PASS Plans as a Vehicle
for Transition to Employment

Case 2:
Maclaen

Step 1: Determine if the student is eligible.
When Maclaen turned 18 years old, his family assisted him in applying for SSI. He was determined eligible to receive the full benefit rate of $552.00 per month. Although Maclaen was working part time while he was still in school, his earnings were not above $5410.00 a year (2003 Student Earned Income Exclusion allowable amount). Thus, he would not be eligible for a PASS plan until he was no longer a student and began earning enough money that his SSI check would be reduced (over $85.00 a month).

From Maclaen’s work experiences while in high school, his team knew that he would need ongoing support in the form of intermittent follow-along to enable him to remain employed. Maclaen had been referred to Developmental Disabilities (DD) services for supported employment assistance and was found to be eligible, but like many young graduates, he was put on a waiting list for these services. As part of his transition planning, Maclean’s team at Polson High School set the goal to find Maclaen a paid job prior to exiting high school and to secure his needed ongoing supports to enable him to maintain his job. They calculated that if he was working 20 hours per week when he was no longer a student, he would be eligible for approximately $200.00 a month through a PASS plan. As a Transition Service Need, it was identified that he would have a PASS plan written and approved by SSA prior to graduation. Since his school supports would end when he exited high school it was important to provide these services.

Maclaen’s team chose to shelter a portion of his wages each month in a PASS plan and utilize this money to hire his family to transport him to and from work and to hire someone to help negotiate supports or accommodations at work or to counsel Maclaen as needed. The team was using 20 hours a week as a bench mark but knew his wages might vary. To maximize the amount he could shelter, the PASS plan was written for gross wages, less $85.00, divided by 2, rather than specifying an exact monthly amount. (This is the amount that his SSI check would be reduced without a PASS plan.)

Income Sheltered with a Pass Plan
$5.15 wages per hour
  x 20 hours
$103.00 wages per week

$103.00 x 4.5 weeks per month = $463.50 - Estimated gross wages

$463.50 - 85.00 = $378.50

$378.50 ÷ 2 = $189.25 - Amount SSI will decrease without a PASS or amount to shelter in a PASS to keep the SSI check at Federal Benefit Rate.

Step 2: Identify a vocational goal.
Based upon Maclaen’s aptitude and interest in numbers, computers, and his abilities to find mistakes, the team identified his long term work goal as obtaining a position within the desk top publishing field.

Step 3: Determine the length of the plan.
The PASS plan was written for a two year period since the plan was to achieve a long term goal. The plan was also written to provide supports to Maclaen that would bridge the gap between school supports and the eventual provision of Adult services.

Step 4 Draft the steps of the plan.
To prepare Maclaen to achieve the goal of attaining a job in the computer field he needed additional training in various software programs used for accounting and bookkeeping. Since he lives in a rural area where computer classes aren’t offered, it would be useful for him to have a computer tutor who is skilled in these software applications. Part of the steps included recruiting a tutor, establishing a schedule, and learning the programs. See below.

Simultaneously, Maclaen’s plan also included supporting him on his current job or jobs which also prepared him for his long term work goal.

Steps of Maclaen’s Plan

Accomplishments prior to PASS submission
Participate in 8 community-based work experiences                                   10/20-5/02
Complete Vocational Profile                                                                           12/00
Apply for Developmental Disabilities services                                                   3/01
(found eligible, on waiting list)                                                                          3/01
Perform job development for paid job                                                         3/02-5/02
Vocational Rehabilitation open case, write IWRE                                              4/02
Begin paid job with school support                                                                 5/15/02
Graduate from high school                                                                              6/01/02

Steps upon approval of the PASS
Recruit job coach/follow along support                                                             6/1/02                          7/02
Establish follow along schedule                                                                           7/02
Recruit computer tutor                                                                                      6/1/02                          7/02
Identify programs through which Maclaen will receive tutoring                            7/1/02                          9/02
Establish Schedule for ongoing tutoring                                                                7/02

Step 5: Develop a budget to support the plan.
Maclaen’s PASS plan is for a relatively small amount of money. The amount of each plan is based on each individual’s financial situation which dictates the maximum amount of money they can shelter. In determining amounts to write into a budget, information was gathered about going rates for job coaching, computer tutoring and transportation. Prices and fees were negotiated with the people Maclaen wanted to hire to support him.

His former teacher and friend offered to provide employment consultation services for $20 an hour, local DD agencies typically get $46 an hour. His family agreed to provide Maclaen with rides to work for the cost of gas. (There is no public transportation in Polson, Montana). Maclaen had some money set aside for computer tutoring but VR also offered to fund part of this expense.

Step 6: Demonstrate how the PASS account funds will be kept separate from other monies.
Maclaen opened a checking account that is used for PASS funds only. He is required to account to SSA for all monies expended from this account. He keeps all of the bank statements, carbon copy check registers and receipts for payment or bills for services rendered.

Step 7: Document that the pursuit of this vocational goal is a collaborative venture between funding sources.
Maclean’s plan included information about what the school provided for supports and services and estimated the amount it cost. Included was what VR agreed to pay for , as well as, any other person or agency who was supporting Maclean to become employed.

Will any other person or organization ( e.g., VR, school grants, Job Partnership Training Assistance ( JTPA) pay for or reimburse you for any part of the expenses listed below or provide any other items or services you will need? If "YES", provide details as follows:

Who will Pay?         Item/Service                      Amount           When will item/service be purchased?
VR                        Some computer tutoring         $463.50 wages           4/9/02-6/30/02
                              and initial wages while
                              performing working interview
                              at a prospective job.

Polson Schools       Job development/coach          $1600                       4/1/02 - 6/1/02

Polson Schools       Vocational Profile                    $750                        Junior year of high school

Consulting              RE: Employment and PASS    $3,000                      began 9/00 will continue until
                                                                                                             Maclaen becomes employed

Step 8: Include Supporting Documentation
To build a case to the PASS cadre that this goal was feasible for Maclaen, his team included information from his Vocational Profile which summarized his attributes around quality control, math, and computers. Also included was a cover letter which explained the connection of these interests and skills to his future work goal and to the action steps outlined in the plan. A Household Expense Worksheet was also completed and included, as well as, a letter from his VR counselor which documented her agreement to assist in funding the computer tutoring and his initial job trial wages prior to being hired by the employers.

Addendum:

Maclean:
One year after graduation Maclaen is still employed. Although specific hours and employers have changed, he has maintained a steady income. He continues to enlist services from his former teacher who is currently assisting him to negotiate a part-time position at Walmart.

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