Youth Transition
Toolkit
Basics
of aSocial
Security
State as
Model
Employer
Disability
Benefits: Your
Training Series
First Step Towards Benefits
Planning
Overview
 Benefits
 Social
 Work
of accessing benefits and working
Security Disability Benefits
Incentives available
 Benefits
Planning Tools, Tips, Skills and
Resources
Benefits and
Transition Planning

Getting benefits can be your bridge to greater
independence – but it isn’t a lot of money to live
on…

Receiving benefits does not necessarily mean living
in poverty

Will lead you to working, becoming a tax payer and
you will be able to buy products and services you
need and want

Once benefits are accessed, learn the work
incentives!
Social Security
Disability Benefit
Programs
 Social
Security Administration (SSA)
 It
is very important to understand which program
your receive your benefits from and the
difference between the SSDI and SSI programs
 Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Based on your own work record or your parent’s work
record (Childhood Disability Benefits)
 Supplemental

Security Income (SSI)
Based on need
 SSI
and SSDI = “Concurrent Benefits”
How are SSI and SSDI
similar?

You must qualify as having a “disability”:
 To be eligible for SSI or SSDI, Social Security’s
definition of disability must be met
 You also must be unable to work at a certain level,
(which Social Security calls “Substantial Gainful
Activity”) for at least 12 months due to a physical or
mental impairment
 2012 Substantial Gainful Activity = $1010 or
$1690 for blind individuals

They both provide cash benefits and health insurance
How are SSI and SSDI
different?
 You
get SSI because you have a disability and
have low income and resources:
 You and/or your parents make under a certain
amount of money

You have less than $2000 in any of your bank or
savings accounts (called “assets” or “resources”)
 You
get SSDI because you have a disability, and
you or your parents have enough “work credits”
 You or your parents have worked and paid into
the “Social Security trust fund”
 You can have savings, there is no resource limit
How much SSI or
SSDI will I receive?
2012 California SSI Monthly Payment Rates




$854.40 (Individual-own household)
$625.17 (Individual-household of another)
$909.40 (Blind individual)
$680.17 (Blind-household of another)
SSDI Payment amounts are based upon you or your
parents’ Social Security earnings record
What benefits am I
on?

Benefits Planning Query (BPQY)
 A brief report with details about your SSI and/or
SSDI benefits, health coverage and work and
earnings history
 Request from your local Social Security Office
 Call the Social Security Administration (SSA) at:
800-772-1213 (voice); 800-325-0778 (TTY)
 To learn more about the BPQY see the “What
benefits am I on now?” Article on the DB101 home
page:
http://ca.db101.org
Medicare vs. Medi-Cal
 Both
are types of health insurance which are
provided to individuals with disabilities.
 Medicare – comes with SSDI or CDB
 Medi-Cal – comes with SSI, or you can get it by
applying at your local County Social Services
office
 You
can have Medi-Cal, Medicare, and/or private
health insurance at the same time
Medicare Card
Medi-Cal

Medi-Cal is a health
insurance program that pays
medical expenses for people
with low income and little or
no resources
Work Is Good and
Knowledge Is Power!

While working you will be earning Social Security credits that
can lead to SSDI eligibility and retirement benefits in the
future

In general, young people who get SSDI, CDB or SSI will be
better off financially when they go to work

Work Incentives differ among programs

Knowing how working may or may not affect benefits can
affect employment decisions and overall quality of life

Use Disability Benefits 101 and the benefits calculators –
planning is key!
www.db101.org
SSI and SSDI Work
Incentives
13
Benefits Planning
Tools, Skills and
Resources for Results

The Benefits Binder: your notebook and log of phone calls, office
visits, and names of service staff you contact. File original paycheck
stubs, government letters and receipts here.

Reporting Requirements: Who is responsible, when? If you have a
payee, the payee is responsible to report changes to Social Security.
If not, it’s the beneficiary. Report income and other life changes
timely

Know your appeal rights. A Notice of Action explains them.

Utilize Benefits Planning Tools and Resources: Disability Benefits
101 website (www.db101.org), and local benefits planners.
These tools, rules and skills can result in timely and improved customer
service with benefit programs
14
Mary’s Story

Receiving SSI and Medi-Cal benefits, living
independently, and going to community college

SSI benefits not enough to live on – interested in
going to work part-time but worried about losing
benefits

Visits www.disabilitybenefits101.org, learns she is
able to keep all benefits plus her earnings from a
part-time job at Target through the Student Earned
Income Exclusion work incentive program – can now
afford to go shopping!

Reports earnings to Social Security by sending in
paystubs, keeps track of paperwork in her benefits
binder