4-22-09 Chatlog Question: I heard the monthly break down is for SSI and annual is for SSDI, so the monthly break down does not always match TWP/SGA amounts, it’s based on amounts received monthly, is this correct? admin : When you see monthly breakdowns on BPQYs they are on the SSI side. These are wages when they are PAID - title II wants to know when the income was earned - very different things! Question: When you use estimated earnings for SSI, how often do we advise the beneficiary to report their income? admin : Well, it depends. If the wages stay more or less the same, just leave the estimate alone and then report actuals at the annual redetermination. If the estimate starts to be "off", you should report actuals so that the estimate can be revised. Question: how can someone who is blind and without access to a fax machine report wages? admin : A person who is blind will probably need help since it is very much a visual system. If the person is an SSI recipient using no work incentives, then the TWP system will work. If not, then a reader, advocate or CWIC will need to assist. Question: Where do I find the tips for reporting to discuss with the beneficiaries? admin : The Tips for reporting handout is several places. You should have gotten it in an email as part of the materials we sent you for training. It is also available in the WIPA training manual and on the WIPA NTC website www.vcu-ntc.org Question: Is there an actual penalty for not reporting wages? admin : Well, the penalty is that your check can get messed up - you can get overpaid or underpaid. It is possible to really get in trouble with SSA if they think you purposefully withheld information, but that is very rare. Question: is there a way to check that a report has adjudicated when you don't have access to WILs. My AWIC has not given us the information to access the WILs after several requests? admin : You can use the BPQY to see if the information has been acted upon, but this is a slower way to do it since you have to wait for the info to be entered, then wait for the determination to be entered as well. Question: how can someone reports his earnings when they work two or three times a month for different employers, and he gets pay cash? admin : Wow - what a pain! This would require manual reporting. You can put all of the wage reports on one form - the Notice of Change in earnings status, you just have to mark which wages go with which employer Question: My customers have trouble getting receipts for their reported wages--- and they don't show up on the BPQY. This is frustrating for those consumers who are trying to report on time. How can we better convince SSA field office staff to provide a receipt.? admin : Well, I am not sure you can. It has to come from their leadership. Rather than trying to get them to change, all I know to do is focus on the reporting part of it and to keep the reporting documentation Question: is SSITWR in use all over the country? I haven't heard anyone mention it in MA. admin : Yes, it is national. Question: Can you discuss the role and responsibility of the rep payee a little more in regards to wage reporting admin : The beneficiary ultimately is responsible for reporting - even when a rep payee is involved. I know that sounds unfair, but that is how it goes. It is possible to waive an overpayment sometimes when the rep payee caused the problem. Question: I have been working under the SSA program for 5 years (an old BPAO person) and I was speaking with a new CWIC who was under the impression that she should get copies of all wages from her consumers and keep them in the consumer file. Is this appropriate? admin : I don't really recommend keeping paystubs in your files, but there is no rule saying you cannot do this. I would rather just keep copies of the reporting notices - the paystubs are primary source documentation and should be left with the beneficiary Question: How do you report taxes as BWEs? Is there a way to estimate the taxes? admin : You report taxes as a percentage of gross pay. I have seen several different ways to do this - an estimate of say 25% of gross wages is what I have seen most often. Question: For someone on SSI who is working, if they report their wages once and their wages stay basically the same, they can wait until end of year to report monthly earnings for year, correct? admin : Yup - or whenever the CR asks for the pay stubs. This process is used all the time and is actually most comfortable for all concerned. Question: When you said that the beneficiary wants to make sure that the estimate of wages is not too high or too low, does that mean that the beneficiary has some influence on the amount that SSI uses? admin : Yes, the beneficiary SHOULD influence how much the estimate is. I have seen CRs use some really wacky estimates! The beneficiary should ask for an estimate and should provide a number with a justification to the CR Question: So, if I am reading the handouts correctly, it is recommended that Title II beneficiaries should report wages after TWP ended, then begin monthly to keep informed on what checks will be due and what should be saved until contacted regarding overpayment? admin: Yes, this is common. All you have to do is prove that you attempted to report. If the CR won't take the documentation, your beneficiary has fulfilled their obligation. If wages are under the TWP guideline, this is very common. Question: If you're estimating wages, when should you submit the actual amounts of wages to SSA? admin says (19:18): You submit actuals when asked by SSA - in the SSI program this will be once per calendar year during the annual redetermination Question: What if you even have 3/4 of the offices that don't send back the BPQY's. I have emphasized to the AWIC that SSA requires this in order to complete BSA's, or even deliver intensive WIPA advisement. admin: You need to contact your OESP Project Officer if you are not getting BPQYs in a timely fashion. Don't just let this go on without telling someone. The field offices need to be told by others within their own organization. Tell your project officer! Question: what about folks who do free lance presentation and get honorariums or stipends. how should they report? admin: OK - typically, these people are SELF employed and then they need to use a manual system in which they report Net Earnings from Self-Employment (NESE) Question: Regarding reporting self employment earnings on an annual basis after the trial work period has been utilized, what about a situation where you are trying to apply "the unsuccessful work attempt" of six months or less of earnings above SGA admin : SGA determinations for self-employed folks are pretty tricky and complicated. You need to report your annual earnings and then tell the CR which months you worked and why you were unable to work at SGA for whatever months you claim. Question: question again, should the CWIC keep copies of the wages in the consumer file? admin : I do not think this is a great idea - no rule says you cannot, but I really think you need to keep the notice of change in earnings status as opposed to the actual pay stubs Question: So, if I am reading the handouts correctly, it is recommended that Title II beneficiaries should report wages after TWP ended, then begin monthly to keep informed on what checks will be due and what should be saved until contacted regarding overpayment? admin says (19:25): You want to report at the end of the TWP and then report monthly after SGA has been determined (if it is determined). During the EPE you want to stay on top of earnings on a monthly basis so you can get the payments you are due. Question: Say a T2 benefit works over TWP in Dec, but the final check for Dec was in Jan. By my calculations, he used a TWP period in Dec, SSA sends letter "you're ok, but you used a TWP in January." Should I waste time explaining SSA rules to SSA? Happens freq. admin says (19:27): Yes this happens a lot because it is a pain to actually figure out when income is EARNED - it is easier to just go with paystubs and count whatever a person got in a month. Do whatever works to the beneficiary's advantage. ****