Customized Self-Employment Part 10: Benefits Management for SSI Recipients

Course Code: REL-IDD-GHA-CSE10-V2

Hours: 2

Type: Online Course

Content Expiration Date: 10/31/2023

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the two types of criteria that must be met to be eligible for the Supplemental Security (SSI) program.
Name and describe at least two government work incentives programs that provide financial support to business owners who receive government benefits.
List one reason why developing a PASS is a helpful route for many individuals with disabilities.

Outline:
Section 1: Introduction About This Course Learning Objectives Section 2: Benefits Management for SSI Recipients Glossary of Terms for Financial and Benefits Management Eligibility for SSI SSI Cash Benefit Unearned Income and SSI An Example of Unearned Income From SSDI Earned Income and SSI Benefits of Self-Employment Income Averaging in SSI Retroactive Income Averaging The Formula for Calculating Countable Earned Income for SSI Net Earnings from Self-Employment (NESE): An Example SSI Reductions Reporting Income Annually to SSI John’s Hot Dog Business Summary Section 3: Work Incentives for SSI Recipients Work Incentives for SSI Recipients SSI Work Incentives: Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE) SSI Work Incentives: Blind Work Expenses SSI Work Incentives: Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) SSI Work Incentives: PASS Remember Carrie? Summary Section 4: PASS, PESS and Medicaid Resources PASS as a Source of Operating Capital for a Business Using a PASS for a Small Business PESS: Property Essential to Self-Support Benefits of PESS to Business Owners Who Are SSI Recipients Limitation on Using PESS SSI and Medicaid Access to Medicaid with No SSI Cash Benefit Individual Thresholds for SSI Medicaid Buy-In Program Let’s Review Summary Section 5: Putting It All Together Putting It All Together for Arlo Arlo: SSI and Medicaid Income Analysis Arlo: PASS Analysis Arlo: SSI Countable Unearned Income Analysis Arlo: SSI Countable Earned Income Calculation Arlo: PASS Contribution Calculation Arlo: Generating Income with a PASS Arlo’s Income Without a PASS Arlo: Resource Limits and SSI Arlo: SSI Benefits Analysis Summary Arlo: Work Incentives Work Incentives: Alert and Advantage Critical Thinking in Managing Benefits Strategies for Managing Benefits Arlo’s Success Summary Section 6: Put Into Practice Put Into Practice Creating Your Portfolio Section 7: Course Summary Summary Course Contributor Contact the Authors References Congratulations!

Instructor: Beth Keeton, MS

Ms. Keeton has worked closely with the state of Florida’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) to coordinate the development and implementation of a Self-Employment Certification curriculum. Florida VR has been the first in the nation to make such an extensive commitment to supporting self-employment as a possible outcome for all customers. Beth has served as the point-person for this effort and has been actively involved in all aspects of implementation including: developing the training curriculum; training VR vendors; and providing ongoing technical assistance to VR staff (both state and local), vendors, and customers. Additionally, Beth works with GHA on several other national projects, all of which are geared towards increasing the quantity and quality of employment outcomes through Customized Employment. For the last decade, Beth has provided extensive training and technical assistance throughout the country on positive behavior support, self-employment, customized employment, and benefits analysis. During her time on the various self-employment projects, she has developed expertise in all aspects of business plan development and has discovered a particular affinity for financial planning and Social Security benefits analysis. Disclosure: Beth Keeton, MS has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.

Instructor: Cary Griffin, MA

Cary Griffin is a Senior Partner at Griffin-Hammis Associates, a full service consultancy which specializes in building communities of economic cooperation, creating high performance organizations, and focuses on disability and employment. Cary maintains a strong relationship with the Rural Institute at The University of Montana, where he served as Director of Adult Community Services & Supports. He is the former Executive Director of the Center for Technical Assistance & Training (CTAT) in Denver. Cary provides training to administrative and direct service level professionals in the rehabilitation field; consultation to businesses and rehabilitation agencies regarding the employment of individuals with significant disabilities; conducts field-initiated research & demonstration; provides family & consumer case consultation; develops resources; and organizational development. Recently, Cary has been instrumental in designing self-employment protocols and training for individuals, agencies, and states. Disclosure: Cary Griffin, MA has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.

Instructor: David Hammis

David Hammis is Senior Partner at Griffin-Hammis Associates, a full service consultancy which specializes in building communities of economic cooperation, creating high performance organizations, and focuses on disability and employment. David maintains an ongoing relationship with the Rural Institute at The University of Montana, where he served as Project Director for four employment and Social Security outreach training and technical assistance projects, and now serves as an Organizational Consultant for the Rural Institutes Rural Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment Expansion Design Project. Dave works with organizations nationally and internationally on benefits analysis, supported employment, supported entrepreneurial employment, and employment engineering. Disclosure: David Hammis has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.

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To earn continuing education credit for this course you must achieve a passing score of 80% on the post-test and complete the course evaluation.

Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.