Title 2 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 2 program that offer the following work incentives.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). This is the program under Title 2 that available to those who have paid in sufficient FICA taxes to reach an insured worker status. They receive a benefit based on their own work record.

Disabled Widow(er)s Benefits (DBW). This is a program under Title 2, is for a spouse (and in some cases ex-spouses) who will be eligible under the deceased insured worker’s record. There are other eligibility criteria for this program.

Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB). This is a program under Title 2 where an adult child (over age 18) with a disability (per SSA disability standard prior t the age of 22) can receive benefits based on the insured status of a parent who is retired, deceased, or disabled. There are other eligibility criteria for this program.

You can contact your local Social Security office to determine which benefit you receive.  Beneficiaries who receive Title 2 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. The process for Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage) varies depending on which benefits you receive from SSA.

A plan for returning to work begins with understanding the effect of work on your benefits. A Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) helps start the planning process.

Below are work incentives that may be used by Title 2 beneficiary:
Trial Work Period (TWP) – A nine-month period accumulated over a ‘rolling 60-month period’ during which a Title 2 beneficiary can test his or her ability to work without losing the Title 2 cash payments. A beneficiary can earn any amount of money during this period; however, any month that gross earnings over $670 (in 2008) 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 2 benefits. If earnings exceed a monthly gross earnings level of $940 ($1550 if blind) in 2008, 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 2 beneficiary, who continues to be medically disabled, can receive a Title 2 check for each month they have gross monthly earnings at or below the $940 ($1550 if blind) in 2008.

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 Substantial Gainful Activity (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:

Stacey Sparks
Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Clyde, Texas
Office: 325-893-1968
Fax: 325-893-3825
Toll Free Pager: 888-635-6688
Email: Staceysparks45@aol.com

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 (CWIC)
Abilene, Texas
Office: 325-676-8988
Fax: 325-676-2980
Toll Free Pager: 888-635-6688
E-mail: rosemabur@aol.com

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 (CWIC)
El Paso, Texas
Office: 915-751-8463
Fax: 915-751-8464
Toll Free Pager: 888-635-6688
E-mail: frank2perez@aol.com

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 at:
http://www.ssa.gov/work