Utilizing SSA Work Incentives
to Support Transition from
School to Work: Student Scenarios
by Ellen Condon

Scenario 1:
ANN

Ann* graduated from high school in June 2002. She was 18 years old and employed part time at a day care center in Polson, Montana. Ann needed wheelchair accessible transportation to and from the day care and personal care for approximately one-half hour for each four hour shift she worked. Ann required initial job development to represent her to local employers and to negotiate her job duties and she needed ongoing supports while at the job. She and her employer also received employment consultation services when she first began working. As a student, all of Ann’s supports were provided by high school staff. Upon graduation, she received Developmental Disabilities (DD) funding for her foster care residential placement, but was placed on the waiting list for DD supported employment services. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) provided Ann some time-limited assistance to pay for adaptations to her work environment and to cover her wages during the initial training at the day care. She used technology to enable her to perform her job duties more independently and her coworkers performed many of the tasks which she could not physically perform.

At age 16, Ann became eligible for a PASS plan through which she could shelter $291.00 a month to support pursing a vocational goal. A plan was written for 33 months sheltering a total of $9,610.00 for the purpose of preparing her for employment. The PASS plan budgeted for the expenses of job development, job coaching, and transportation. After Ann graduated and began earning close to $500 a month, her wages made her eligible for an even larger monthly PASS amount of approximately $494.00 a month. Since the school had provided many of the services written into her PASS plan, the plan was amended. The new budget included money to pay for her personal care at work, transportation, computer tutoring and to purchase a van. Additional money was set aside for any future job coaching or job development she might need.

* Name has been changed.

Scenario 2:
RYAN

Ryan was 20 years old when he graduated from high school. He had a PASS plan in place since he was 19. (As a Disabled Adult Child he drew SSDI on his father’s Social Security account, which reduced his monthly SSI check and made him eligible for a PASS plan). His PASS plan funded job development services and computer tutoring to enhance his skills as a desk top publisher. Ryan had $7,800 a year in funding from the State Developmental Disabilities agency, which he used to pay for job development, job coaching, transportation and leisure activities. He combined these funds to better direct his job search and have adequate resources to meet his needs once a job was secured.

Ryan’s PASS plan sheltered all of his countable SSDI check or $285 a month for a period of 29 months. His plan was written retroactively since he had been eligible for a PASS plan for several years but was unaware of this option. Ryan received a lump sum payment, which was placed in his PASS account, and then he added to this account monthly.

Scenario 3:
LANCE

Lance graduated from high school in August 2001. He owns his own delivery business which he started while he was a student. While he was in school, he received teacher and paraprofessional support in the form of personal assistance, driving and job coaching. Vocational Rehabilitation funded the local Developmental Disabilities agency to provide job coaching the summer after he graduated and to modify his van to make it wheelchair accessible. Lance is still on the waiting list for supported employment services through the State Developmental Disabilities agency. Meanwhile, he has accessed 2 separate PASS plans, the first for the purpose of work exploration to determine a vocational goal. This PASS plan funded job coaching, transportation and buying work clothes. Through the PASS plan, the family was able to purchase services to augment what the school in a rural Montana town had available. The second PASS plan funded half the van which he now uses for his delivery business.

Scenario 4:
MACLAEN

Maclaen graduated from high school in June 2002. He works approximately 20 hours a week for several different businesses including: Odyssey Auto Glass, Polson Public Schools, Lake County Courthouse, and the Polson City Library. Maclaen no longer receives support from school and is on the waiting list for State Developmental Disabilities supported employment services. He received some time-limited support from Vocational Rehabilitation, which paid for job development and covered his wages while he was training on his new job.

Maclaen became eligible for a PASS plan upon graduation, when his wages began to reduce his monthly SSI check. Maclaen uses his PASS plan to maintain and advance his employment by paying for transportation and follow-along support that he wants and needs on his jobs from a person of his choice. Without these supports he may have lost his job while waiting for an opening within the State system.

Scenario 5:
MELISSA

Melissa is 18 and just graduated from high school this spring. She had the support of a 1:1 aide throughout her school experience. No new funds have been allocated so far this year for Developmental Disabilities services in her home town, thus she will be leaving school with no support for job development, job coaching or any type of day services. Fortunately Melissa is eligible for a PASS plan.

Melissa started a pet basket self-employment venture with some employment funding and support from Workforce Investment resources. However, until her business is making enough money to pay for her ongoing supports, she will need funding to pay someone to assist her to create, market, and deliver her baskets. Her PASS plan has been written to pay for these supports.

Scenario: 6
DAN

Dan is 20 years old and graduated this spring. Dan was just referred to Developmental Disabilities services for employment supports but his eligibility may be in question due to his verbal IQ score being too high. Dan is a capable young man but he does need help finding a job that is customized to his needs and he requires some initial job coaching until he is comfortable performing the job requirements.

Dan recently began receiving Survivor’s benefits as a Disabled Adult Child. Because of his unearned income being too high, his SSI has been terminated. He and his family have options though. Dan can shelter his SSDI check in a PASS plan and pay for the services he needs. By sheltering this check, it would no longer be counted as income and his SSI would be reinstated.

Dan could choose to use a PASS plan to pay for job development, job coaching services, education, or training; or he could purchase equipment or other necessary items to start his own business.

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