Social Security/SSI/SSDI Beneficiaries

General Information

General Social Security & TTW Resources/Information

Work Incentives are tools and resources that Social Security makes available for people who want to try working but may need additional assistance to get to work.

Social Security's Red Book is the complete listing of work incentives available to both SSI and SSDI recipients.

These links provide additional information about who may qualify for disability benefits.

• Wisconsin's Disability Determination Bureau (DDB)
• Wisconsin's Disability Determination Bureau (DDB) Frequently Asked Questions

Other general resources

• Information about the Social Security Disability program: Social Security Disability Information Social
• Security Continuing Disability Review Disability Update Report online: SSA Form 455
• The official web site of the Social Security Administration (SSA): Social Security On-Line
• Information on how to get help from the Social Security Administration during the global COVID pandemic: How to Get Help from Social Security

If you are interested in applying for DVR services, you can contact your local office or apply on-line.

For additional information, contact: Dan Upp via email at daniel.upp@dwd.wisconsin.gov or by Phone (608) 405-4629; FAX (608) 266-1133

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI is a type of disability benefit that covers individuals with low income who have a disability that makes it difficult for them to engage in work activities.

SSI Work Incentives (DVR-17720-P)

Medicaid is the insurance type associated with SSI.

The following links provide information on what Medicaid is, who qualifies, different Medicaid programs within the State of Wisconsin, along with a link to apply online for this service.

• U.S. Government Medicaid Website
• Wisconsin's Medicaid Website

The Medicaid Purchase Plan or MAPP allows individuals that may no longer qualify for Medicaid due to working to purchase their own Medicaid. The link below has more information regarding the requirements and limitations of this work incentive:

Wisconsin Medicaid Fact Sheet

Other SSI Resources

The Department of Health Services' (DHS) web site contains information on SSI (including the SSI payment levels/chart).

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Spotlights

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

SSDI is a type of disability benefit that covers disabled workers who have paid into Social Security through FICA taxes. People receiving this benefit typically have earned enough "credits" or quarters of work to qualify.

SSDI Work Incentives (DVR-17717-P)

Medicare is the health insurance available to SSDI recipients.

The following links provide information on what Medicare is, who qualifies, how long it takes to get Medicare if on SSDI, the different parts of Medicare along with information on how it is different from Medicaid. There is also a number provided for those who have questions after reading the provided material.

• Medicare Website
• SSA's Medicare Website
• What is Medicare?

Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS)

This program, if approved by Social Security, would allow you to save money from other incomes beside your SSI/SSDI check to pay for things needed to achieve your employment goal. View the links below for more information regarding the requirements and limitation of this work incentive.

• Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS)
• PASS Plan Information (SSA)
• SSA PASS Form (SSA-545-BK)

Your Path to Government Benefits provides information on other programs that might be available to Wisconsin residents that might be helpful to them.

Ticket to Work (TTW)

This program allows people receiving benefits due to their own disability to receive employment services and supports from qualified providers including DVR. If you receive SSDI or SSI due to a disability and are between the age of 18 and 64, you automatically have the Ticket to Work from the Social Security Administration.

Your Ticket to Work is tied directly to your Social Security Number, so there is no need to present other information to use your Ticket

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

Substantial Gainful Activity Amounts change each year and are different for blind and non-blind individuals. The amount is important to understand as a person who is earning more than the monthly amount (net of impairment-related work expenses) is ordinarily considered to be engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity and no longer requires benefits.

Timely Progress Requirements (TPR)

By using your Ticket to access DVR services, Social Security will not do a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) on you if you are making "Timely Progress" toward working off benefits. The following are some resources on making Timely Progress:

• SSA TTW Table of Annual TPR
• TPR Tip Sheet

Work Incentive Seminar Events (WISE)

Below are links to the Work Incentive Seminar Events (WISE) put on by the Social Security Administration. These seminars are great at explaining work incentives available to individuals that get both SSI and SSDI and how they can help individuals return to work. These seminars are also archived and available for viewing at a later date if you are not able to attend at the actual time.

• Upcoming WISE Seminars
• Archived WISE Seminars

Other resources for Ticket to Work include:

• Social Security's Ticket to Work website for beneficiaries of disability benefits
• Ticket to Work and Partnership Plus for Consumers Receiving SSI or SSDI
• TTW's Frequently Asked Questions
• Understanding Ticket to Work (TTW)

Partnership Plus

Partnership Plus is a Social Security work incentive that assists people before and after taking part in DVR services. For those interested in working off benefits, Partnership Plus can offer seamless services from DVR to a Social Security provider called an Employment Network who can provide ongoing job retention, career advancement, and job change services to beneficiaries who have a Ticket to Work.

DVR provides intensive, up front services to consumers who have a Ticket to Work and may provide vocational guidance and counseling, education or training, assistive technology, and/or other necessary, reasonable, and appropriate services to consumers. When the consumer is employed and interested in working off benefits eventually or earning wages at substantial gainful activity level, a referral can be made to an Employment Network who can continue providing services and support to that individual for years after exit from DVR.

As long as the Ticket is assigned to an Employment Network within 90 days after exit from DVR, the Ticketholder will continue to be protected from Continuing Disability Reviews as long as they are making Timely Progress toward working off benefits or are currently earning wages above Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level.

These links provide information to staff regarding what Partnership Plus is and how it can be a benefit to serving DVR consumers:

• Partnership Plus: Partnering with the State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies
• Roles of Those Involved in Partnership Plus (DVR-17420-P)
• Working with an Employment Network (EN) that has a Partnership Plus Agreement / Flow Chart (DVR-17421-P)
• Summary of Partnership Plus (DVR-17419-P)