Want to Work?

Do you know that Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) can help you get a job? The goal of the DVR is to assist people with disabilities to obtain and maintain employment. Contact your local office to apply for DVR services. Call 1-800-637-5627 voice or 1-888-788-9802 TTY to find an office near you.

Did you know that when you are 18 you can apply for SSI? Social Security benefits provide you with medical coverage and a cash benefit to help with living expenses while you are preparing for work, working part time, or learning new life and work skills.

Did you know that Social Security has many programs that allow you to try working?

• “SEIE” (Student Earned Income Exclusion): This work incentive allows a person age 22 and regularly attending school, to set aside earnings so they will not count against your SSI grant. In 2005, the amounts are $1410 monthly up to $5,670 yearly.

• “PASS” (Plan for Achieving Self-Support): A PASS plan is a written plan with your job goal identified. A PASS plan allows you to put some of your income and other resources in a separate bank account to pay for something that will help you reach your job goal. By saving this money, you can become eligible for SSI or increase your SSI grant.

• “IRWE” (Impairment Related Work Expense): Are there things you need related to your disability that help you to get or keep a job? These expenses could be an IRWE. IRWE’s must be requested by you and approved by SSA. IRWE can decrease countable income and therefore increase your SSI grant.

• “Subsidy”: Subsidies and Special Conditions refer to support you receive on the job that could result in your receiving more pay than the actual value of the services you performed.SSA deducts the value of subsidies and special conditions from your earnings when they decide whether you are working at the SGA level.

Following are examples of subsidies and special conditions:

• You receive more supervision than other workers doing the same or a similar job for the same pay.

• You have fewer or simpler tasks to complete than other workers who are doing the same job for the same pay.

• You have a job coach or mentor who helps you perform some of your work.