Social Security - The Red Book - Resources for Youth

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Resources To Assist Youth With the Transition To A Successful Adulthood

Employment Supports/ National and Community Resources(Alphabetically Listed)	How These Resources Can Help You
Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Accounts	Do you have expenses related to blindness or disability that began prior to age 26? To learn more about ABLE accounts, go to the Internal Revenue Services’ website (https://www.irs.gov/), which provides a link to the proposed regulation Tax Benefit for Disability: IRC Section 529A.
AmeriCorps	Do you want to find a national volunteer opportunity suited to your particular skills, interests, and circumstances? For more information, go to the AmeriCorps website at https://www.americorps.gov.
American Job Centers	Are you looking for free education, employment, and training services to assist you with finding a job? American Job Centers (formerly known as One-Stop Career Centers) provide job seekers with a variety of tools and services to help them get back to work. You can locate your closest American Job Center at https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/service-locator.aspx.
Child Welfare Information Gateway	Are you looking for Support Services for Youth in Transition: Youth With Disabilities? This website provides resources that address the needs of transitioning youth with disabilities and offers strategies for developing appropriate support services for them, including State and local examples. For interactive links go to: https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/outofhome/independent/support/disabilities/.
Continued Payment Under a Vocational Rehabilitation or Similar Program (Section 301)	Has your medical condition improved and are you participating in a vocational rehabilitation or similar program, or are you a student with an individualized education plan (IEP)? If you are participating in an appropriate program of vocational rehabilitation (VR) or similar services, your benefits may continue until your participation in the program ends.
Foster Care Transition Toolkit	Do you have a disability and need additional resources or accommodations? Developed by the U.S. Department of Education, this toolkit helps youth currently in foster care and young adults formerly in foster care to access information and resources needed to begin their transition to your adulthood. To learn more, , see page 11 of the Toolkit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/foster-care/youth-transition-toolkit.pdf.
Get to Where You Want to Go	Are there youth with disabilities in your family? This resource guide, produced by the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, provides tips and resources to help plan for adulthood and life after high school. Visit https://www.beforeage18.org to get information on tips and resources.
Grants, Scholarship, Fellowships, and Gifts	Are you a student receiving a grant, scholarship, fellowship, or gift used for paying tuition, fees, or other necessary educational expenses at a college or vocational school? We will not count certain grants, scholarships, fellowships, and gifts as income and resources up to nine months for SSI purposes. Social Security does not count any portion used to pay for tuition, fees, and other necessary educational expenses at any educational institution including vocational and technical education. Read the policy at https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0500830455.
Hands on Banking/ El futuro en tus manos®	Are you interested in learning more about financial responsibility? Hands on Banking/ El futuro en tus manos® is a program available in both English and Spanish that teaches people in all stages of life about the basics of responsible money management, including how to create a budget, save and invest, borrow responsibly, buy a home, and establish a small business. Visit https://www.handsonbanking.org for more information.
Health Insurance for Children	Are you looking for free or low-cost health insurance coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program? Ask questions about children’s health insurance and how to apply, by calling 1-877-KIDS NOW (1-877-543-7669) to connect to an agency in your state. In addition, you can contact your state’s family-to-family health information center, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration. Visit https://www.familyvoices.org/ncfpp/ online to find a center in your state. You can find a low cost, affordable health center using the search box at https://www.hrsa.gov/index.html and information on how to enroll in health insurance through a Health Insurance Marketplace at 1-800-318-2596 or https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/.
Helping Young People with Disabilities Successfully Transition to Adulthood	Do you need support with transitioning to adulthood? Youth with disabilities leaving foster care have an expanded early application period of up to 180 days, which may help facilitate a smoother transition to adult SSI benefits. A Social Security Matters blog post explains more. See the blog post at https://blog.ssa.gov/helping-young-people-with-disabilities-successfully-transition-to-adulthood/.
Individual Development Accounts (IDA)	Do you work and have a goal to save for buying a home, going to school, or starting a business? An IDA can help you. For more information visit https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/programs/afi.
Individualized Education Plan	As a student with a disability in elementary or secondary education, do you have an Individualized Education Plan? Learn about the Individualized Education Plan at https://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/iep/.
Infographic: Medicaid and Children And Youth With Special Health Care Needs	Would you like to know more about Medicaid for children and youth with special health care needs and their families? The Catalyst Center at Boston University published a newsletter for this purpose. Visit https://www.ciswh.org/ and search for Infographic: Medicaid and Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs.
Job Corps	Are you a young person looking for career assistance? A free education and training program that helps young people learn a career, earn a high school diploma or GED, and find and keep a good job. For eligible young people at least 16 years of age that qualify as low income, provides all-around skills needed to succeed in a career and in life. To learn more about Job Corps and find a Job Corps program near you go to: https://www.jobcorps.gov.
MyMoney.gov	Do you need assistance with managing your finances? MyMoney.gov provides financial information on a variety of topics, including how to earn, save and invest, protect, spend, and borrow. Go online to https://www.mymoney.gov/Pages/default.aspx to learn more.
Neighborhood Navigator Tool	How can this resource help you? This application was created by the American Academy of Family Physicians. This interactive tool can support referrals from doctors, service providers, counselors, families, and caregivers. Visit the Neighborhood Navigator Tool online at https://www.familydoctor.org/neighborhood-navigator/ to get information on thousands of local social services that can assist with needs like childcare, housing, transportation, employment, and legal services.
Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)	Do you want to set aside money to pursue an employment goal, self-employment, or education? Information is provided later in this publication and on our website: https://www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/passcadre.htm.
Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS)	How can this resource can help you? PABSS organizations strive to protect the legal rights of Social Security disability beneficiaries who want to work. They assist youth in transition in identifying and removing barriers to employment and independence and can provide information about obtaining vocational rehabilitation services. To locate the PABSS organization in your state, contact the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 (TTY 1-866-833-2967) Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time. You can also locate your PABSS at https://choosework.ssa.gov/findhelp/.
Section 504	As a student with a disability in elementary or secondary education, do you have a Section 504 plan? Learn about the Section 504 plan at https://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/section504/.
SSI Eligibility for Students Temporarily Studying Abroad	Are you eligible for SSI benefits while outside the United States on an international academic program? Learn about how certain individuals may be absent from the United States for up to one year and continue to receive SSI if they met certain conditions. For information about international exchange if you receive SSI benefits go to https://www.miusa.org/resource/tip-sheets/ssi/.
State Health Programs and Services	Are you looking for a Parent Center in your state? These Centers perform a variety of direct services for children and youth with disabilities, families, professionals, and other organizations that support them. Find a Parent Center at https://mchb.tvisdata.hrsa.gov/.
State’s Parent Center	Are you looking for a Parent Center in your state? Find a Parent Center at https://www.parentcenterhub.org/find-your-center/ .
State’s Vocational Rehabilitation Agency	Are you looking for a Vocational Rehabilitation Agency in your state? Find a vocational rehabilitation agency at https://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state
Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)	Are you under age 22, regularly attending school, and working? This process is explained later in this Book or online: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/studentEIE.html.
Think College	Are you a student thinking about college? Think College is a national organization focused on developing, expanding, and improving research and practice in inclusive higher education for students with intellectual disabilities. Learn about information to assist students, families, and educators with the college search at https://thinkcollege.net/.
What You Need to Know About Your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) When You Turn 18	Do you need more information about SSI? Social Security developed a brochure describing key resources and information for youth with disabilities receiving SSI. It explains the age-18 redetermination and special SSI work incentives for people participating in special education, Vocational Rehabilitation, or working while attending school. Also, it includes information on ABLE accounts; health programs; and support from other places, such as American Job Centers. We mail the brochure each year to all SSI recipients ages 14-17 and their representative payees. It’s available online at https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-11005.pdf. You can also get a copy from your local office or by calling our toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Projects	How can this resource help you? Beginning at age 14, WIPA projects provide information and benefits counseling to help you understand how work and earnings can affect your benefits. To learn more about work incentives and to locate the nearest WIPA project, contact the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 (TTY 1-866-833-2967) Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time. You can also find information on WIPA projects at https://choosework.ssa.gov/findhelp/.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)-Eligible Training Programs	How can this resource help you? WIOA supports an integrated service delivery system and gives a framework through which states and local areas can leverage other federal, state, local, and philanthropic resources to support in-school and out-of-school youth. If you’re eligible for WIOA training services, you can find eligible training providers in your state. Local training services have an array of youth services to assist youth to prepare for post-secondary education and employment opportunities, attain skills training, and secure employment with career opportunities. To find out if you’re eligible, to learn more and ask about services, or to connect with your local American Job Center see link at https://www.servicelocator.org.
Youth.gov	Are you looking for programs and services focused on youth? This federal website provides resources about programs and services focusing on youth. For interactive links go to https://www.youth.gov/
YouthBuild	Are you looking for information on community services? YouthBuild engages young people to rebuild their communities and their lives by providing pathways to education, employment, or training. For more information on YouthBuild, visit https://www.youthbuild.org.
Youth in Transition: Youth Development and Leadership	Are you preparing for your transition to adulthood? The U.S. Department of Labor provides links to resources for youth with disabilities preparing to transition to adulthood. The site includes information on mentors and role models, cultivating leadership, education, employment, and more. For interactive links go to: U.S. Department of Labor - Youth.
Youth Program Finder	How can this resource help you? If you’re between the ages of 16 and 24, you may be able to find free job, career, and training assistance at a local youth program. Different programs offer different services, so try contacting a few programs to ask what kinds of assistance they offer. To locate a youth program, visit https://www.careeronestop.org/.

Please note: Social Security is not endorsing any particular non-federal government organization, program, or employees thereof by listing the organization or program in this publication. We include the names and contact information for organizations or programs only as a convenience to you.