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Overview of Social Security Disability Programs and Work Incentives - slide 8
Public Law 99-643
1619(a)
1619(b)
Public Law 99-643 established two special provision statuses known as 1619(a) and 1619(b). Section 1619(a) enables individuals who continue to be disabled to receive special SSI cash benefits in place of their regular SSI benefits, when earnings exceed the $980 SGA level for 2010 (this amount is $1640 for individuals with blindness). To be eligible for 1619(a) benefits, individuals must continue to have the original disabling impairment under which eligibility for SSI was initially determined and currently meet all other eligibility rules, including the income and resource test.
If all eligibility requirements continue to be met, when earnings increase to greater than the SGA level but remain lower than the break even pint, SSI recipients will automatically move into 1619(a) status. There are no observable differences in the SSI checks indicating the change from regular SSI benefits to a 1619(a) special benefit. Individuals will only receive notice regarding the reduction in their checks when their increase earnings place them over the SGA level. Eligibility for 1619(a) cash benefits will continue until earnings fall below SGA, at which point individuals will automatically move back into their regular SSI status and receive regular checks; and/or earnings exceed the break even point, at which time their cash benefits will cease.
While a reduction in the SSI cash payments will occur as earnings increase, SSI recipients will continue receiving cash payments until their total countable income increases to the point where their SSI payment is reduced to zero. This is referred to as the break-even point. The break-even point is the exact amount of monthly gross earnings that will reduce cash payments to zero. You must remember that there are other factors that will affect the break-even point, such as SSDI payments or support from family members.
Section 1619(b) is the other special provision status that provides for continued Medicaid eligibility for individuals whose incomes are too high to qualify for an SSI cash payment, but are not high enough to offset the loss of Medicaid. Individuals will be found eligible for 1619(b) protected Medicaid status if the sole cause for losing your SSI cash benefit is due to increased earnings over the break-even point. If the loss is for anything other than earnings, the individual is not eligible for this provision. The second requirement for 1619(b) eligibility is that the individual’s earnings must be less than the state’s threshold amount. You can find a listing of each state’s threshold amounts at www.ssa.gov.