Basically, a plan for
achieving self--support, or PASS for short, is a plan for your future. Many people with
disabilities want to work, and you're probably one of them. But maybe you need to go back
to school before you can get a job. Or, maybe you'd like to start your own business, but
you don't have the money. Whatever your work goal may be, a PASS can help you reach it.
A PASS lets you set aside
money and/or other things you own to help you reach your goal. For example, you could set
aside money to start a business or to go to school or to get training for a job.
Your goal must be a job
that will produce sufficient earnings to reduce your dependency on Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) payments. A PASS is meant to help you acquire those items, services or
skills you need so that you can compete with able--bodied persons for an entry level job
in a professional, business, or trade environment. If you have graduated from college or a
trade/technical school, we usually consider you capable of obtaining such a position
without the assistance of a PASS. You can contact your local Social Security office to
find out whether a PASS is appropriate for you.
How Will A Plan Affect My
SSI Benefit?
Under regular SSI rules,
your SSI benefit is reduced by the other income you have. But the income you set aside for
a PASS doesn't reduce your SSI benefit. This means you can get a higher SSI benefit
when you have a PASS. But you can't get more than the maximum SSI benefit for the state
where you live.
Money you save or things
you own such as property or equipment that you set aside for a PASS won't count against
the resource limit of $2,000 (or $3,000 for a couple). Under regular SSI rules, you
wouldn't be eligible for SSI if your resources are above $2,000. But with a plan, you may
set aside some resources so you would be eligible.
Who Can Have A PASS?
You can, if:
You want to work; and
You get SSI (or can qualify for SSI)
because of blindness or a disability; and
You have or expect to receive income
(other than SSI) and/or resources to set aside toward a work goal.
What Kinds Of Expenses Can
A
Plan Help Pay For?
A plan may be used to pay
for a variety of expenses that are necessary to help you reach your work goal.
For example, your plan may
help you save for:
Supplies to start a business;
Tuition, fees, books, and supplies that
are needed for school or training;
Supported--employment services,
including payments for a job coach;
Attendant care or child care expenses;
Equipment and tools to do the job;
Transportation to and from work; and
Uniforms, special clothing, and safety
equipment.
These are only examples.
Not all of these will apply to every plan. You might have other expenses depending on your
goal.
How Do I Set Up A Plan?
Your plan must be in
writing, and Social Security must approve it. The following chart shows you how to set up
your plan.
1. Choose a work
goal. It should be a job that you're interested in doing, and that you think you'll be
able to do when your plan is completed. We can refer you to a vocational
rehabilitation counselor who can help you choose your goal. You can also set up a PASS to
cover any costs for the vocational services, including testing.
2. Find out all the
steps you need to take to reach your goal, and how long it will take you to complete each
step.
3. Decide what items
or services you will need to reach your goal.
Note: Each person
will need different things to reach his/her goal. For example, if you want to work in a
restaurant, you may need training to learn how to cook. If you want to become a computer
programmer, you may need a college degree and a computer to reach your goal. If you want
to start a business, you may need to buy equipment and supplies.
4. Get several cost
estimates for the things you need to achieve your goal.
5. Find out how much
money you'll need to set aside each month in order to pay for them.
Note: If you're
setting aside income for your plan, your SSI benefit usually will increase to help pay
your living expenses. The people at Social Security can estimate what your new SSI payment
will be if you set up your plan.
6. Keep any money
you save for your goal separate from any other money you have. The easiest way to
do this is to open a separate bank account for the money you save under your plan. But, if
you don't open a separate bank account, you must be able to tell us exactly how you're
keeping the money separate.
7. Also include a
business plan if you intend to start a business. Your business plan should explain:
What kind of business you want to start
(e.g., a restaurant, a print shop);
How you will finance your business;
Where you will set up your business
(e.g., rent a store, share space);
Your hours of operation;
How you will market your product or
service;
Who your suppliers and customers will
be; and
Your expected earnings.
Note: We encourage
you to talk with a local banker, the Small Business Administration, a vocational
counselor, or other knowledgeable people about writing your business plan.
8. Write the plan,
and then sign and date it.
9. Bring or mail
your plan to your local Social Security office.
Who May Help Me Set Up A
Plan?
You may set up a plan
yourself or get help from:
a vocational rehabilitation counselor;
an organization that helps people with
disabilities;
an employer;
a friend or relative; or
the people at your Social Security
office.
Note: Some
organizations charge a fee for writing a PASS. The Social Security office may be able to
refer you to someone who does not charge a fee.
How Do I Write A Plan?
You should use the new
PASS form SSA--545--BK. The form collects most of the information that Social Security
needs to review your plan. You can get a copy at your local Social Security office. Be
sure to answer all the questions on the form, and sign and date it. Then, bring or mail
the completed form to Social Security.
What Does Social Security
Do After
I Submit My Plan?
After you submit your
plan, Social Security will:
review the plan to make sure it is
complete;
decide if there is a good chance that
you can reach your goal;
decide if the things you want to buy to
reach your goal are necessary and are reasonably priced;
decide if any changes are needed and
discuss those changes with you; and
send you a letter to tell you if the
plan is approved or denied.
If your plan is approved,
Social Security will contact you from time to time to make sure that you are doing what
your plan says you will do to reach your goal. Make sure that you keep receipts for the
items and services you have bought under the plan.
What Happens If My Plan Is
Not Approved?
If your plan is not
approved, you have a right to appeal the decision. The letter you get will explain your
appeal rights and tell you what you need to do to file an appeal. You may also submit a
new plan to Social Security.
Can I Change My Plan After
It Is Approved?
Yes. However, you must get
approval from Social Security before you make any changes. Tell the Social Security
office inwriting what changes you want to make, such as a change in the
amount of money you set aside monthly, or a change in the expenses you will have. Social
Security will review your request, and let you know if the changes are approved.
It is very important that
you tell Social Security as soon as possible about any changes that might affect your
plan.
What Happens If I Cannot
Complete My Plan?
If you cannot complete
your plan, you may set up a new plan with a new work goal. If you don't set up a new plan,
any money or other things set aside under the original plan may count toward the
$2,000 resource limit for getting SSI. If your resources are over the limit, it's possible
you may lose your eligibility for SSI.
Also, Social Security will
start counting the income you were setting aside under the plan. Tell Social Security as
soon as possible that you cannot complete your plan. Then, you won't have to pay back any
extra SSI you got while you were following your plan.
How Will A Plan Affect
Other Benefits I Get?
You should check with the
agency that is responsible for those benefits to find out if the plan (and the extra SSI)
might affect those benefits.
In many cases, income and
resources set aside under a plan will not be counted for food stamps and housing
assistance provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. But,
it's important that you contact the particular agency to find out how your benefits will
be affected.
Are There Any Other Rules
That May Help?
Yes. Other SSI rules may
help you while you work. They can help you keep more of your SSI benefit, and they can
help you keep your Medicaid. There are also some special rules for students. For more
information, ask Social Security for the booklet Working While Disabled–How We Can
Help (Publication No. 05--10095).
For More Information
If you want more
information or if you want to make an appointment with a Social Security representative,
just give us a call. Our telephone number is 1--800--772--1213. Recorded
information is available 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays. You can speak to
a service representative between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on business days. Our lines are busiest
early in the month so, if your business can wait, it's best to call at other times. When
you call, have your Social Security number handy.
People who are deaf or
hard of hearing may call our toll--free “TTY” number, 1--800--325--0778, between
7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on business days.
You also can reach us on
the Internet. Type http://www.ssa.gov to access Social Security information.
The Social Security
Administration treats all calls confidentially–whether they're made to our toll--free
numbers or to one of our local offices. We also want to ensure that you receive accurate
and courteous service. That is why we have a second Social Security representative monitor
some incoming and outgoing telephone calls.
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