Connecting Clients to SSI and social security required

social security

1. Social Security:
Disability Programs and Online Services
Presenter:
Mariaelena Lemus
Public Affairs Specialist

2. With you through life’s journey…

3. Presentation Topics
§Social Security and SSI Disability
§Eligibility criteria
§How to file online
§Appeals process
§Where to find answers
§Contact information
Please hold all your questions until the end of the
presentation. You will be able to ask your questions
during the Q & A session at the end of the presentation.
Thank you

4. Social Security provides disability
benefits under two federal programs:
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
and
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

5. Social Security’s Disability Definition:
Amedical condition or combination of
impairments preventing substantial work for
at least 12 months, or expected to result in
death. The determination also considers age,
education & work experience.

6. 2018 SGA
Non-Blind $1,180
Blind $1,970

7. The difference between Social Security Disability
(SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI
•Funded by the General tax revenues
•Eligibility criteria based on financial need
•Monthly cash benefits payable to the
beneficiary only
•No waiting period for cash benefits to
begin from disability date
•Immediate Medicaid (Medi-Cal)
•Post-eligibility work income deductions
($65 excl/half of the remainder)
SSDI
•Funded by Social Security tax revenues
•Eligibility criteria based on work history
•Monthly cash benefits payable to worker
and eligible family members •Cash benefits payable after 5 mos. waiting
period from disability date •Medicare eligibility after 24 mos.
•Post-eligibility work periods (9-month
Trial Work Period)

8. Who Is Eligible for SSI?
Supplemental Security Income
People with limited income
and resources who are:
§blind, at any age; or
§disabled , at any age; or
§age 65 or older

9. What Is Limited Income ?
•Earned Income:money earned from work
•
Unearned Income:any income other than wages or earnings from self–
employment such as Social Security benefits, pensions, State disability
payments, workers compensation, unemployment benefits, Veteran’s Benefits,
interest income, and cash from friends and relatives
•
In Kind Support Maintenance (ISM):free food, clothing, or shelter or less
than its fair value
•
Deemed Income:part of the income of a spouse or parent(s) with whom the
beneficiary lives with, or income of the sponsor if beneficiary is sponsored into
the U.S.

10. What Income is Excludable
•The first $20 of most income received in a month
•The first $65 of earnings and one–half of remainder received each month
•Income tax refunds
•Home energy assistance
•State and Local government assistance
•Small amounts of income received irregularly or infrequently
•Loans you have to repay
•Student Earned Income Exclusion: up to $1,790 a month in wages that a blind or disabled
student child, under age22 earns from work (up to $7,200/year)
•The value of expenses that are impairment–related, in which a blind or disabled person
needs in order to work such as, medications; dog guides, including the cost of food and
upkeep; transportation to and from workhttp://www.ssa.gov/ssi/spotlights/spot-student- earned-income.htm

11. How Income is Counted
EXAMPLE A –UNEARNEDINCOME
$300 -Social Security benefit-Unearned Income
Step 1:$300(Social Security benefit)
-20(Excludable)
$280(Countable income)
Step 2:$735(SSI Federal benefit rate)
-280(Countable income)
$455(SSI benefit)

12. How Income is Counted
EXAMPLE B – EARNEDINCOME
$319 (Gross wages from work-Earned Income)
Step 1: $319(Gross wages)
-20(Not counted)
$299
-65(Not counted)
=$234remaining divided by 1/2
=$117(Countable income)
Step 2: $735(SSI Federal benefit rate)
-117(Countable income)
=$618(SSI benefit)

13. What are the SSI Resource Limits
Individual: $2000
Couple: $3000
•If resources are over the allowable limit at the beginning of the
month (1st of each month), SSI benefits for that month are not paid.
•If the excess resources are sold, transferred, or spent, then SSI
benefits may begin the month after excess resources are below the
allowable limit.

14. Øcash/bank account(s)
ØU.S. savings bonds, stocks,
Øland
Øpersonal property
Ølife insurance policies
Øautomobile(s)
Øanything that can be converted to cash
Øand used for food, clothing, or shelter
Ødeemed resources
What Are Resources

15. Resources That Are Excludable
§home the beneficiary lives in and the land it is on
§household goods and personal property not worth more than $2,000
§one wedding ring and one engagement ring
§one automobile, regardless of value
§dedicated accounts for disabled or blind children
§burial spaces for you or your immediate family
§burial funds for you and your spouse, each valued at $1,500 or less
§life insurance policies with a combined face value of $1,500
§retroactive SSI or Social Security benefits for up to 9 mos. or less

16. A beneficiary’s living arrangement or where they
live
is a factor used to determine SSI payments.
Living arrangement rates differ for living:
§in your own home, apartment, or trailer
§in someone else's household
§in a group care or board and care facility
§in a medical or non-medical institution
How SSI Payments Are Determined

17. Some Living Arrangements
Can Reduce SSI Benefits
§when living in another person's house, apartment, or trailer,
and paying less than the fair share of food or housing costs
§when living alone in own home, apartment, or trailer, and
someone else pays for all or part of the food, rent or mortgage,
or utilities like electricity and garbage removal
§when in a hospital or nursing home for the whole month and
Medi-Cal pays over one-half of the bill, or if a minor child and
private insurance and Medi-Cal together pay over half the bill
§when in an institution run by a Federal, State, or local
government for the whole month.

18. SSI and Medi -Cal
§Automatically eligible for Medicaid (Medi-Cal) health benefits if entitled to SSI benefits.
(In California, Medicaid is referred to as Medi-Cal.)
§If no longer eligible for SSI because of earnings from work,
Medi-Cal benefits will continue.
§Medi-Cal is administered by the State with its own eligibility guidelines and services for
low income and low resource
individuals.
§Three broad categories of Medi -Cal beneficiaries are:
Pregnant Women; Children and Teenagers ; Person who is Aged, Blind, and Disabled

19. Reporting Responsibilities
Social Security Disability (SSIDI) &
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

20. General Reporting Responsibilities
•Admission to an institution
•Bank information
•Change of address
•Change of immigration status
•Change of name
•Death

21. General Reporting Responsibilities Continued
•Divorce
•Improvement of medical condition
•Inability to manage funds
•Incarceration
•Marriage
•Outside of the U.S. for 30 days
or more

22. General Reporting Responsibilities Continued
•Receipt of another government
benefit
•Starting, stop,or change in work
•Warrant for arrest

23. SSDI Reporting Responsibilities
•In addition to the general responsibilities, individuals
receiving SSDI must report the following:
–Adoption or birth of a child
–Offer of services under Ticket to Work
–Receipt of a pension from work not covered by Social
Security.

24. SSI Reporting Responsibilities
•SSI eligibility is based on a number of
factors.
•Due to the nature of the SSI program there
are additional reporting responsibilities.

25. SSI Reporting Responsibilities
•Attendance in school (under age 22)
•Change in income
•Change in living arrangement or household composition
•Change in resources
•Death of a deemor
•Help with living expenses

26. SSI Reporting Responsibilities
•Lack of cooking facilities
•Separation from spouse
•Work expenses

27. 1)Food
2)Rent or Mortgage Payment
3)Property Insurance
4)Real Property taxes
5)Electricity
6)Gas
7)Heating fuel
8)Water
9)Sewerage
10)Garbage
SSI Reporting Household Contributions Form-8011

28. Reporting Household Contributions
Cont’d
Do you eat every meal during the
month some where else?
Do you buy all your food?
Do you pay a certain amount for
household shelter expense?

29. How to Report Wages
•In the office-get a copy with the date stamped
•Lines are open 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
•You can report wages by new mobile application
•Telephone (wage reporting) request the phone
number from your local office
•mySocial Security account
•Sign up to receive a monthly text or email
Reporting wages monthly can prevent SSI
overpayments and underpayments

30. Failure to Report
Failure to report changes to the Social Security
Administration may result in:
•Overpayments
•Penalties
•Sanctions

31. Who is Eligible for Social Security Disability:
§Have 40 Social Security Credits
§Paid into Social Security 5 out of last 10 years (20 credits prior to the
disability onset date.
§$1,320 in earnings equals one credit in 2018; can earn only a maximum
of four credits per year. ($5,280./yr.)
§If disabled before age 31, less credits are required

32. Benefits for Family Members
§Age 62 or older
§Age 60 if a widow/widower
§Age 50-60 if a disabled widow/
widower
§Any age if caring for a
child of the worker under age 16
§Divorced spouses married 10 years may qualify
Work Limits Apply
(For 2018 that limit is $17,040 gross per year)
A Worker’s Spouse

33. Benefits for Family MembersBenefits for family members
A Worker’s Child
§Not married under 18 (under 19 if still in high school)
§Not married and disabled before age 22

34. Initial Claim (up to 7 months)
Social Security Office sends medical information to Disability Determination
Services (DDS) for a medical decision Disability Allowance or Denial is sent
back to Social Security Office for processing
Reconsideration ( up to 7 months)
File within 60 days from initial determination at the Social Security Office
(File Online or use form SSA-561) Social Security Office sends medical
information back to DDS Disability Allowance or Denial is sent back to Social
Security Office for processing
Hearing (12 to 18 months)
File a hearing within 60 days from Reconsideration determination
(File Online or use form SSA-561)
•Social Security Office sends medical information back to DDS
•Disability Allowance or Denial is sent back to Social Security Office
•for processing
Filing a Social Security Claim

35. Benefits of Using iAppeals
§Representatives instantly receive a receipt and
know we received the appeal;
§Manual keying errors are reduced; and
§The appeal is automatically controlled on Social
Security’s workload listings.
35

36. Requirements to use iAppeals
The claimant must:
•Have previously filed for disability benefits;
•Have received a “Notice of Disapproved Claim”;
•Disagree with the disability decision and want to file an
appeal; and
•Live in the United States or one of its territories.
36

37. Applying for Benefits
3 options available to apply:
Online
By phone [phone] (7 am – 7 pm)
At our office
You choose the most convenient option for you!
Best time to call for a shorter waiting time 5:30 -6:00 pm

38. Apply Online for Disability Benefits . . .
Applying online offers several advantages:
§A person can start the disability claim
immediately.
§There is no need to wait for an appointment;
§A person can apply from the convenience of
his or her home or on any computer;
§The person can avoid a trip to a Social
Security office, which saved time and money

39. Four Easy Steps to Apply Online
Step 1: Review the Adult Disability Checklist
Step 2: Fill out the online Disability Benefit
Application
Step 3:Fill out the online Adult Disability
Report
Step 4: Fill out, sign and mail or take the
medical authorization your local
Social Security Office

40. §Quick Disability Determinations (QDD)
§Compassionate Allowances
§National Hearing Center (NHC)
§Hired more Administrative Law Judges
§Increasing efficiency with automation and
improved business processes
Social Security Administration is improving the process

41. •Apply for Social Security retirement (20 mins.);
•Apply for disability benefits (1 hr.);
•Apply for Medicare or replace the card;
•Replace a Social Security card;
•Apply for Extra Help with your Medicare prescription
drug costs (15 mins.);
•Get your retirement benefit estimate (5-10 mins.);
•Use a benefit planner;
•Get a replacement SSA-1099/1042;
•Change address;
•Start or change direct deposit;
•Get a benefit verification letter
What you can do online

44. Order publications
Order forms
Watch a
webinar

45. 1)Click on
Health & School
Professionals
2)Click on Disability
Evaluation under
Social Security
Information for:
Health & School Professionals

47. Adult Listings (Part A)

50. 12.03 Schizophrenic, paranoid and other psychoticdisorders:

51. mySocial Security
socialsecurity.gov/myaccount

52. It’s
quick.
It’s
secure.
It’s
easy.
mySocial Security

53. mySocial Security Services
If you receive benefits or have Medicare, you can:
•Request a replacement Social Security card if you meet certain
requirements;
•Get a benefit verification letter as proof of benefits;
•Check your benefit and payment information and your earnings
record;
•Change your address and phone number;
•Start or change direct deposit of your benefit payment;
•Request a replacement Medicare card; and
•Get a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA -1042S for taxes

54. mySocial Security Services
If you do not receive benefits, you can:
•Request a replacement Social Security card if you meet
certain requirements (California is okay);
•Check the status of your application or appeal;
•Get a benefit verification letter as proof that you are not
getting benefits;
•Get your Social Security Statement to review:
oEstimates of your future retirement, disability, and survivor
benefits;
oYour earnings once a year to verify the amounts that we
posted are correct

55. Need a Replacement
Social Security Card?
Now, you can use a mySocial Security account to apply
for a replacement Social Security card onlineif you:
•Are a U.S. citizen age 18 or older with a U.S. mailing
address (this includes APO, FPO, and DPO
addresses);
•Are not requesting a name change or any other
change to your card; and
•Have a valid driver's license
mySocial
Security

56. mySocial Security account
Add Extra Security
You will need to enter a unique code we will send to your text-enabled cell
phone each time you want to sign in, in addition to your username and password.
Your text message rates still apply.
To add this feature, you will first have to provide us with one of the following
to verify your identity:
ØThe last eight digits of your Visa, MasterCard, or Discover credit card;
ØInformation from your W-2 tax form;
ØInformation from your 1040 Schedule SE
(self-employment) tax form; or
ØYour direct deposit amount, if you receive
Social Security benefits.

57. Link to SSI Spotlights- 2017

58. Spotlights

59. Service Providers
for the Homeless

60. Spotlights
People Experiencing Homelessness
and Their Service Providers
People Experiencing Homelessness
Service Providers

71. * Redbook-Work Incentives
* Key Strategies for connecting People
Experiencing Homelessness to Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) and Social Security
Disability Insurance (SSDI) Benefits
Publications
* Understanding SSI

72. Q&A session

73. www.SocialSecurity.gov
1-800-772-1213
Call between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm
[email protected]