Guest guest Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 Can anyone else imagine Marsie out there somewhere holding waving two big pom-pom’s as she cheers ‘WORK IS GOOD!’. You are the best cheerleader for work in all of Illinois, my dear, and we appreciate it! Employment First is our motto. Really, someone needs to come up with a cheer for this. Maybe the AFP team can do one. L. From: Marsie Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 6:48 AM IPADDUnite Subject: Re: Work Credits Hello All! Great to hear these work incentive related questions! Laurie, you've got it! As for timing, if the person's disability began at birth i.e., a developmental disability, the work credits earned at any age are not lost! Keep working and earning and the anticipated outcome is to earn all 6 before the age of 24. If you have questions about work credits earned on an account - call SSA at 800 772 1213 an operator should be able to answer the question or your local office, if you are able to get through their busy lines! One more thought to Laurie's complete answer - yes, once a recipient reaches the age of 22 and is no longer eligible for the Student Earned Income Exclusion (2012 Annual Threshold is $6,840 or a max of $1700 a month!), the Earned Income Calculation is used to determine the new monthly cash benefit. Yes, after the first $85 of gross income is earned SSA will reduce the monthly cash benefit $1 for every $2 earned. BUT, recipients can still submit Impairment Related Work Expenses (out-of-pocket expenses, related to the the disability, that allow the person to work - medication, therapies, doctor co-pays, etc.). Those expenses will be reimbursed 50 cents to the $1 spent. If it helps - a SSI recipient could earn up to $1,480 and still be eligible for a $1 in SSI. Even tho, eligibility for a check might go away due to that level of earnings, Medicaid eligibility continues to an annual income of $27,435!!! Please see your Community Work Incentive Coordinator for an individualized explanation. The moral of the story is, even if the check is reduced, the person is still better off working as they will get most all money back at tax time! Remember to file taxes and to file for the Earned Income Tax Credit, too! Work Incentives Planning & Assistance Projects are throughout the state - you can locate yours by going to: http://www.iltech.org/wipaserviceareas.html Learn more about the Earned Income Tax Credit and where you might find FREE tax preparation at: http://www.economicprogress.org/partners/host-tax-site My responses are never short, but I hope that this is helpful! Work Is Good! Take care and Good Luck! Marsie Frawley Senior Consultant, -Hammis Associates, LLC Statewide Coordinator, Rural Illinois Customized Employment Sustainability Project mailto:mfrawley%40griffinhammis.com 920 559 6364 > > I’m going to double check this because many of us have heard conflicting info about whether you need to work/earn continually once you’ve started working. That said, when parents ask me about getting the six work credits, what I tell folks is to get them earned, if humanly possible, PRIOR TO EXITING SPECIAL EDUCATION/TRANSITION. Why? Because while your individual is still a full-time student (and being part of a school-transition program qualifies as being a full-time student) you are allowed a much higher earnings ceiling prior to current SSI benefits being affected. > > In 2009, for example, when my daughter was still in transition, she was able to earn the maximum number of credits (four) in one year because of the Student Earned Exemption...which was a max. of $6,600 per year of allowable income. That meant she still had the benefit of a full SSI check each month, as well as her regular paychecks. > > Once she turned 22 and exited, however, the allowable income before SSI starts getting reduced is something like $85/month! So once you’re over 22, or whenever your individual stops being a full-time student, it becomes a lot harder to get over the credits threshold without jeopardizing current SSI. > > Each family/individual needs to assess based on their own situation. I know families who decide that any reduction in SSI payments are a worthwhile trade-off for paid employment and all the good things that come along with that. > > Will post back on your timing question when I get a response from our ‘expert’. > > Laurie > > > > > > > . > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 Thanks Marsie and Laurie,  I received referral papers this morning for the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Project at the day training facility that my daughter attends. Hopefully our goals can be accomplished with her current placement by going from part time to full time. While I don't ask many questions, I have still gotten a lot of great information from reading everyone elses posts.  So greatful for all the great information on this site.  Carol ________________________________ From: Marsie <mfrawley@...> IPADDUnite Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 6:48 AM Subject: Re: Work Credits  Hello All! Great to hear these work incentive related questions! Laurie, you've got it! As for timing, if the person's disability began at birth i.e., a developmental disability, the work credits earned at any age are not lost! Keep working and earning and the anticipated outcome is to earn all 6 before the age of 24. If you have questions about work credits earned on an account - call SSA at 800 772 1213 an operator should be able to answer the question or your local office, if you are able to get through their busy lines! One more thought to Laurie's complete answer - yes, once a recipient reaches the age of 22 and is no longer eligible for the Student Earned Income Exclusion (2012 Annual Threshold is $6,840 or a max of $1700 a month!), the Earned Income Calculation is used to determine the new monthly cash benefit. Yes, after the first $85 of gross income is earned SSA will reduce the monthly cash benefit $1 for every $2 earned. BUT, recipients can still submit Impairment Related Work Expenses (out-of-pocket expenses, related to the the disability, that allow the person to work - medication, therapies, doctor co-pays, etc.). Those expenses will be reimbursed 50 cents to the $1 spent. If it helps - a SSI recipient could earn up to $1,480 and still be eligible for a $1 in SSI. Even tho, eligibility for a check might go away due to that level of earnings, Medicaid eligibility continues to an annual income of $27,435!!! Please see your Community Work Incentive Coordinator for an individualized explanation. The moral of the story is, even if the check is reduced, the person is still better off working as they will get most all money back at tax time! Remember to file taxes and to file for the Earned Income Tax Credit, too! Work Incentives Planning & Assistance Projects are throughout the state - you can locate yours by going to: http://www.iltech.org/wipaserviceareas.html Learn more about the Earned Income Tax Credit and where you might find FREE tax preparation at: http://www.economicprogress.org/partners/host-tax-site My responses are never short, but I hope that this is helpful! Work Is Good! Take care and Good Luck! Marsie Frawley Senior Consultant, -Hammis Associates, LLC Statewide Coordinator, Rural Illinois Customized Employment Sustainability Project mfrawley@... 920 559 6364 > > I’m going to double check this because many of us have heard conflicting info about whether you need to work/earn continually once you’ve started working. That said, when parents ask me about getting the six work credits, what I tell folks is to get them earned, if humanly possible, PRIOR TO EXITING SPECIAL EDUCATION/TRANSITION. Why? Because while your individual is still a full-time student (and being part of a school-transition program qualifies as being a full-time student) you are allowed a much higher earnings ceiling prior to current SSI benefits being affected. > > In 2009, for example, when my daughter was still in transition, she was able to earn the maximum number of credits (four) in one year because of the Student Earned Exemption...which was a max. of $6,600 per year of allowable income. That meant she still had the benefit of a full SSI check each month, as well as her regular paychecks. > > Once she turned 22 and exited, however, the allowable income before SSI starts getting reduced is something like $85/month! So once you’re over 22, or whenever your individual stops being a full-time student, it becomes a lot harder to get over the credits threshold without jeopardizing current SSI. > > Each family/individual needs to assess based on their own situation. I know families who decide that any reduction in SSI payments are a worthwhile trade-off for paid employment and all the good things that come along with that. > > Will post back on your timing question when I get a response from our ‘expert’. > > Laurie > > > > > > > . > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 Marsie, Thank you (and Laurie, too!) for this wonderful explanation of work credits---something that I have been wondering about for my son, as well... Debra :-) In a message dated 1/12/2012 6:48:12 A.M. Central Standard Time, mfrawley@... writes: Hello All! Great to hear these work incentive related questions! Laurie, you've got it! As for timing, if the person's disability began at birth i.e., a developmental disability, the work credits earned at any age are not lost! Keep working and earning and the anticipated outcome is to earn all 6 before the age of 24. If you have questions about work credits earned on an account - call SSA at 800 772 1213 an operator should be able to answer the question or your local office, if you are able to get through their busy lines! One more thought to Laurie's complete answer - yes, once a recipient reaches the age of 22 and is no longer eligible for the Student Earned Income Exclusion (2012 Annual Threshold is $6,840 or a max of $1700 a month!), the Earned Income Calculation is used to determine the new monthly cash benefit. Yes, after the first $85 of gross income is earned SSA will reduce the monthly cash benefit $1 for every $2 earned. BUT, recipients can still submit Impairment Related Work Expenses (out-of-pocket expenses, related to the the disability, that allow the person to work - medication, therapies, doctor co-pays, etc.). Those expenses will be reimbursed 50 cents to the $1 spent. If it helps - a SSI recipient could earn up to $1,480 and still be eligible for a $1 in SSI. Even tho, eligibility for a check might go away due to that level of earnings, Medicaid eligibility continues to an annual income of $27,435!!! Please see your Community Work Incentive Coordinator for an individualized explanation. The moral of the story is, even if the check is reduced, the person is still better off working as they will get most all money back at tax time! Remember to file taxes and to file for the Earned Income Tax Credit, too! Work Incentives Planning & Assistance Projects are throughout the state - you can locate yours by going to: _http://www.iltech.org/wipaserviceareas.html_ (http://www.iltech.org/wipaserviceareas.html) Learn more about the Earned Income Tax Credit and where you might find FREE tax preparation at: _http://www.economicprogress.org/partners/host-tax-site_ (http://www.economicprogress.org/partners/host-tax-site) My responses are never short, but I hope that this is helpful! Work Is Good! Take care and Good Luck! Marsie Frawley Senior Consultant, -Hammis Associates, LLC Statewide Coordinator, Rural Illinois Customized Employment Sustainability Project _mfrawley@..._ (mailto:mfrawley@...) 920 559 6364 > > I’m going to double check this because many of us have heard conflicting info about whether you need to work/earn continually once you’ve started working. That said, when parents ask me about getting the six work credits, what I tell folks is to get them earned, if humanly possible, PRIOR TO EXITING SPECIAL EDUCATION/TRANSITION. Why? Because while your individual is still a full-time student (and being part of a school-transition program qualifies as being a full-time student) you are allowed a much higher earnings ceiling prior to current SSI benefits being affected. > > In 2009, for example, when my daughter was still in transition, she was able to earn the maximum number of credits (four) in one year because of the Student Earned Exemption...which was a max. of $6,600 per year of allowable income. That meant she still had the benefit of a full SSI check each month, as well as her regular paychecks. > > Once she turned 22 and exited, however, the allowable income before SSI starts getting reduced is something like $85/month! So once you’re over 22, or whenever your individual stops being a full-time student, it becomes a lot harder to get over the credits threshold without jeopardizing current SSI. > > Each family/individual needs to assess based on their own situation. I know families who decide that any reduction in SSI payments are a worthwhile trade-off for paid employment and all the good things that come along with that. > > Will post back on your timing question when I get a response from our ‘ expert’. > > Laurie > > > > > > > . > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 work is great work is good I can use it to pay for food ok , go ahead and accuse me of being a heathen Thais Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 AGREED!!! Re: Re: Work Credits work is great ork is good can use it o pay for food k , go ahead and accuse me of being a heathen hais Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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