A
ABLE Act (Achieving a Better Life Experience)
Federal legislation that aims to ease financial strains faced by individuals with disabilities by making tax-free savings accounts available to cover qualified expenses including, but not limited to, education, food, housing, and transportation. The ABLE Act created a new option for individuals with disabilities and their families to save for the future while protecting eligibility for public benefits. The accounts, which are 529A savings and investment accounts, largely have no effect on federally funded, means-tested benefit programs.
ABLE National Resource Center (ABLE NRC)
The ABLE National Resource Center (ABLE NRC) is the leading, comprehensive source of objective, independent information about federal- and state-related ABLE programs and activities, including guidance on tax-advantaged ABLE savings accounts to educate, promote and support the positive impact ABLE can make on the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities and their families.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990)
Legislation (Public Law 101-336) that gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities to prohibit discrimination and provide equal opportunity in the following areas: employment (Title I), public transportation and State and local government services (Title II), public accommodations (Title III), and telecommunications (Title IV). Miscellaneous (Title V) provisions of the ADA are addressed, such as prohibiting either (a) coercing or threatening or (b) retaliating against individuals with disabilities or those attempting to aid people with disabilities in asserting their rights under the ADA. The ADA was signed into law on July 26, 1990, under President George H W Bush.
Alternative Financing Programs
The Alternative Financing Program (AFP) is a resource designed to assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining affordable assistive technology equipment and services, such as hearing aids, augmentative communication devices, Braille equipment, computers and environmental control units.
American Dream Employment Network (ADEN)
The American Dream Employment Network (ADEN) is an Employment Networks operating under the Ticket to Work program providing both virtual and in-person services. ADEN operates as a division of the National Disability Institute (NDI).
ADEN partners with over 60 member organizations who provide services to beneficiaries throughout the country. ADEN requires that all of its members have a benefits planner on staff.
American Job Centers (AJC)
Established in 1998 from the Workforce Investment Act and re-authorized in 2014 under WIOA, American Job Centers (AJC) are found in nearly 2400 locations across the US offering a full range of assistance to job seekers as well as employers. This assistance includes, but is not limited to job training assistance, career counseling, job listings, career fairs, and other similar employment-related services. AJCs are coordinated and funded through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA). (US Department of Labor & Career OneStop)
B
Benefit
Monthly payment and/or health insurance received from the Social Security Administration due to a documented medical disability and the inability to work at SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity)
Benefit Verification Letter
An official letter from SSA that verifies that amount an individual receives each month in Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income benefits. These letters are normally issued following a request from a person receiving benefits or his/her representative payee or they may be printed from a “my Social Security” account.
BPQY (Benefits Planning Query)
Benefits planning tool that provides a snapshot of an individual’s SSDI and/or SSI benefits, work effort, use of work incentives and other benefits-related information. A BPQY is requested from and prepared by the Social Security Administration.
C
Childhood Disability Benefits
A person with a disability that occurred before the age of 22, who is not legally married to a non-Title II beneficiary and whose insured parent is deceased, disabled or retired. A DAC may draw an SSDI benefit from their parent’s work record, even if the DAC does not have the required work credits to receive SSDI based on their own work record. Informally referred to as “Disabled Adult Child” or DAC benefit
CIL (Center for Independent Living)
This center provides education, resources, and training to individuals with disabilities to enhance self-determination through informed choice.
Continuation of Medicare Coverage
If benefits stop due to work, Medicare continues at least 93 months after the trial work period. The Continuation of Medicare Coverage provision allows health insurance to continue even after SSDI benefits have stopped due to employment.
Countable Earned Income
Gross income and/or unearned income less benefit-allowable exclusions and work incentives.
CWIC (Community Work Incentives Coordinator)
Benefits Specialists under the Social Security Administration (SSA) Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program (WIPA) that provide all SSA beneficiaries with disabilities (including transition-to-work-aged youth) access to benefits planning and assistance services.
Non-WIPA program community partners who are trained benefits specialists are referred to as Community Partner Work Incentive Coordinators (CPWICs) or Benefits and Work Incentives Practitioner (BWIPs).
Credits (SSA Credits)
Previously called “quarters of coverage.” As you work and pay Social Security taxes, you earn credits that count toward your eligibility for future Social Security benefits. You can earn a maximum of four credits each year. Most people need 40 credits to qualify for some benefits. Younger people need fewer credits to qualify for disability and survivor benefits. Sometimes referred to as Work Credits. For more information, read “How You Earn Credits.”
D
Disability (SSA Definition)
Defined by the Social Security Administration (SSA) as the inability to engage in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) by reason of any medical impairment that has lasted longer or is expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months or result in death.
E
Earned Income
Money a person receives from wages, self-employment, certain royalties, and honoraria and/or sheltered workshop payments.
Employment Network (EN)
An entity that enters into an agreement with the Social Security Administration (Social Security) to either provide or coordinate the delivery of services to Social Security disability beneficiaries. The EN can be an individual, a partnership/alliance (public or private) or a consortium of organizations collaborating to combine resources to serve eligible individuals. ENs participating in the Ticket to Work Program (Ticket Program) must adhere to certain rules and regulations. Get more information.
EPE (Extended Period of Eligibility)
A period of 36 consecutive months that follow the Trial Work Period (TWP). The purpose of this time-period is to give beneficiaries a chance to continue to test their work skills. During the EPE, eligibility for SSDI cash benefits continue for the months countable earnings are below Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA).
EXR (Expedited Reinstatement)
This provides an additional safety net in the return-to-work phase. Individuals who lose eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits – meaning their SSDI or SSI benefits are terminated — can request that their benefits start again through this process.
F
FBR (Federal Benefit Rate)
Federal Benefit Rate is the maximum amount a person receiving SSI benefits can receive from the Federal government. Usually changes January 1 of each calendar year.
FPL (Federal Poverty Level)
The federal poverty level (FPL), also known as the “poverty line,” is the amount of annualized income earned by a household, below which they would be eligible to receive certain benefits. Federal Poverty Level amounts are higher in Alaska and Hawaii. The Department of Health and Human Services determines poverty guidelines annually.
FICA
FICA stands for “Federal Insurance Contributions Act.” It’s the tax withheld from salary or self-employment income that funds the Social Security and Medicare programs.
G
Guardian
A legal guardian or conservator is a third party appointed by a State court to manage the affairs of an individual who is not able to do so. The appointment of a legal guardian or conservator, however, does not necessarily mean the person is legally incompetent
H
I
Insured Status
If you worked and earned enough Social Security credits to be eligible for retirement or disability benefits or enable your dependents to be eligible for benefits due to your retirement, disability, or death, you have insured status. Learn more.
IRWE (Impairment Related Work Expense)
A work incentive that allows an individual to deduct the cost of items they pay for themselves to go to work because of their disability. IRWEs are out-of-pocket expenses for the items and services that a beneficiary needs, in order to work due to their disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will deduct the cost of these items or services from the beneficiary’s countable earnings to decide if their countable earnings demonstrate performance of Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA).
J
K
L
M
Medicaid
Medicaid is a federal medical assistance program administered by states and the medical benefit attached to Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Eligibility is based on resources and earned and unearned income levels.
Medicare
A federal medical insurance program connected to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Individuals receiving SSDI are automatically eligible after applicable waiting period.
my Social Security Account
A free and secure my Social Security account provides personalized tools, whether receiving benefits or not. The account can be used to request a replacement Social Security card, check the status of an application, estimate future benefits, or manage current benefits.
N
O
P
PASS (Plan to Achieve Self-Support)
An earned income and resource exclusion that allows a person who is disabled or blind to set aside income and/or resources (over the $2,000 asset limit) to reach an employment goal.
Q
Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE)
A qualified disability expense (QDE) is any expense related to the account owner’s blindness or disability that assists them in increasing and/or maintaining their health, independence and/or quality of life. These may include expenses related to education, housing, transportation, employment training and support, assistive technology, personal support services, health care expenses, financial management and administrative services and other disability-related expenses.
R
Representative Payee
A person, agency organization or institution Social Security Administration (SSA) approves to manage a person’s benefits when they are unable to manage the benefits themselves.
Resources
Resources can be anything a person owns that can be converted to cash to pay for food, shelter and clothing. The resource limit is $2000 for an individual and $3000 for a couple.
S
Section 1619(b) – Continued Medicaid Eligibility
A work incentive that allows a working Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipient to keep their Medicaid eligibility when earning income at a level that eliminates an SSI cash benefit.
SEIE (Student Earned Income Exclusion)
A work incentive that allows a student, under 22, who is regularly attending school and is earning wages to maintain more of their Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cash benefit by deducting a monthly maximum and up to an annual maximum amount of income.
SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity)
The performance of work for pay or profit whether, a profit or pay is realized. The monthly SGA amount will change annually based on the national wage index
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture program that helps needy families buy food, formally known as food stamps. This is also called “SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program”.
SSA (Social Security Administration)
The U.S. federal agency that administers the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs.
SSA Overpayment Status
Overpayment status occurs when an SSI/SSDI beneficiary receives more money for a month than the amount that should have been paid. The amount of one’s overpayment is the difference between the amount received and the amount due.
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance)
A program under Title II of the Social Security Act. It is a cash benefit program for individuals who have worked and paid into FICA (Federal Insured Contribution Act), or are a Disabled Adult Child, and who meet Social Security’s definition of disability (inability to work at a substantial level due to a documented disability).
SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
Supplemental Security Income is a program under Title XVI of the Social Security Act. It is a cash benefit paid to individuals who have limited income and resources and who meet Social Security’s definition of disability (inability to work at a substantial level due to a documented disability).
State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Program
The State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Program was created thanks to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act) and was amended in 2014 by Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The VR program, under the direction of the US Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) provides grant funding which assist states in operating statewide VR programs, making them a crucial component of statewide workforce development systems. State VR programs extend services to individuals with disabilities that help them prepare for and engage in competitive integrated employment or supported employment. The goal of this type of assistance is to help people with disabilities find a pathway out of poverty and into economic self-sufficiency. [Rehabilitation Services Administration].
T
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
This program is designed to help needy families achieve self-sufficiency. States and territories receive block grants from TANF to design and operate programs to provide families with financial assistance and related support services. State-administered programs may include childcare assistance, job preparation, and work assistance.
Threshold
The maximum amount an SSI Recipient can earn yearly to maintain 1619(b) status and the continuation of Medicaid at no cost. Amount is State specific and changes each year. An Individualized Threshold is available for individuals with excessive Medicaid costs.
TWP (Trial Work Period)
Work incentive that allows a person to test his/her ability to work without losing benefits. Under this provision, the beneficiary is credited with a month of trial work for each month that earnings exceed the TWP amount. When the beneficiary has accumulated nine such months (not necessarily consecutively earned), the Trial Work Period is complete
TTW (Ticket to Work Program)
The Ticket to Work Program (TTW), is one part of the “Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act”, that increases opportunities and choices for Social Security disability beneficiaries to obtain employment, vocational rehabilitation (VR) and other support services from public and private providers, employers and other organizations. Under the Ticket to Work Program, the Social Security Administration provides disability beneficiaries with a Ticket they may use to obtain the services and jobs they need from organizations called Employment Networks (ENs).
U
Unearned Income
Any money a person receives that is not for services performed (paid work). Unearned income may include SSDI or other governmental cash benefits, money directly paid to a person from a trust, interest, dividends and/or monthly provision by a family to subsidize living expenses.
V
W
WIPA (Work Incentives Planning and Assistance)
A program to assist Social Security Administration (SSA) beneficiaries with transitioning from dependence on public benefits to paid employment and greater economic self-sufficiency.
Work Incentive (Work Support)
Special rules that make it possible for people to work and keep their monthly payment and Medicare/Medicaid and/or to become self-sufficient. They are also called Employment Support Programs.
