Disability Benefits 101: Working with a disability in California
Glossary: Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)
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Assets for Independence Act (AFIA)

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Legislation that established IDA programs for non-TANF applicants. The three goals of AFIA include: providing individuals and families with incentives to save earned income, increasing self-sufficiency, and improving the community.

Benefits Planner

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A trained expert who can help you understand or apply for benefit programs. Their goal is to help you avoid financial complications while developing a sustainable plan for the future. To find a benefits planner in California, use the DB101 Benefits Planner Directory.

Blind

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Blindness in Social Security disability programs is "statutory blindness," which means:
  • You have a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in your better eye, even while you are wearing a correcting contact lens or glasses in that eye; or
  • You have a limitation in the field of vision of your better eye, so that:
    • You have a contraction of peripheral visual fields to 10 degrees from the point of fixation, or
    • The widest diameter of your visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees, or
    • You have a contraction of peripheral visual fields to 20 percent or less visual field efficiency.

If you have a visual impairment that is not "blindness" as defined above, but your reduced vision (alone or in combination with other disabilities) prevents you from working, you may still be eligible for SSI benefits.

Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)

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The federal government pays benefits planners in communities around the country to help people think ahead about work incentives and benefits issues. CWIC'S are benefits planners who are trained by the Social Security Administration to assist beneficiaries with programs including Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in addition to other related programs.

Disability (Definition used by Social Security for Adults)

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The inability to engage in any Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) due to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or last for a continuous period of at least 12 months.

A person must not only be unable to do his/her previous work but cannot, considering age, education, and work experience, engage in any other kind of SGA which exists in the national economy. It doesn't mattter whether such work exists in the immediate area, or whether a specific job vacancy exists, or whether the worker would be hired if he/she applied for work. The worker’s impairment(s) must be the primary reason for his/her inability to engage in SGA.

Earned Income (EI)

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Salaries, wages, tips, professional fees and other amounts received as pay for physical or mental work actually performed. Funds received from any other source are not included. (Contrast unearned income.)

Interval Steps

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Measurable milestones that show progress towards achieving a vocational goal in a Plan for Achieving Self-Support. For example, if the goal is to obtain a job, the job search would be considered an interval step.

Liquid Assets

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Cash or other property which can be converted to cash within 20 days, excluding non-work days. Liquid assets include: checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, promissory notes, mortgages, and life insurance policies.

Milestone

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A significant, visible step toward achieving a vocational goal.

Overpayment

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Payment that exceeds the approved benefit amount.

PASS

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A Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program that allows you to set aside income and resources for expenses related to a specific work goal. Income that you use for these expenses will not cause your SSI benefit to decrease. Resources that you spend on PASS expenses won't count towards the SSI limit.

PASS Cadre

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A group of experts who review, approve, and monitor Plans for Achieving Self-Support (PASS). To find a PASS cadre in California, click hereOffsite Link.

Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)

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A Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program that allows you to set aside income and resources for expenses related to a specific work goal. Income that you use for these expenses will not cause your SSI benefit to decrease. Resources that you spend on PASS expenses won't count towards the SSI limit.

Qualified Alien

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According to Social Security, you are considered a qualified alien if the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says you are in one of these categories:
  • Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence (LAPR) in the United States, including "Amerasian immigrant" as defined in Section 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 1988, as amended;
  • granted conditional entry under Section 203(a)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) as in effect before April 1, 1980;
  • paroled into the United States under Section 212(d)(5) of the INA for a period of at least one year;
  • refugee admitted to the United States under Section 207 of the INA;
  • granted asylum under Section 208 of the INA;
  • deportation is being withheld under Section 243(h) of the INA as in effect before April 1, 1997, or removal is withheld under Section 241(b)(3) of the INA; or
  • “Cuban or Haitian entrant” under Section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980 or in a status that is to be treated as a “Cuban or Haitian entrant” for SSI purposes.

Representative Payee

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An individual who receives benefits on someone else's behalf. Social Security conducts a careful investigation before appointing a relative, friend, or other interested party as the representative payee of individuals who need help managing their benefits.

Surrender Value

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If you were to cancel a life insurance policy prior to death or maturity, you would likely receive some portion of the full value of that policy. The amount you would receive is known as the “surrender value.” The surrender value of your policy should be written into it. If you do not know the surrender value, contact your policy administrator to find out. Not all policies have a surrender value (i.e. - burial insurance and many term insurance policies).

Unearned Income (UI)

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Funds received from sources for which no paid work activity is performed.

Disability benefits such as SSDI, SSI, short term disability insurance, and long term disability insurance; VA benefits; Workers' Compensation; income from a trust or investment; spousal support; dividends, profits, or funds received from any source other than work are all usually considered unearned income.

Work Goal

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The specific job an individual wishes to have after completing a Plan for Achieving Self-Support. Also known as a vocational or occupational goal.
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