return to work issues. PABSS Contact Information: South Dakota Advocacy Services, Inc. 221 South Central Avenue Pierre, SD 57501 1-800-658-4782 - voice/TDD Email: sdas@sdadvocacy.com Web: www.sdadvocacy.com WIPA Contact Information Black Hills Special Services Cooperative 221 South Central Avenue Pierre, SD 57501 Phone: (605) 224-6287 (800) 224-5336 Fax: (605) 224-8320 Email: cstoeser@tie.net Web: www.bhssc.org/content/services/wipa.htm Funding for this program is provided through the Social Security Administration. Grant # 14-W-50080-8-01