Developed by the Connect to Work Center, Developed by the Connect to Work Center, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services,

Department of Social Services in Conjunction Department of Social Services in Conjunction with:with:

Community Renewal Team of HartfordCommunity Renewal Team of Hartford Co-Opportunity, Inc. of HartfordCo-Opportunity, Inc. of Hartford The Internal Revenue ServiceThe Internal Revenue Service And the following state agencies:And the following state agencies: Department of LaborDepartment of Labor Department of Mental RetardationDepartment of Mental Retardation Department of Mental Health and Addiction Department of Mental Health and Addiction

ServicesServices Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of

Social SecuritySocial Security

Ask yourself -

Do you have enough income for:• movies &

restaurants?• going to school?

• buying a car ?

• buying a home?

• Cash benefits are very helpful but usually not enough

• Work provides additional income

Most people who work have more income whether they have a

combination of earnings & benefits or earnings alone.

How do you get more income ?

WORK can help you achieve WORK can help you achieve the things you need !the things you need !

Work can help you increase income.Work can help you with continued health insurance.

Work can help you afford better housing, transportation, and continued support services.

Share Your Talents

Become More

Independent

Have More Money

Feel Good About

Yourself

WORK

Are you concerned that work will stop your benefits and services ?

WHAT CAN WHAT CAN HELP??HELP??

Let’s learn about two Social Let’s learn about two Social Security cash benefits that Security cash benefits that

can often help as you prepare can often help as you prepare for the World of Work.for the World of Work.

&

Supplemental Security Supplemental Security IncomeIncome (SSI)(SSI)

SSI is based on need; maximum of $623/moSSI is based on need; maximum of $623/mo SSI can often continue while you work until SSI can often continue while you work until

you are earning enough to support yourself. you are earning enough to support yourself.

SSI is associated with Medicaid/Title XIX.SSI is associated with Medicaid/Title XIX.

Medicaid/Title XIX can continue even when Medicaid/Title XIX can continue even when you earn too much to get a cash benefityou earn too much to get a cash benefit..

Depending on how much she earns, Gina may have both wages and some SSI until she transitions to full time work.

She will keep her Medicaid/Title XIX.

Gina now works part time at a coffee shop. Will she lose her SSI benefits?

Social Security Disability Social Security Disability Insurance Insurance (SSDI)(SSDI)

SSDI amount is based on work history.SSDI amount is based on work history.

SSDI has work incentives allowing you to SSDI has work incentives allowing you to try working while keeping SSDI support.try working while keeping SSDI support.

SSDI recipients are usually given SSDI recipients are usually given MedicareMedicare

Medicare generally continues for many Medicare generally continues for many years even if the cash benefit stops. years even if the cash benefit stops.

Will Jack lose his SSDI cash benefit now that he is working at

No, he has time to try out work while continuing on SSDI as he prepares to transition to full time work.

He will continue to have Medicare.

?

Both SSI and SSDI recipients have access to other work incentives that can support them through their transition into successful work.

Earned Income Tax Credit(EITC)

Individual Development Account(IDA)

Plan for Achieving Self SupportPASS Plan

Medicaid for the EmployedMedicaid for the EmployedDisabledDisabled

Linda is enjoying her job at Linda is enjoying her job at Microboard Processing. DSS Microboard Processing. DSS granted her granted her Medicaid for Medicaid for the Employed Disabledthe Employed Disabled since she is working even since she is working even though she still has a though she still has a disability. Linda has opened disability. Linda has opened a checking account. She is a checking account. She is happy with the car she happy with the car she purchased and is saving for purchased and is saving for a condo. All of this is a condo. All of this is possible while keeping her possible while keeping her health insurance.health insurance.

IDA – Using matched savings that double her money and do not affect her benefits.

EITC – Used her tax refund to start a checking account.

PASS – Used a Social Security Savings plan.

EITC is a special tax benefit for working people with low to moderate incomes

You may be able to claim from hundreds to more than four thousand dollars ($4,000), depending on income, marital status and number of children.

The EITC is not counted as income in most public benefit programs, including SSI, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Veterans Benefits, and Federally Assisted Housing

If you work, you may be eligible for the EITC even if you don’t have to pay taxes.

For the EITC, you need to have worked and have earned income less than:

$12,120 ($14,120, if married filing jointly) if there is no qualifying child

$32,001 ($34,001, if married filing jointly) if there is one qualifying child

$36,348 ($38,348, if married filing jointly) if there are two or more qualifying child

The Child must meet all relationship, age and residency tests: Relationship:

Son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter or a descendent of any of them or brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendent of any of them or an eligible foster child.

Age: Under age 19 at the end of the tax year or under 24 and a full time student at the end of the tax year or any age & permanently and totally disabled at any time during the year.

Residency:

Lived with the taxpayer in the United States for more than half of the tax year.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON E.I.T.C CALL 211

PASS is a Social Security work incentive that may allow you to increase your SSI monies or to become eligible for SSI if you weren’t in the past.Money can be set aside for work related goals such as:Buying a car which is necessary to

get a well paying job.

Paying for training/school to improve work related skills so you may increase your earnings.

Start up money for a small business.

•IDAs are matched savings accounts in which you save money that can be used to purchase a home, and pay for higher education or a security deposit. A couple of IDA programs in CT also allow savings for purchase of a car.

Your savings are matched up to $2.00 for every $1.00 you save up to a maximum of $4000.00 (depending on the IDA program you are involved in).

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON IDAS CALL 211

CONNECT TO WORK CENTERCONNECT TO WORK CENTER

The statewide network of Community The statewide network of Community Work Incentive Coordinators (CWICs) of Work Incentive Coordinators (CWICs) of the Connect to Work Center are the Connect to Work Center are available to review Social Security and available to review Social Security and State benefits and services to help you State benefits and services to help you live as independently as you can.live as independently as you can.

Toll free 1-800-773-4636 Toll free 1-800-773-4636 TTY 1-860-424-4839TTY 1-860-424-4839

SOCIAL SECURITY

For information on Social Security benefits call:

Social Security Administration

1-800-772-1213 for an office near you.

Many Communities Have Free Tax Preparation Sites and E-Filing Services Available:

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program (offered by various community groups, staffed by volunteers).

Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program (offered by AARP, with timing preference given to taxpayers 60 & older)

CALL INFOLINE 211 FOR THE LOCATION NEAREST YOU

Are there programs that Are there programs that understand disabilities and understand disabilities and

can help me get a job?can help me get a job?There are 4 Public Vocational Rehabilitation There are 4 Public Vocational Rehabilitation

Programs in Connecticut:Programs in Connecticut:• Bureau of Rehabilitation Services – serves all people Bureau of Rehabilitation Services – serves all people

with physical and mental disabilities, except those who with physical and mental disabilities, except those who are blind. 1-800-537-2549; TDD 1-860-424-4839are blind. 1-800-537-2549; TDD 1-860-424-4839

• Board of Education and Services for the Blind - serves Board of Education and Services for the Blind - serves people who are blind. Provides assistance with jobs and people who are blind. Provides assistance with jobs and other services, such as mobility training and travel other services, such as mobility training and travel instruction. 1-800-399-1122; TDD 1-860-602-4221instruction. 1-800-399-1122; TDD 1-860-602-4221

• Native American Tribal Vocational Program – serves Native American Tribal Vocational Program – serves Native Americans. 1-800-399-1122Native Americans. 1-800-399-1122

• Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation – serves people who Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation – serves people who are veterans. 1-800-827-1000are veterans. 1-800-827-1000

Other programs that may help Other programs that may help you get a JOByou get a JOB

Toll Free Numbers:Toll Free Numbers:

Social Security – Ticket to Work ProgramSocial Security – Ticket to Work Program

1-800-772-1213 1-800-772-1213

Website: Website: www.ssa.gov/workwww.ssa.gov/work

Department of Labor – 1-877-872-5627 Department of Labor – 1-877-872-5627

Department of Mental Health & Addiction Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services: 1-800-446-7348 Services: 1-800-446-7348

Department of Mental RetardationDepartment of Mental Retardation

1-866-433-8192 1-866-433-8192

What if I What if I NeedNeed Assistive Assistive Technology (AT) Technology (AT)

• CT Tech Act Project can assist you by CT Tech Act Project can assist you by providing access to assistive technology for providing access to assistive technology for work, school and community living.work, school and community living.

• AT is any item or piece of equipment that is AT is any item or piece of equipment that is used to increase, maintain or improve the used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.disabilities.• AT can range from inexpensive gadgets to special AT can range from inexpensive gadgets to special

controls to help you drive, hearing aids or controls to help you drive, hearing aids or wheelchairs, communication devices or hands-wheelchairs, communication devices or hands-free access to a computer and much more.free access to a computer and much more.

For more information call: 1-800-537-2543 (toll For more information call: 1-800-537-2543 (toll free); TDD 1-860-424-4839free); TDD 1-860-424-4839

What is Protection and Advocacy for What is Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security Beneficiaries of Social Security

Program?Program?PABSSPABSS

PABSS is a Federal program funded by the Social Security Administration and given to the State Office of Protection & Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities.

The program is designed to provide the following services to only SSDI and SSI beneficiaries:

Information and advice about obtaining vocational rehabilitation and employment services

Advocacy and other services that an SSDI or SSI beneficiary may need to get or keep employment

For more information call: 1-800-842-7303 (toll free);

TDD 1-860-297-4380