When do we consider?	We consider the existence of a subsidy and/or special conditions when we make an SGA decision. We use only earnings that represent the real value of the work you perform to decide if your work is at the SGA level.
What is a subsidy?	A “Subsidy” is support provided by your employer that may result in your receiving more pay than the actual value of the services you perform.
What are special conditions?	“Special conditions” refers to support provided by someone other than your employer, for example, a vocational rehabilitation agency. As a result of this support, you may be receiving more pay than the actual value of the services you perform.
How can you tell if a subsidy or a special condition applies to you?	A subsidy or special condition may exist if: You receive more supervision than other workers doing the same or a similar job for the same pay; or You have fewer or simpler tasks to complete than other workers doing the same job for the same pay; or You have a job coach or mentor who helps you perform some of your work. If your employer and/or other involved parties cannot or will not set the real value of your work, we will decide the value of your work.
Do they affect your SSI payments?	No, we do not take into account subsidy or special conditions when we figure your SSI payment amount.

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Unsuccessful Work Attempt (UWA) (SSDI and SSI initial eligible)

What is an UWA?	A UWA is an effort to do substantial work, in employment or self-employment, that you stopped or reduced to below the SGA level after a short time (6 months or less) because of: Your impairment; or Removal of special conditions related to your impairment and essential to the further performance of your work. (see the section on Subsidy and Special Conditions)
How does a UWA benefit you if you receive SSDI?	When we make an SGA decision to determine if your disability continues or ceases because of your work, we do not count your earnings during a UWA.
Can a UWA occur during the Extended Period of Eligibility?	Yes. During the EPE (see the section on EPE), we consider a UWA as part of our SGA decision for months up to and including the month (if any) in which we cease your disability.
Can a UWA occur during the Trial Work Period?	No. We do not consider UWA during the TWP (see the section on TWP), or after the month (if any) in which we cease your disability.
Does a UWA affect your monthly SSI payment?	For SSI, we only consider a UWA at the time you file an initial claim. After that, a UWA is not considered in figuring your SSI payment.

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Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) (SSDI and SSI eligible)

How can IRWE help you?	We deduct the cost of certain impairment-related items and services that you need to work from your gross earnings when we decide if your “countable earnings” demonstrate performance of SGA. It does not matter if you also use these items and services for non-work activities.
When will we deduct your IRWE?	We deduct IRWE for SGA purposes when: The item(s) or service(s) enables you to work; You need the item(s)or service(s) because of a physical or mental impairment; You paid the cost and are not reimbursed by another source such as Medicare, Medicaid or a private insurance carrier; The cost is "reasonable", that is, it represents the standard charge for the item or service in your community, and you paid for the expense in a month you are or were working.
How do we use IRWE to figure your SSI monthly payments?	If you are receiving SSI benefits, we will exclude IRWE from your earned income when we figure your monthly payment amount if you meet the requirements above and you paid the expense in a month that you received earned income or performed work while you used the impairment-related item or services.
Can IRWE be deducted during a non-work month?	In certain situations, we can deduct IRWE amounts for expenses you pay before you start or after you stop work.
What types of expenses are deductible?	The following table outlines the types of expenses that are deductible as IRWE.

Examples of Deductible and Non-Deductible IRWE

TYPE OF EXPENSE	IRWE DEDUCTIBLE	NOT DEDUCTIBLE
Transportation Costs	The cost of structural or operational modifications to your vehicle that you need in order to travel to work, even if you also use the vehicle for non-work purposes. The cost of driver assistance or taxicabs that is required because of your disability rather than the lack of public transportation. Mileage expenses at a rate determined by us for an approved vehicle and limited to travel to and from employment.	The cost of your vehicle whether modified or not. The costs of modifications to your vehicle that are not directly related to your impairment or critical to the operation of your vehicle, for example, paint or pin striping. Your travel expenses related to obtaining medical items or services.
Attendant Care Services	Services performed in the work setting. Services performed to help you prepare for work, the trip to and from work, and after work; for example, bathing, dressing, cooking, and eating. Services that incidentally also benefit your family, for example, meals shared by you and your family. Services performed by your family member for a cash fee where he/she suffers an economic loss by reducing or ending his/her work in order to help you. This includes your spouse reducing work hours to help you get ready for work.	Services performed on non-workdays or help with shopping or general housekeeping, for example, cleaning and laundry. Services performed for someone else in your family, for example, babysitting. Services performed by your family member for payment "in-kind", for example, room and board. Services performed by your family member for a cash fee where he/she suffers no economic loss. This includes services provided by your non-working spouse.
Medical Devices	Deductible devices include wheelchairs, dialysis equipment, pacemakers, respirators, traction equipment, and braces.	Any device you do not use for a medical purpose.
Prosthesis	Artificial hip, artificial replacement of an arm, leg, or other parts of the body.	Any prosthetic device that is primarily for cosmetic purpose.
Residential Modifications	If you are employed outside of home, modifications to the exterior of your house that permit access to the street or to transportation; for example: Exterior ramps Railings Pathways If you are self-employed at home, modifications made inside your home in order to create a workspace to accommodate your impairment. This includes enlarging a doorway into an office or workroom and/or modifying office space to accommodate your dexterity challenges	If you are employed outside of home, modifications to the interior of your house. If you are self-employed at home, you cannot deduct any modification-related expenses that will be deducted as a business expense when determining SGA.
Routine Drugs & Routine Medical Services	Regularly prescribed medical treatment or therapy that is necessary to control your disabling condition, even if control is not achieved. This includes: Anti-convulsant drugs Blood level monitoring Radiation treatment Chemotherapy Corrective surgery for spinal disorders Anti-depressant medication Your physician's fee relating to these services.	Drugs and/or medical services used for your minor physical or mental health problems, for example: Routine physical examinations Allergy treatments Dental examinations Optician services
Diagnostic Procedures	Procedures related to the control, treatment, or evaluation of your disabling condition; for example, brain scans, and electroencephalograms.	Procedures not related to your disabling condition, for example, allergy testing.
Non-Medical Appliances & Devices	In unusual circumstances, devices or appliances that are essential for the control of your disabling condition either at home or at work; for example, an electric air cleaner if you have severe respiratory disease. Your physician must verify this need.	Devices you use at home or at the office that are not ordinarily for medical purposes and for which your doctor has not verified a medical work-related need. These include: Portable room heaters Air conditioners Dehumidifiers Humidifiers
Other Items & Services	Expendable medical supplies; for example, incontinence pads, elastic stockings, and catheters. The cost of a service animal including food, licenses, and veterinary services.	An exercise bicycle or other device you use for physical fitness, unless verified as necessary by your physician. Health insurance premiums.

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Ticket to Work (SSDI and SSI Eligible)

What is a Ticket?

The Ticket to Work Program is an innovative program for individuals with disabilities who want to work and participate in planning their employment. A Ticket increases your available choices when obtaining employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other support services you may need to get or keep a job. It is a free and voluntary service. You can use the Ticket if you choose, but there is no penalty for not using it. You might not be subject to a continuing disability review while you are using your Ticket.

Where can you use a Ticket?

This program is available in all 50 States and 10 United States Territories. Many SSDI and SSI disability beneficiaries will receive a “Ticket” they can use to obtain services from a state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency or another approved provider of their choice. We call these approved providers “Employment Networks.” Employment Networks (ENs) are private organizations or government agencies that have agreed to work with Social Security to provide employment services to beneficiaries with disabilities. The EN you choose will help you activate your Ticket.

Where can you get
more information?

For more information on Ticket to Work, including a list of approved Employment Networks, contact the SSA Ticket Program Operations Support Manager, MAXIMUS, at their toll free numbers: 1-866-YOURTICKET (1-866-968-7842) or for TTY/TDD call 1-866-833-2967 between 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time (Monday through Friday).

Information about the Ticket to Work Program can be found online at

www.ssa.gov/work/aboutticket.html or www.yourtickettowork.com.

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Continued Payment under a Vocational Rehabilitation Program or Similar Program (Section 301) (SSDI and SSI eligible)

How do you qualify for continued payment?	If we find that you no longer have a disabling impairment due to medical improvement, your benefit payments usually stop. However, if you are participating in an appropriate program of vocational rehabilitation or similar services, your benefits may continue until your participation in the program ends.
What is an appropriate program of vocational rehabilitation or similar services?	An appropriate program must be approved by us and includes: The Ticket to Work A Vocational Rehabilitation Agency using an individualized plan for employment (IPE) Support services using an individualized written employment plan A Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) An individualized education program (IEP) for an individual age 18 through 21
How long may your benefits continue?	Under Section 301, your benefits may continue until you: Complete your program; or Your participation in the program stops; or We decide that your continued participation in the program will not increase the likelihood of your permanent removal from the disability benefit rolls.
How do you qualify for Section 301?	To qualify for Section 301: You must be participating in an appropriate program of vocational rehabilitation or similar services that began before your disability ends under our rules; and We must review the situation and decide that your continued participation in the program will increase the likelihood of your permanent removal from the disability benefit rolls.

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Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) (SSDI and SSI eligible)

What is EXR?	EXR is a safety net for those individuals who successfully return to work, and later lose their entitlement to SSDI or SSI benefits and payments. If your cash payments ended because of your work and earnings, and you stop work within 5 years of when your benefits ended, we may be able to start your benefits again.
How does EXR help you?	If you have stopped receiving benefits due to your work, you may be able to restart them again without a new application. The EXR provision allows an individual to receive up to 6 months of temporary cash benefits while SSA conducts a medical review to determine whether the individual can be reinstated to benefits. The individual may also be eligible for Medicare and/or Medicaid during the provisional benefit period.
Who can be reinstated?	You are eligible to request EXR if you meet all the following requirements: Previous entitlement to SSDI benefits was terminated due to performance of SGA; or previous SSI disability/blindness eligibility was terminated because of excess earned income or a combination of earned and unearned income; Not be performing SGA in the month you apply for EXR; Be unable to work at the SGA level due to your medical condition; Have a current medical impairment(s) that is the same as or related to the original disabling impairment(s); and Request EXR within 5 years from the month we terminate your benefits.


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