Social Security PASS Program

Returning to work with a disability

By Tim Redd
Here at MCIL we are constantly out in the community staying abreast of information that can help the community we serve.  August 30, 2016 was no exception, I attended the Social Security Administration Workshop by Dorothy Bailey, Jodie Oakes, and Carolyn Smith, PASS Specialist serving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. 

You may be wondering what PASS is, we’ll get to that in a second. This workshop focused on how you can receive SSI and or SSID benefits and still work. There are stipulations that apply.
 
Did you know you can earn up to $1,780 per month if you are under 22 and regularly attending school? Did you know that there is a trial period of nine months that you can work and receive your benefits and there is a not a limit on what you can earn at that time?
 
I mentioned earlier PASS, it is SSI work incentive plan that stands for “Plan to Achieve Self Support.” Under this plan you can set aside income or an excess resources to pay for things you needed to reach a work goal. This program can benefit someone who wants to be self-supporting by working, in a vocational rehab, or ticket to work program, an SSI beneficiary with income other than SSI, one that receives SSDI and could become eligible for SSI with a PASS.
 
The information that I have provided is only the tip of the iceberg. Often times we as people with disabilities do not work because we fear that we will lose our benefits, as I have stated there are ways around that. It’s no secret that living on a fixed is very difficult. If you are interested in learning more about getting back to work you may contact social security via the web at www.socialsecurity.gov  or call toll-free 1-800-772-1213. To learn more about the PASS Program you can speak directly to a PASS agent by calling 1-800-254-9489.