Re: Can PCA's be IRWE's if for work?

[Guest guest]

- I have used attendants at work and submitted their payments

as IRWEs. SSI only requested a note from my doctor stating that I need

assistance for work related items at my place of employment. My

understanding, however, is that if you're using IHSS monies for it

that you cannot call it an IRWE since you aren't paying for it

directly. What you can do is pay for the attendant out of pocket and

collect it as an IRWE and use your IHSS hours for your typical activities.

<3Kendra

>

> I'm wondering if in Calif, if you use a PCA at work, but it is

> provided by IHSS (funding) if it can still be used as an IRWE

> (Impairment Related Work Expense) if it is taking away from other

> areas not in the workplace where you will need to pay for a PCA?

>

> I'm thinking until I get my commute figured out or can move, my only

> option and least expensive (and least wear and tear on my van) is to

> keep my PCA with me to assist me to get to/from work, but since its a

> 40 min commute each way its more cost effective to keep them there and

> they can do their own thing if I don't need them, run errands for me

> and assist at work as needed - BUT, this will use ALL my PCA hours and

> take away from some hours I need on the weekend.

>

> I will have my PCA arrive at 7am to get me ready, drive me to work in

> my van, assist me at work if needed with clerical stuff or driving

> (minimal), help me use the restroom/get lunch, and drive me home at 6pm

>

> How much of this can be an IRWE? and how do I document the need for

> this if it is an IRWE when I send it in each month?

>

> My DOR counselor didnt know how to best answer this nor did the people

> at the county -grr

>

> Thanks! Would be so much less headache if I didnt have so many bills

> to pay off and could afford to live in the area then and take public

> transit - but it looks like unless something big happens that wont be

> for a yr or so.

>

> Thanks!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, you can claim a PCA's hours preparing for work, getting to work,

and/or assisting you at work as an IRWE in every state, but it is NOT

an IRWE if it's funded by any other source. IHSS expenditures cannot

be claimed as an IRWE. IRWEs are *out-of-pocket* expenditures that

are necessary in order to work. They must be paid for out of your

earned income.

I've claimed adaptive software, someone to help me pee, a driver to

and from work, accompaniment to meetings for assistance with

note-taking and handling my training materials, my automatic door

opener, vitamin supplements, acupuncture, etc. See the Social

Security Red Book for other examples. As long as I had receipts for

these expenditures and documentation from my doctor if SSA asked for

proof of my disability-related need, it counted as an IRWE.

Because it can be hard to get a PCA to come all the way to work for a

15 minute pee, offer someone near work $15 or $20 to help you and

claim it as an IRWE. Supplement the low IHSS pay per hour for your

PCAs with some of your earned income and claim that portion as an

IRWE. I ade $2,500/mo. before my SSI went down to $0. IRWEs are very

helpful.

Alana

>

> I'm wondering if in Calif, if you use a PCA at work, but it is

> provided by IHSS (funding) if it can still be used as an IRWE

> (Impairment Related Work Expense) if it is taking away from other

> areas not in the workplace where you will need to pay for a PCA?

>

[Guest guest]

That's never been the case sincerely IRWEs have been in play, but very

few SSA claims representatives understand the work incentive rules.

>

> When I had IHSS, we weren't allowed to claim hours outside of the

home. Isn't that still the case?

>