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Title II Work Incentives Title II provides cash and medical benefits to individuals who have contributed to the Social Security trust fund or are a spouse of child of an individual who has contributed. These contributions are made through FICA taxes from individual earnings There are three different types of programs under Title II program that offer the following work incentives.
You can contact your local Social Security office to determine which benefit you receive. Beneficiaries who receive Title II benefits are eligible for Medicare Part A after a 24-month waiting period and have the option of paying a monthly premium for Medicare Part B coverage. Below are work incentives that may be used by Title II beneficiary: Trial Work Period (TWP) – A nine-month period accumulated over a ‘rolling 60-month period’ during which a Title II beneficiary can test his or her ability to work without losing the Title II cash payments. A beneficiary can earn any amount of money during this period; however, any month that gross earnings over $640 (in 2007) will count as a trial work period service month. After the Nine Month Trial Work Period – SSA will evaluate the beneficiary to see if he or she continues to meet the SSA definition of disability and thus eligible for continued Title II benefits. If earnings exceed a monthly gross earnings level of $900 ($1500 if blind) in 2007, referred to as SGA or Substantial Gainful Activity, the beneficiary is no longer disabled for Social Security purposes and will lose cash benefits after an additional three-month grace period. Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) – For 36 consecutive months, immediately following the end of the Trial Work Period, a Title II beneficiary, who continues to be medically disabled, can receive a Title II check for each month they have gross monthly earnings at or below the $900 ($1500 if blind) in 2007. Medicare Continuation – Medicare Part A continues, at no charge, for at least 93 months after successfully completing the Trial Work Period if the beneficiary is still medically disabled. Medicare Part B and Part D are optional and can be purchased and billed to the beneficiary on a quarterly basis. Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) – Documented expenses the beneficiary incurs due to their impairment and is needed to work. The total amount of the IRWEs is deducted from gross monthly earnings to determine if the beneficiary is working above the SGA level for initial and continuing Title II benefits. Subsidy – The dollar amount of the subsidy is subtracted from the gross monthly earnings of the beneficiary, potentially reducing his or her earnings below the SGA level. Subsidy exists when an employer pays the beneficiaries with a disability more in wages than the reasonable value of the actual services performed. Special Conditions – Items or supports provided by someone other than the employer that will reduce the amount of countable monthly-earned income. (Example: job coach). A plan for returning to work begins with understanding the effect of work on your benefits. A Benefits Planning Query helps start the planning process. For more information, click here to download the Benefits Query Planning Handbook. For more information Contact:
(Ms. Sparks Texas Counties) - Archer, Baylor, Brown, Callahan, Cochran, Coke, Coleman, Comanche, Concho, Crockett, Crosby, Dickens, Eastland, Fisher, Garza, Haskell, Hockley, Irion, Jones, Kent, Kimble, King, Knox, Lubbock, Lynn, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Nolan, Runnels, Schleicher, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Sutton, Taylor, Terry, Throckmorton, Tom Green, Yoakum, & Young Rosemary Burks, Community Work Incentive Coordinator (Ms. Burks Texas Counties) - Andrews, Armstrong, Bailey, Borden, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crane, Dallam, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Donley, Ector, Floyd, Foard, Gaines, Glasscock, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Hemphill, Howard, Hutchinson, Lamb, Lipscomb, Martin, Midland, Mitchell, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Reagan, Roberts, Scurry, Sherman, Sterling Swisher, Upton, Ward, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, & Winkler Frank Perez, Community Work Incentive Coordinator (Mr. Perez Texas Counties) - Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell You may also visit the Social Security Administration’s website
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