2009 Red Book

We do not count the first $65 of the earnings you receive in a month, plus one-half of the remaining earnings. This means that we count less than one-half of your earnings when we figure your SSI payment amount.

We apply this exclusion in addition to the $20 general income exclusion. The $20 general income exclusion is first applied to any unearned income that you may receive.

The following table shows examples of how the general income exclusion and the earned income exclusions are applied.

• In a college or university for at least 8 hours a week; or



• In grades 7-12 for at least 12 hours a week; or



• In a training course to prepare for employment for at least 12 hours a week (15 hours a week if the course involves shop practice); or



• For less time than indicated above for reasons beyond the student’s control, such as illness.

• You are instructed in grades 7-12 for at least 12 hours a week; and



• The instruction is in accordance with a home school law of the State or other jurisdiction in which you reside.

• Studying a course or courses given by a school (grades 7-12), college, university or government agency; and



• Having a home visitor or tutor who directs the study.

• Be designed especially for you;



• Be in writing. We prefer that you use our form, the SSA-545-BK. You can get copies of the PASS form, SSA-545-BK, at your local office, from any PASS Expert, or from our website at: www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-545.html;



• Have a specific work goal that you are capable of performing;



• Have a specific timeframe for reaching your goal;



• Show what money (other than your SSI payments) and other resources you have or receive that you will use to reach your goal;



• Show how your money and resources will be used to reach your work goal;



• Show how the money you set aside will be kept separate from other funds;



• Be approved by us; and



• Be reviewed periodically by us to assure your plan is actually helping you achieve progress.

We do not count your property if you use it in a trade or business (for example, inventory of goods) or personal property you use for work as an employee (for example, tools or equipment). Other use of the item(s) does not matter.

We do not count up to $6,000 of equity value of non-business property that you use to produce goods or services essential to daily activities. An example is land used to produce vegetables or livestock solely for consumption by your household.

We do not count up to $6,000 of equity value of non-business income-producing property if the property yields an annual rate of return of at least 6 percent. An example is a rental property.

You must be using the property we are excluding under the PESS provision for your self-support activities. If you are not currently using this property because of circumstances beyond your control, you must expect to start using it again within a reasonable period of time, usually 12 months.

• Have been eligible for an SSI payment for at least 1 month before you begin working at the SGA level; and



• Still be disabled; and



• Meet all other eligibility rules, including the income and resource tests.

If you have been ineligible for a SSI payment due to your work, you may be able to restart your SSI cash payment again at any time without a new application.

If you have been ineligible for SSI and/or Medicaid for any reason other than work or medical recovery, you may be able to restart your SSI cash payment and/or Medicaid coverage within 12 months without a new application. When your situation changes, contact us and ask about how you can restart your SSI benefits and/or Medicaid. If your cash payment and Medicaid benefits ended because of your work and earnings, and you stop work within 5 years of when your benefits ceased, we may be able to start your benefits again under Expedited Reinstatement. See the section, Expedited Reinstatement.

• Have been eligible for an SSI cash payment for at least 1 month;
• Would be eligible for cash payment except for earnings;
• Still be disabled;
• Still meet all other eligibility rules, including the resources test;
• Need Medicaid in order to work; and
• Have gross earned income that is insufficient to replace SSI, Medicaid, and any publicly funded attendant care. (See following “threshold amount” discussion.)

• The amount of earnings that would cause your SSI cash payments to stop in your state; and



• The annual per capita Medicaid expenditure for your state.

• Impairment-related work expenses (see the section on SSDI AND SSI EMPLOYMENTS SUPPORTS);



• Blind work expenses (see the section on SPECIAL RULES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND);



• A Plan to Achieve Self-Support (see the section on PASS);



• Publicly funded attendant or personal care; or



• Medical expenses above the State per capita amount.