Plan to Achieve Self Support
PASS Resources
Common Social Security Program Acronyms
AWIC Area Work Incentives Coordinator
BPQY Benefits Planning Query; SSA 2459
BWE Blind Work Expenses
CDB Childhood Disability Benefits
CDR Continuing Disability Review
CWIC Community Work Incentives Coordinator
DDS Disability Determination Services
DPN Disability Program Navigator
EN Employment Network
EPE Extended Period of Eligibility
EXR Expedited Reinstatement
FBR Federal Benefit Rate
FICA Federal Insurance Contributions Act
IDA Individual Development Account
IRWE Impairment Related Work Expense
PABSS Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security
PASS Plan to Achieve Self-Support
PESS Property Essential to Self-Support
SEIE Student Earned Income Exclusion
SGA Substantial Gainful Activity
SSA Social Security Administration
SSDI Social Security Disability Insurance
SSI Supplemental Security Income
SSPS Social Security Programs Section (within DOR)
TANF Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
TPR Timely Progress Reviews
TTW Ticket To Work and Self Sufficiency Program
TWP Trial Work Period
UWA Unsuccessful Work Attempt
VR Vocational Rehabilitation
WIPA Work Incentive Planning and Assistance Programs
WISE Work Incentive Seminar Events
Glossary of Terms:
Abandonment: Abandonment occurs when the PASS participant loses the intent to pursue the occupational goal.
POMS SI 00870.002 A1
Countable Income: Of the income an SSI recipient earns or otherwise receives, Social Security only considers a portion of it when determining the amount of the SSI payment. Because income, earned or unearned, will reduce the amount of the SSI benefit, certain exclusions are applied so as not to penalize the SSI recipient for earning income. The amount that Social Security actually deducts from the SSI amount is the Countable Income. This is also the amount that is an "Optimal" PASS contribution for most individuals with earned income because the individual will still have the same amount of money to live on each month.
Deferred Expense: This term refers to deferral of the decision on whether to allow a particular expense until the individual reaches a particular milestone on which the need for ht expense is predicated.
POMS SI 00870.002 A3
Goal Feasibility: A goal is feasible when there is a reasonable chance that the individual will be able to perform the work associated with the occupational goal taking into account his/her impairment and the limitations imposed by it, age, strengths, and abilities.
POMS SI 00870.006 A3
Viability: The plan must be realistic considering the individual's education and training needs, assistive technology required, necessary interval steps, other needs, and whether the person will have sufficient means to cover PASS expenses, living expenses, and other necessary expenses.
POMS SI 00870.006 A4
Occupational Goal: The occupational goal of a PASS is the job or business in which the individual hopes to be employed or self-employed at the end of the PASS. In supported-employment situations, the occupational goal may be to work more independently in an existing job.
POMS SI 00870.002 A7
PASS Cadre: The word “Cadre” refers to a group of trained personnel. In this case a PASS Cadre is a group of PASS Specialist who are trained in all of the functions and regulations of the Plan to Achieve Self-Support.
PASS Specialist: An individual trained to evaluate, track, and implement Social Security’s PASS work incentive. They also play an important role in outreach and training to beneficiaries and other interested groups.
Retroactivity: A PASS can be started with the earliest month in which the individual was entitled to SSI and was incurring expenses or setting aside money for future expense related to the occupational goal.
POMS SI 00870.007 B2
Stabilization: Stabilization is a supported-employment term that refers to the point at which, following intensive job coaching, the individual has reached a designated hourly work goal, but still may need some level of job coaching and/or counseling. POMS SI 00870.002 A8
Unallowed Expenses: No expense can be allowed that is not purchased by the individual or deemor; is for items or services that the individual can readily obtain for free; is for items or services for which the individual will be promptly reimbursed; reflects an outstanding debt unrelated to the current PASS or a prior PASS or was in existence prior to the current PASS; or an expense used to reduce countable income after the start-up period.
POMS SI 00870.006 C
VR Appraisal: A VR appraisal is any process of measurement of an individual's level of vocational functioning. Appraisal is often used as an umbrella term that covers both vocational assessment and vocational evaluation.
POMS SI00870.002 A11
Resources:
Social Security Administration’s Red Book: www.socialsecurity.gov/redbook
Information and Benefits Calculators: www.disabilitybenefits101.org
PASS Application: http://www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-545.html
PASS Cadres: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/passcadre.htm
Toolkits, webinars and other Resources: www.talentknowsnolimits.info
Directory of Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) projects: http://ssa.gov/work/WIPA.html (Often have benefits planners who can help write a PASS plan)
PASS Cadres:
Anaheim, CA
Covering Los Angeles, Orange County, Kern County, Ventura County
888-280-9412 ext 22632 or 22606
Roseville, CA
Covering Nevada; Mid California, Fresno, Placerville, parts of Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara
866-964-1828 ext 10516
Sacramento, CA
Covering Chico, Rancho Cordova, Redding, parts of Sacramento, Susanville, Yreka 877-326-0103 ext 28318
San Diego, CA
Covering San Diego, Riverside, Imperial and San Bernardino Counties; Hawaii; Arizona;
Pacific Islands
855-820-0097 ext. 24060 or ext. 24059
San Francisco, CA
Covering San Francisco, South and East Bay Counties, Marin and Monterey Counties
866-964-1726 ext 19742
Santa Rosa, CA
Covering Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, Solano, Napa, Lake and Yuba Counties
877-890-8459 ext 21844
866-964-1726 ext 19742
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