When most of us take a new job, our financial situation improves. We have more discretionary income, may acquire needed health insurance, begin to plan for the future, and enjoy a better quality of life. Unfortunately, because current state and federal policies can actually penalize workers with disabilities, they don’t always see the same financial results from work that most people see. On the contrary, when people with disabilities work, they may be risking the loss of essential Medicaid, cash benefits, food stamps, and more. If their benefits include Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or another benefit that provides additional cash benefits for dependents, the dependents stand to lose their benefits, as well. If they receive a HUD subsidy for their housing, they will likely see a rent increase. If they receive food stamps, they will likely see a decrease, or termination altogether.

Does this mean that people with disabilities shouldn’t work? Of course not. But it does mean that a particular job/business needs to be chosen with care and that all benefits, individually and collectively, must be thoroughly understood and evaluated. Benefits Analysis is the process of examining the interaction and impact of any income, resource, or benefit a person with disabilities has on any other income, resource, or benefit the person has, or might apply for, or receive. Each benefit/resource is evaluated on its own merits, and the particular combination of income, resources, and benefits must also be evaluated. Often, there is a precarious balance that must be maintained so that people with disabilities don’t risk the loss of more than they stand to gain when working.

Those of us who “help” people with disabilities to find work or start a business have a professional ethical responsibility to assure that each person we assist has access to competent and thorough benefits

analysis so they have complete and accurate information as they make important decisions about their lives.

Following are three simple forms you can use to help you begin the process of analyzing the impact of work on someone’s benefits. While you won’t find a complete or comprehensive overview of benefits and how they relate to each other, you will find a starting point for asking the questions you need to ask as you help people with disabilities weigh the risks to their benefits when they begin working or start a business. On Page 4 there are additional resources you can use to find more comprehensive information on benefits analysis.

About the Forms

Use Form 1 to get a brief overview of the person’s financial situation. The person may have other sources of income or resources/assets than those listed on this form, so it is essential that a benefits analyst ask additional questions to reveal the person’s complete situation. An unrevealed source of income (such as a bonus or Individual Indian Money) could result in Social Security overpaying the person and that person having to pay back those overpaid benefits. The form lists both countable and non-countable income and resources.

Forms 2 and 3 will help you calculate how a worker’s gross wages will impact SSI on a month-to-month basis. Because SSA uses a three-month cycle to calculate SSI due, a person’s SSI check in one month should reflect wages from two months prior. This should be factored in when budgeting monthly expenses.

Living situation (circle 1):

• household of another; # of people in household _____ (can 'sharing' be established?)
  
• independent/sharing
  
• child
  
• institutional
  
• foster care/group home

Health care (circle all that apply):

• Medicaid
• Medicare
• Other Insurance (source/company)_______________

Marital Status (circle all that apply):

• Married, living with spouse
• Married, not living with spouse
• Children, Yes or No
• Not married

______________________________________________________________________________

Monthly Income/Benifits: Write in the dollar amounts for all that apply.

• $424.67 (household of another)
• $637 (independent/sharing/child)
• $30 (Institutional)
• $___ (other; FBR + State supplement)

• $444.67 (household of another + $20)
• $657 (independent/sharing/child + $20)
• $50 (institutional + $20)
• $___ (other; FBR + state supplement + $20)

Where to Go for More Information

With the passage of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA), Congress and the Social Security Administration have formally recognized the importance of and need for good
benefits analysis. As of September 2005, there are 525 trained, active Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach (BPAO) staff across the country. Learning about benefits doesn’t happen in a crash course, no matter how bright the learner, expert the trainers, or comprehensive the materials. Accurate and competent benefits analysis is learned one person at a time, with plenty of technical assistance and continual researching and utilization of written policy and regulations.

This factsheet provides a brief overview of how benefits, particularly wages, can impact SSI/SSDI benefits. Below are lists of websites, publications, and other resources you can access to learn more about benefits analysis.

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
Title 20, Employees’ Benefits, 20CFR Parts 400-499, revised as of April 1, 2007. (Publication #
869-060-00060-7) $64.
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/chklst/chklst.html#20

Social Security POMS (Program Operations Manual System)
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/partlist!OpenView
You can purchase the CFR from Government Bookstores (usually located in Federal Buildings), or online at http://bookstore.gpo.gov or from:
Superintendent of Documents
P. O. Box 371954
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954
Washington, D.C. 20402-9328.

The Redbook, Work Incentives for People with Disabilities, SSA Pub. No 64-030, view or download online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/redbook/redbook.htm

Web Links

• Social Security: www.socialsecurity.gov
  
• All Social Security Law, Policy, and Regulations:
  www.ssa.gov/regulations/index.htm
  
• Work-related information, including Ticket to Work: www.socialsecurity.gov/work
  
• PASS Plan Form and many other forms:
  www.socialsecurity.gov/online/forms.html
  
• CMS: Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services: http://www.cms.hhs.gov
  
• Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement
  Act, including list of BPAOs:
  www.yourtickettowork.com
  
• Comprehensive Person-Centered State Work Incentive Initiatives: www.uiowa.edu/~lhpdc/work/map.html
  
• Food Stamps Information:
  http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/FAQS.HTM
  
• HUD: www.hud.gov
  
• Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST):
  www.benefitscheckkup.org