While not a guarantee, many people with disabilities receive, or could be eligible for, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Both are Social Security Administration benefits. They include monthly payments based on disability (typically at poverty level or below) and health insurance (Medicare with SSDI, and Medicaid with SSI). When SSI/SSDI recipients contemplate or engage in work, there are usually well-founded concerns about the impact of work on their benefits, particularly the risk of losing Medicaid and/or Medicare.

Along with routine health care coverage, Medicaid pays for mental health and developmental disability services, prescriptions, glasses, and personal assistance services; it an essential component of a successful work plan.

For recipients of SSDI, once they consistently earn over a particular amount per month, (Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA), they face loss of their benefits altogether. The loss is compounded if a spouse and/or children are also receiving benefits on the worker’s record. Unless earnings from work can replace both the lost benefit amount and the attached health benefits, working does not improve a person’s situation, no matter how much the person wants to work.

The more that Workforce Investment Act (WIA) partners learn about the potential impact of earnings on benefits, the more effectively they can partner with workers with disabilities. Together they can employ strategies that will achieve successful employment outcomes without resulting in workers losing more than they gain by working.

Yes, there are some real pitfalls that can come with work for SSI and SSDI recipients, but there are also some great bonuses. For instance, by using a Social Security work incentive called a Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS plan), a worker with a disability can create an “extra pot of money” to blend with Workforce Investment and Vocational Rehabilitation funds to achieve a vocational goal. Workers on SSDI can protect their benefits by using other work related provisions called “subsidy,” “Impairment Related Work Expenses,” and “Blind Work Expenses,” even when they earn over the SGA amount.

Unearned Income
SSDI-Social Security Disability
VA (Veterans) Benefits
Railroad Retirement Benefits
Black Lung Benefits
Section 8/HUD Subsidy
TANF Benefits
Food Stamps
Unemployment Benefits
Workers’ Comp Benefits
Child Support
IIM (Individual Indian Money)
Interest and/or Dividends
Lease/Rental Income
Alimony
Adoption Subsidies
Food/Shelter in lieu of wages
(e.g. Religious Orders, Military)
Personal Assistance Payments
Scholarships
Long Term Disability Payments
Cash/In kind Support from others
Civil Service Retirement
Military Retirement
Military Disability Retirement
Military Allotment
Free Housing on Military Base
Pension/Retirement Payments

Earned Income
Wages
Net Income from Self Employment
Food/Shelter in lieu of wages
Indian PerCapita Payments(Casino)
Work Study
Honoraria
Royalties
Bonuses

Resources
U.S. Savings Bonds
IIM Accounts
Safe Deposit Box Contents
Bank Accounts
Insurance Policies
Retirement/Pension Plan
IDA-Individual Dev. Acct.
Non-home Real Property
Coin/Stamp Collections
PASS plan Accounts
Trusts
Bonds
Stocks
Home
Valuable Antiques
Vehicles-cars, trucks, boats,
snowmobiles
Art Collection
Livestock
IRA, 401K
Property Essential for Self Support
Funeral/Burial Agreement
Cremation Agreement
Cemetery Plot
Head/Foot Stones, Markers