How do I qualify for continued payment under Section 301?
If we find that you no longer have a disability due to medical improvement, or if you are age 18 and we find that your eligibility ends because you do not meet the adult requirements for disability, your benefit payments usually stop. However, 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. To qualify for continued payments under Section 301, you must meet all the requirements below:
- You must be participating in an appropriate program of the VR or similar services that began before your disability ends under our rules.
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We must review your program and decide that your continued participation in the program will increase the likelihood of your permanent removal from the disability benefit rolls.
What is an appropriate program of VR or similar services?
Here are some examples of appropriate programs:
- An individualized education program (IEP) for an individual age 18 through 21.
- An individual work plan (IWP) with an employment network (EN) under the Ticket to Work program.
- A Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agency using an individualized plan for employment (IPE).
- A program of VR services, employment services, or other support services carried out under a similar, individualized written plan with either an agency of the federal government, American Job Center, or another provider of service approved by us.
- A Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS).
How long may my benefits continue?
Under Section 301, your benefits may continue until:
- You complete your program.
- Your participation in the program stops.
- We decide that your continued participation in the program will not increase the likelihood of your permanent removal from the disability benefit rolls.