If you have expenses that are:

*Necessary for work;*Paid out of your pocket and not reimbursed by Medicaid, the Department of Rehabilitative Services, or other sources; *Related to your disability; *Reasonable,

then the Social Security Administration can deduct the value of these expenses from your gross wage amount to determine if the work activity is substantial.

Another deduction the Social Security Administration can use is Subsidy. If you receive extra help or supervision, or if you become hired through a special project or by a friend, it might be possible that what you receive in pay is higher than what it would be if you didn’t have that extra assistance. The Social Security Administration is interested in how much you can make without extra help. Because of this, the Social Security Administration deducts the value of that extra help or the difference between what you produce and what your non-disabled peers produce when determining if your work demonstrates the ability to perform Substantial Gainful Activity. If you have a job coach, the Social Security Administration may also be able to deduct the amount of your pay that you earned while the job coach was helping you.

Once you have completed your Trail Work Period, the Social Security Administration will “cease” your benefits the first time you demonstrate Substantial Gainful Activity. Your benefits won’t stop immediately. Instead, you will be due payment for the Cessation month and two additional months, called the “grace period.”

OTHERS TO CONSIDER:

Work Incentives—Plans for Achieving Self Support, Impairment Related Work Expenses, Blind Work Expenses, Student Earned Income Exclusions, etc.;

Healthcare—Continuation of Medicaid and Medicare Coverage;

How other federal, state, and local programs—TANF, Childcare Assistance Program, Section 8 Housing Vouchers, etc.—are impacted by employment; and other SSI and/or SSDI issues.