Supported
Employment Resources
Freedom to Work
Medicaid buy-in
With the
Freedom to Work Medicaid buy-in program you may start work or return to work
without losing your Medicaid benefits. The
program allows you to work more hours, earn more money, and have assets
totaling up to $75,000 as long as you continue to have a disability according
to the State of Michigan and are age 16 through 64 years old. Participants keep their Medicaid health
benefits by paying a monthly income-based premium. For more information, or to see if you are
eligible for the program, call or visit your local Department of Human Services
office (formerly Family Independence Agency).
Ticket to Work
The Ticket
to Work program is a Social Security Administration employment support program
for people with disabilities who would like to work. The program is part of the Ticket
to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. It was designed to remove barriers that were
influencing people’s decisions about going to work for fear of losing their
health care coverage. Employment
support services that you may have access to through the Ticket to Work program
include vocational rehabilitation, job search assistance, job training, resume
writing, and job coaching. For more
information, or to see if you are eligible for the services above, call the
Ticket to Work toll-free line at 1-866-968-7842 or visit http://www.yourtickettowork.com/.
Plan for Achieving
Self-Support (PASS)
PASS is a
Supplemental Security Income work incentive.
PASS is aimed at helping people with disabilities go to work or return
to work. With a Plan for Achieving
Self-Support you can get help setting aside money to pay for items or services
you need to accomplish your work goals.
For example, without losing your SSI benefits, you
could set aside money for a training program on how to start your own
business. For more information, contact
your local Social Security office or visit http://www.ssa.gov/work/ResourcesToolkit/pass.html.
Impairment-Related
Work Expenses (IRWE)
In order to
receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, a person has to be unable
to engage in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). The amount of money that you earn each month
must fall below a certain threshold for you to be eligible for SSI. IRWE means that the costs of certain items or
services that you need to work can be deducted from your monthly earnings so
that you are able to stay under the threshold and receive SSI. The deductions must be related to your
disability and be absolutely necessary for you to work. For more information, contact your local
Social Security office or visit http://www.ssa.gov/work/ResourcesToolkit/workincentiveschart.html.
Benefits Planning
Work
incentive programs and their benefits can be very confusing and difficult to
understand. There are people who can
help you understand which work incentives would be best for you. They are able to explain programs in detail so
that you can make informed choices about your work life. These services are free to all people
receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI) benefits. To locate a
benefits planner near you, call 1-866-968-7842 or visit http://
www. socialsecurity.gov/
work/ServiceProviders/BPAODirectory.html.
Supported
Employment Links
The
Official State of Michigan Website
Office of
Disability Employment Policy
APSE
(Formerly the Association for Persons in Supported Employment)
VCU
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Workplace Supports and Job
Retention
The
University of Montana Rural Institute:
Center for Excellence in Disability Education, Research, and Service
http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu/
The
Official Website of the U.S. Social Security Administration
Job
Accommodation Network
The New Freedom Initiative’s Online Resource
for Americans with Disabilities
http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/