DB101 California - Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS): Frequently Asked Questions

Disability Benefits 101: working with a disability in California

Printer-Friendly

E-Mail This Page to a Friend

1) What is a Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)?

2) How can I get help when applying for a PASS?

4) Who is eligible for a PASS?

6) What will I have to do to participate in a PASS?

7) Are there any medical eligibility requirements to enroll in a PASS?

8) Does what I have in the bank and what I own affect my eligibility for a PASS?

9) How do I prepare to apply for a PASS?

10) How soon can I be eligible for benefits from a PASS?

11) Can I qualify for a PASS while I am eligible for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program?

12) Can I qualify for a PASS if I am only eligible for SSDI?

13) Can I qualify for a PASS while I am eligible for Medi-Cal (Medicaid) health coverage?

14) Can I qualify for a PASS if I'm on Section 8?

15) How do I stay enrolled/eligible in a Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)?

16) Are there rules for immigrants to qualify for a PASS?

17) Does working have an affect on a PASS

18) How does a PASS work with Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)?

19) Are there resources to see successful PASS plans?

20) Are there other Social Security Work Incentive Programs?

21) What is the difference between a PASS and an Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE) or Blind Work Expense (BWE)?

22) When does my PASS begin?

1) What is a Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)?
A PASS allows SSI recipients to set aside income and resources for a specified work goal. The purpose of a PASS is to assist you in obtaining items, services, or skills needed to reach your work goal. The job that you want should allow you to earn enough to reduce or eliminate your need for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

2) How can I get help when applying for a PASS?
Social Security's PASS Cadres are PASS experts. Their job is to help individuals formulate a plan and apply successfully for a PASS. You can find your local Cadre in the California PASS Experts Directory.

Under Supplemental Security Income (SSI) rules, any income that you receive will reduce your SSI benefit. But, if you have an approved PASS, you can use that income to pay for the items needed to reach your work goal.

Social Security will not count the money that is set aside under a PASS plan when deciding your monthly SSI benefit. This means you will get a higher SSI payment. Getting a PASS can also allow you to receive an SSI check if your income or resources are currently above the limits.

4) Who is eligible for a PASS?

To be eligible to use a PASS you must:

want to work;
be eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) because of disability or blindness; and
have other income and/or resources to complete a work goal.

Note: SSI recipients who receive benefits because they are above age 65 can only qualify for a PASS if they were receiving SSI because of disability or blindness in the month before their 65th birthday.

5) What can I use a PASS for?
You can use a PASS to set aside income and resources to use for reaching a specific work goal. A PASS can allow you to purchase equipment, services, or training. For example, a PASS can be used towards going to school for specialized training for a job. It can also be used towards starting your own business.

6) What will I have to do to participate in a PASS?
To participate in a PASS you will need to have: a written plan; a work goal; a reasonable time frame for meeting your work goal; and an explanation of the expenses necessary to achieve the work goal. Note: If your PASS plan is for self-employment, you must provide a detailed business plan that gives a description of how you intend to make this business succeed.

7) Are there any medical eligibility requirements to enroll in a PASS?
Yes. To be able to use a PASS you must continue to meet Social Security’s requirements for disability or blindness. Social Security will also consider any medical conditions when they decide if you have a reasonable work goal. For example, they may ask you to revise your PASS if you have trouble standing for long periods of time and want to work as a traffic officer.

8) Does what I have in the bank and what I own affect my eligibility for a PASS?
Yes. To be eligible for a PASS, you must meet the resource requirements for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). You are allowed to have $2,000 in resources ($3,000 for a couple), one house that you live in, and one car. See the glossary for other resource exclusions. If you have resources above the eligibility limits, you can set aside the excess resources as part of your PASS.

9) How do I prepare to apply for a PASS?

Creating a PASS requires that you have a work goal and an explanation of how you will be able to accomplish this goal.

If you currently do not have a clear work goal or a clear way to achieve it, you may consider working with organizations like your state Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.

It can be very beneficial to work with a local PASS expert when starting this process.

Note: If your PASS plan is for self-employment, you must provide a detailed business plan that gives a description of how you intend to make this business succeed.

10) How soon can I be eligible for benefits from a PASS?
If you turn in all the required documents and fill out everything correctly, Social Security will usually process the application in one to three months.

11) Can I qualify for a PASS while I am eligible for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program?
Yes. SSDI counts as income for the PASS program. You can set aside all but $20 of your SSDI benefit for a PASS.

12) Can I qualify for a PASS if I am only eligible for SSDI?

Maybe. If setting aside your SSDI would allow you to meet SSI's income requirements, then you could qualify for both SSI and PASS.

You can set aside all but $20 of your SSDI benefit. You will then receive benefits from the SSI program and cannot get more than the maximum SSI payment for the state where you live. You will need to live on the SSI payment and use your other income to pay for the necessary expenses to achieve your goal.

13) Can I qualify for a PASS while I am eligible for Medi-Cal (Medicaid) health coverage?
Yes. The additional resources in an approved PASS will not jeopardize your eligibility for Medi-Cal or In-Home Supportive Services. However, if your PASS ends you will need to spend down any additional resources.

14) Can I qualify for a PASS if I'm on Section 8?
Yes. The additional resources in an approved PASS will not impact your eligibility for Section 8. However, you may need a letter from the PASS Cadre for the HUD Section 8 verifications.

15) How do I stay enrolled/eligible in a Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)?

To stay enrolled in a PASS, you need to follow your written plan. If you need to make changes, or are unable to complete the plan temporarily, you need to contact Social Security immediately. This will ensure that the money you set aside in the PASS will not be counted as income or resources and jeopardize your benefits. Your acceptance letter from Social Security will include instructions on who to contact.

16) Are there rules for immigrants to qualify for a PASS?
Yes. The requirements for PASS are the same for all beneficiaries of Social Security Disability Programs. To qualify for a PASS you must be a legal United States resident or qualified alien.

17) Does working have an affect on a PASS
Yes. If you work you may be able to set aside more money for your work goal. The money you earn that is put into a PASS is not counted as income, so you can continue working and receiving SSI.

18) How does a PASS work with Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)?

If you are participating in a federally funded IDA programs, you can save money and receive a match without jeopardizing SSI or Medi-Cal benefits. If you have an IDA that receives federal funding from block grants under Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) or Assets for Independence Act (AFIA), savings cannot be considered as assets.

IDA programs that are not federally funded can count as assets and affect SSI eligibility unless the IDA is approved as part of a PASS plan.

19) Are there resources to see successful PASS plans?
Yes. You can see a list of successful PASS plans at The University of Montana Rural Institute.

20) Are there other Social Security Work Incentive Programs?
Social Security has a number of programs to help people on SSI or SSDI go to work. Social Security publishes The Red Book, which summarizes their work incentive programs.

21) What is the difference between a PASS and an Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE) or Blind Work Expense (BWE)?

A PASS can be used to exclude unearned income (like an SSDI benefit), earned income (like wages from a job), and resources. IRWEs and BWEs can only be deducted from earned income.

When determining your countable income, you can't exclude an expense as both an IRWE and a PASS. However, if you're excluding something under a PASS, you can also exclude it as an IRWE for the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) determination. When both can apply, Social Security will use the exclusion that helps you the most.

22) When does my PASS begin?
Your PASS will usually become effective the month it is submitted or in the month that you indicate your plan will begin. In certain situations, you can have your PASS applied one or two months prior to the beginning of your plan.

. Disclaimers. Privacy.