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Dear Colleague,

Do you and your clients know about continued Social Security Disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments under Section 301? Section 301 offers extended benefits to eligible youth who would otherwise stop receiving benefits due to medical recovery.

Typically, benefit payments stop if a person is found to no longer have a disability after an age-18 redetermination or medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR). However, if your client is participating in an approved program of special education, vocational rehabilitation (VR), or similar services, benefits may continue until they stop participating in or complete the program.

To become eligible for continued payments under Section 301:

• A person must be a participant in an appropriate VR program or similar service that began before the month their disability stopped under our rules.
• We must review their participation in the program and decide that the recipient’s continued participation in the program will likely result in them no longer receiving disability benefits.

Examples of appropriate programs may include:

• An Individualized Education Program (IEP) for youth aged 18 through 21.
• A VR agency using an individualized plan for employment.
• Support services using an individualized written employment plan.
• A written service plan with a school under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• An approved Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS).

The timing of participation in these programs matters for Section 301 eligibility. A person must be participating in the program before our first decision during an age-18 redetermination or medical CDR. Additionally, Section 301 benefits can also continue if program participation changes within 90 days. For example, if an IEP ends and they sign a written plan with a VR within 90 days, Section 301 benefits can continue.

For more information, read our publication, Qualifying for Benefit Continuation After You Turn 18, or visit our Youth Toolkit webpage.

Please share this important information with your members, colleagues, affiliates, and other interested parties, especially foster care and youth transition programs.

Sincerely,

Dawn Bystry
Associate Commissioner
Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
OEA.Net.Post@ssa.gov