Chatlog for 3-14-06 Webcast Presenter: Connie Ferrell MSchaefer says to (20:07): are you saying that if a person is concurrent and that person is writing a pass, u can use the ssdi money as pass money and use your work income for pass and still have trial work period will it be affected? Presenter says (20:07): You can exclude the ssdi and the wages from the income and resource test if you are using them for PASS expenses. However, trial work period mos. accumulate as always. Reuben says to (20:09): If a person obtains a job that matches the voc goal on the PASS but there are still several more expense items left on the PASS, can SSA say that the PASS has ended because the voc goal was achieved? Presenter says (20:10): Ideally, you would have estimated when those expenses would have been paid, and identified that date as anticipated date of completion of the PASS, however, if the expenses go beyond completion date the person can negotiate with the PASS specialist. alice Mann says to (20:10): Up to what age can a person develop a PASS plan? Presenter says (20:10): There's no maximum age for PASS development. You just needed to be on SSI prior to 65th b-day. MSchaefer says to (20:11): so that means i will have a 9 month twp and epe then lead to termination right ? Presenter says (20:11): yes, if earnings are above twp and sga amounts joeleb says to (20:12): On average, what is the turn around time for a PASS to be approved by the PASS Cadre Presenter says (20:12): it varies by work load but I'm told that it's about a month unless the plan needs further development. MSchaefer says to (20:12): i was told 5 days after the cadre gets the pass Presenter says (20:12): Yes. MMeade says to (20:13): If a PASS is terminated, either by SSA or by the beneficiary, what happens with the accumulated amount of money in the PASS account? Presenter says (20:13): It counts as a resource beginning the first of the month following termination. johnd says to (20:13): So, a concurrent SSDI/SSI beneficiary on an approved PASS, if he/she has earned income - has to be continuously watching for TWP usage, Cessation/Grace period, EPE and all the rest, if his gross earnings are over current SGA? Presenter says (20:13): Yes. MSchaefer says to (20:15): I spoke to a pass cadre in Baltimore and well i called them and ask them for the address that my consumers will have to mail it to they said that the consumer have to go through ssa office and have a prior questions & they will send it to pass cadre Presenter says (20:15): The process describe in the POMS is that the PASS should be submitted to the local field office. the CR then assures it is complete and sends to PASS specialist. MSchaefer says to (20:15): 2000 resource limits and 860 sga Presenter says (20:15): More explanation needed. Reuben says to (20:16): The completion date is the end of 2006 but because the person got the job when the opportunity presented itself, he was told that he achieved his voc goal and that an amendment had to be completed in order to obtain the other services. Presenter says (20:16): an amendment isn't necessarily a difficult process. so encourage client to file it. annedenise says to (20:17): Is income excluded in the PASS counted by Medicaid? Presenter says (20:17): 48 states Medicaid divisions exclude income that is excluded by PASS. Indiana and one other state (?) do not. Check and make sure. MSchaefer says to (20:18): is it true that you have to go to ssa office and give it to them not mail it to the cadre Presenter says (20:18): some PASS specialists will accept it directly. but the official correct method is to send to the local field office. alice Mann says to (20:19): When the PASS is approved or disapproved do they notify the person directly or the Benefits Specialist working with the person? Presenter says (20:19): They notify person directly and only notify benefits spec. if client checked box on app to do so. Lety says to (20:19): If the PASS involves the purchase of a vehicle and the monthly amount being set into the PASS is sufficient to purchase the car within a year, can that occur even though the person has not obtained their voc goal? Presenter says (20:20): yes. but it would not mean that they had completed the PASS necessarily. MSchaefer says to (20:20): how come some ssa office dislikes pass ? Presenter says (20:20): claims reps are very busy with high case loads and they perceive PASS as very time consuming. bmann says to (20:22): So, is the distinction between VTR and PMV just that with VTR, the individual is making some contribution to the household whereas with PMV they are making no contribution to expenses? Presenter says (20:22): VTR means they live in someone else's household and make no contribution, PMV means they live either in their own home or in anther's household and receive partial help with household expenses. annedenise says to (20:23): A ft college student who has ssi/ssdi normally doesn't work, but wants to work at a camp this summer and do a pass, SETTING ASIDE all the income in the PASS for the next school year's expenses, etc. When doing the PASS, should the vocational goal be the Presenter says (20:23): the voc goal should be the job they hope to obtain after completing the degree. johnd says to (20:24): If a person has gross wages over a certain (say rather large) amount, but wants BPAO assistance with a PASS, do you sort of talk about believability of that person with a disability being able to live on say $603/mo.? Presenter says (20:24): the question would be how would they lower their need for ssi benefit with a new voc. goal if they are already earning a rather high amount. Reuben says to (20:25): ..and so it is true that if the person starts on the job identified as the voc goal, the PASS is terminated even though there are still other services left on the original PASS? Presenter says (20:25): could be, but isn't always alice Mann says to (20:26): How does a PASS work with a person who is receiving a stipend for work? for instance Americorps/VISTa? Presenter says (20:26): the stipend would either be earned or unearned income so would affect total accountable income. therefore they could potentially be a PASS candidate. sandy says to (20:28): My client is afraid she will not be able to complete a long term PASS for a car because of her medical condition. She was told the car could be repossessed and her credit will go bad. How can I encourage her to continue or should I be encouraging her? Presenter says (20:28): Technically she wouldn't have a PASS for a car. she would have a PASS for a job. the question is whether she thinks she can sustain employment and the activities to achieve it. if not, you may want to help her brainstorm what would help to sustain employment Reuben says to (20:28): Is SSA required to provide notice of approval in writing and what expenses are approved? My client never received anything in writing, only telephone calls. Presenter says (20:28): yes, they have to notify the person in writing. MMeade says to (20:29): If a PASS is nearing it's completion date, the vocational goal has been met to some degree, but the individual is having difficulty maintaining under the stress and may have to look at another type of job, would you suggest amending the PASS? Presenter says (20:29): if they need more time to stabilize in that job, they should amend the PASS finish date if they need a different job, and have related expenses they should terminate the current PASS and do a new one. alice Mann says to (20:30): Is there a way to type unto the PASS application online? Presenter says (20:30): not yet annedenise says to (20:30): I am told by my SSA contact that PASS can be retroactive - that is, applicable to vocationally related items bought before the PASS was done. What is your experience with this? Presenter says (20:30): yes. bmann says to (20:31): If your state supplements the federal ssi rate, can you set aside the entire ssi rate or only the federal portion of the ssi rate? Presenter says (20:31): you can set aside other funds up to the FBR plus state supplement. you can never set aside the ssi money or state supplement money. johnd says to (20:31): Sometimes PASS inquiries come from SSDI or other unearned income beneficiaries in the $1200 + income brackets. Do you talk to them about cost of living issues, SSI level income vs. what they're currently getting by on? Presenter says (20:31): yes by all means annedenise says to (20:32): If a person sets aside all earned income in a PASS, and later gets an income tax refund, should that money also be put in the PASS account? Presenter says (20:32): tax refunds are already excluded by ssa so no need. alice Mann says to (20:32): Can we develop a feasible PASS plan if the person is currently working and earning an average of 1200 per month but only works seasonal during tax time. Can we develop a plan for adaptive aids to assist her in applying and hopefully fulfill her goal of work Presenter says (20:32): certainly. sandy says to (20:34): Her vocational goal is to become a teacher but she needs car to get her to school. Long term of 5 years. What if she gets sick and can't complete school. Presenter says (20:34): then she should ask the PASS specialist to suspend her PASS while recuperating. there's no penalty for trying and then life causing detours but make sure she speaks to the PASS specialist right away. annedenise says to (20:35): If a person's PASS vocational goal is FT work, but she can only find PT work, should she take that and then amend the PASS? Presenter says (20:35): the individual needs to decide whether they are willing to settle for the PT if so they probably need to terminate the PASS, but they could accept PT and continue pursing full time under the existing PASS, if they choose. Reuben says to (20:36): If the funds accumulated in the PASS are not used, can the recipient just send the entire amount back to SSA to avoid any overpayment? Presenter says (20:36): yes johnd says to (20:37): Can person's gross wages ever get so high as to make them an unlikely candidate for PASS? Presenter says (20:37): yes, if they are high enough that the person is already self sufficient (countable income is over FBR). But what if it is only seasonal work? and their goal is towards year round employment? Presenter says (20:39): then they keep working towards year round employment, and they haven't met their voc goal until they get it.