Meeting the Needs
of Youth with DisabilitiesMeeting the Needs
of Youth with Disabilitiespublished: October 1998
Jointly developed by:
The Study Group, Inc.
SSI Work Incentives and Transitioning Youth Project
National Transition Network
The successful transition of students with disabilities from school to work and independent living and community participation, is a focal point of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 (IDEA) and a major policy initiative within the U.S. Department of Eduction, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). For more than two decades OSEP, in cooperation with state and local education agencies, has stimulated the development of transition programs and services through research, model demonstration, and training initiatives.
Transition planning for students with disabilities is a critical element of each student’s IEP beginning at age 14 (or younger, if appropriate). IDEA 97 defines transition services as "a coordinated set of activities that is designed within an outcome-oriented process which promotes movement from school to postschool activities, including postsecondary education, vocational training, integrated employment, continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation." A student’s specific needs, preferences, and interests define the services that can be included in their transition plan.
At age 16, the transition component of the IEP must include a statement of needed transition services for the child including, as appropriate, a statement of the interagency responsibilities or other linkages with adult service providers and support systems that will be required to assure postschool opportunities to participate in community living and employment. For a number of students, accessing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) work incentives through their local social security office can be an important support for employment and can be incorporated into transition planning. The transition planning component of the IEP provides an opportunity to explore the benefits of the SSI program with students and parents in relation to other adult programs and opportunities which support youth with disabilities in successful transition to independence and community living.
Through its Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI), the Social Security Administration shares the U.S. Department of Education’s commitment to supporting transition-age students as they prepare for entry into the workforce. Providing monthly cash payments, SSI can be a valuable resource to eligible transition students and their families. Students receiving SSI benefits may also use the SSI program’s work incentives, which are designed to increase their overall income while engaging in employment during and after secondary education. SSI work incentives available to transition-age students with disabilities are: Earned Income Exclusion; Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE); Impairment-Related Work Expense (IRWE); Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS); and Blind Work Expenses (BWE). While not as applicable to secondary education students, the work incentive Property Essential for Self-support (PESS) may also be considered in the transition planning process as a postsecondary option.
For a student with a disability to benefit from these work incentives, she/he must be receiving or eligible to receive SSI cash benefits and be engaged in paid work experiences as part of their transition program (Community-Based Vocational Education [CBVE]). Beginning at age 14 (or younger, if appropriate), SSI work incentives can be incorporated into a student’s IEP/transition plan. Planning for the use of SSI benefits and incentives early in the transition process can provide excellent opportunities for students, parents, school personnel, and other IEP/transition team members to identify and explore employment opportunities while the student is still in school, and upon graduation.
Some students are also eligible to receive benefits under Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSDI is a program designed to provide assistance to individuals who have worked and paid social security taxes for enough years to be covered under social security and meet SSA’s income and disability eligibility criteria. SSDI benefits are paid to children 18 or older who were disabled before the age of 22, if they have a parent who is receiving social security retirement or disability benefits, or is deceased. Some students receiving SSDI benefits may also be eligible for SSI benefits. The focus of this handbook, however, is the SSI program and its work incentives, not SSDI. For detailed information on SSDI, contact your local SSA office.
The audience for Handbook on Supplemental Security Income Work Incentives and Transition Students is school personnel and any other individuals involved in the transition planning process for students with disabilities.
The handbook has two purposes:
The handbook provides an overview of the SSI program as it applies to transition students; SSI work incentives; and the role school personnel can play in assisting students and parents in using these benefits in the transition process to enhance postsecondary outcomes. In addition, the appendices include a glossary of SSA and SSI related terms; common concerns and questions raised by students and parents regarding the SSI program; steps involved in the SSI application process; applicants’ rights as defined by SSA; PASS application; resources for obtaining more detailed information on topics introduced in this handbook; and a listing of regional social security offices.
SSA decides whether an individual student is eligible for SSI benefits, including work incentives. Most of these decisions are made at the community level by local and regional SSA offices and state Disability Determination Services (DDS). Parents, students, and school personnel can seek further information and guidance from their local SSA office when exploring the potential benefits of the SSI program and its work incentives.
To obtain the location of your local Social Security office, call 1-800-772-1213.
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