Guest guest Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 Do you have to get the six credits that you need to transition from SSI to SSDI before you turn 24 in a certain time frame? If you get one credit when you are 20, do you have to get the other five in the next two years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 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 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 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Great to be on the Right / Winning Team of IPADDUnite! J Thanks, Laurie! Marsie Marsie L. Frawley Statewide Coordinator, Rural Illinois Customized Employment Sustainability Project RICES, an investment of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities -Hammis Associates, LLC mfrawley@... 920 559 6364 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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