Benefits Planning Services Goal is to help individuals understand how employment may affect their Disability benefits S ervices are funded by SSA and authorized by the Ticket to Work TTW legislation ID: 647607
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Slide1
SSA Benefits Planning
Ensuring accurate and timely benefits counseling, debunking myths and “success stories”.Slide2
Benefits Planning Services
Goal is to help individuals understand how employment may affect their Disability benefits
S
ervices are funded by SSA and authorized by the Ticket to Work (TTW) legislationCreated in an effort to encourage employment and to prevent employment-related benefits issuesSlide3
Who We Are
Known as Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs)
T
rained to counsel beneficiaries on the affect of employment on: Social Security Disability benefits, Medicaid, Medicare, and other benefitsHave required supplemental trainings and are able to assist beneficiaries in various areasSlide4
Our Goals
Explain which
Work Incentives
SSA will apply when a beneficiary goes to workShow how specific amounts of earned income may affect
all
benefits
3. Act as
referral source to help beneficiary reach
employment goalsSlide5
How We Help
S
creen for usage of specific work incentives
Show clients how to use applicable work incentivesHelp beneficiaries develop and report past wagesExplain why and how to report income to SSA on an ongoing basis
A
ssist with Social Security Work Continuing Disability ReviewsSlide6
How We Help (cont.)
Explain letters beneficiaries
receive from
SSAPrepare transition age students and their families for the A
ge
18
Redetermination
Provide case-specific information in writingProvide ongoing supportSlide7
Confidentiality
Information discussed
cannot
be reported to SSA without their consentThis firewall allows beneficiary to speak openly about past employment activity and future employment goals without fearForm 3288 neededSlide8
Debunking Myths: Myth #1
Myth
:
If I work at all, my entire Social Security Disability Check and Medicaid or Medicare will stop immediately.
Truth
: Various Work Incentives may help an employed person maintain their healthcare and some or all of their Social Security Disability payments while they work. Slide9
Debunking Myths: Myth #2
Myth
:
If I work part time, my benefits won’t be affected at all for at least 9 months.
Truth
:
Not everybody has a 9 Month Trial Work Period. Even part time employment can cause an SSI check to be reduced once employment begins. Slide10
Debunking Myths: Myth #3
Myth
: If my earnings cause my Social Security Disability check to stop, that means I’m terminated and can’t get it back.
Truth
:
Even if your check has stopped, you may not be terminated from your Social Security Disability program. If you have to stop working or cut your hours back, you may be able to get your Social Security Disability payments sent to you again without reapplying. Slide11
Debunking Myths: Myth #4
Myth
:
Once my benefits are stopped, I have to go through the entire application process I went through the first time in order to have them reinstated.
Truth
: It can take a long time for someone to have their benefits terminated due to earned income. Once someone is terminated, she may be eligible for an Expedited Reinstatement Process. Slide12
Debunking Myths: Myth #5
Myth
:
Social Security and Medicaid will know if I’m working.
Truth
:
If you do not report your earnings monthly, it may take Social Security and Medicaid years to realize that you have begun employment. Slide13
Debunking Myths: Myth #6
Myth
:
Ticket to Work can protect my benefits from being affected by work.
Truth
:
Even if you are working with Ticket partners like Louisiana Rehab Services, Employment Networks, LSUHSC HDC Benefits Planning Program or the South Louisiana Benefits Planning Program, your benefits can still be affected by employment. Slide14
Debunking Myths: Myth #7
Myth
: My Louisiana Rehab Services
Counselor, employer or other agency is reporting my earned income to Social Security, so I do not need to.
Truth
:
You or your Representative Payee are the only ones responsible for reporting your earnings to Social Security so that they can apply the appropriate rules to your case. Slide15
Debunking Myths: Myth #8
Myth
:
If I earn above a certain amount, I will lose my Medicaid Waiver Services
Truth
:
If you receive services from the New Opportunities Waiver, Community Choices Waiver, the Adult Day Health Care Waiver, or Residential Options Waiver
you may
have a “spend-down” option. Slide16
Examples and Success Stories
Slide17
Who
D
o
We Serve?Individuals who are currently receiving a Social Security Disability benefitBeneficiaries between the age of 14 and their full retirement ageBeneficiaries who are interested in employment Slide18
Our Process
Intake
Conversations with beneficiary
Benefits verificationBenefits Summary & Analyses (BS&As) and Work Incentives Plans (WIPs)Ongoing follow-upSlide19
DISCLAIMER/Warning
“
Under NO circumstance
should anyone other than a CERTIFIED benefits planner, attempt to provide individualized SSA benefits planning and/or advisement. This is a FREE service funded by SSA and provided by local CERTIFIED benefits planners.”NOTE: To ensure accurate, individualized planning REFER your client for benefits planning services.Slide20
Louisiana’s Benefits Planning Agencies
Advocacy Center
South Louisiana Benefits Planning Program(855) 877-8599
LSU-Human Development Center
- Louisiana Benefits Planning Services
(855) 886-5123Slide21
Benefits Planning Service Areas
Green = Advocacy Center
Grey = LSUSlide22
Questions?