Compiled by Becky Cole, Source: Social Security Administration www.ssa.gov

What Is A Plan For Achieving Self-Support (PASS)?
A plan lets you use your income or other things you own to help you reach your work goals. For example, you could set aside money to go to school to get specialized training for a job or to start a business. The job that you want should allow you to earn enough to reduce or eliminate your need for benefits provided under both the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. A plan is meant to help you get items, services, or skills you need to reach your goals.

You can have a plan if:
* You want to work;
* You get SSI (or can qualify for SSI by having this plan) because you are disabled or blind; and
* You have other income and/or resources to use to get a job or start a business.

A plan can help you keep or get your SSI or could mean a higher payment.
Under SSI rules, any income that you have may reduce your SSI payment. But, if you have an approved plan, you can use that income to pay for the items you need to reach your work goal.

Money set aside under this plan is not counted in determining your SSI payment. This means you may get a higher SSI payment. However, you cannot get more than the maximum SSI payment for the state where you live.

In addition, your resources (money or the things you own) cannot be worth more than $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 per couple. However, if you have an approved plan, you can use your resources to pay for the items or services you need to reach your work goals. Resources you set aside for a plan do not count against the $2,000 per individual or $3,000 per couple limit. This could help you qualify for SSI.

A plan can help you set aside money for most work expenses
With an approved plan, you can set aside money to pay expenses to reach your work goal. For example, the money you save can be used for:

* Transportation to and from work;
* Tuition, books, fees and supplies needed for school or training;
* Child care;
* Attendant care;
* Employment services, such as job coaching and resume writing;
* Supplies to start a business;
* Equipment and tools to do the job; or
* Uniforms, special clothing and safety equipment.

How to set up a plan
The plan must be in writing, and Social Security must approve it. To start, contact your local Social Security office for an application (Form SSA-545-BK).

Complete ALL the questions on the Form SSA-545-BK, sign it and date it. Make sure that your correct address and phone number are on the form.

Take or mail your completed form to your local Social Security office.

If you need help writing your plan your local Social Security office can either help you or refer you to a local organization that will help you.

Social Security must evaluate your plan
After you submit your application, a Social Security plan expert will:

* Review the plan to make sure it is complete;
* Decide if your plan will give you a good chance of reaching your goal;\
* Decide if the expenses listed are necessary to reach your goal and if they are reasonably priced;
* Decide if any changes are needed and discuss those changes with you; and
* Send you a letter to tell you if the plan is approved or denied.

If your plan is approved, the expert will contact you from time to time to make sure that you are following your plan to reach your goal. Make sure that you keep receipts for the items and services you have bought under the plan.

You may appeal if your plan is denied
If your plan is denied, you have a right to appeal the decision. The letter you receive will explain your appeal rights and tell you how to file an appeal. You also may submit a new plan.

You may change your plan after it is approved
If you later decide to change your plan, you may do so. However, you must get approval from Social Security before you make any changes. Tell them in writing what changes you want to make, such as a change in the amount of money you set aside each month or a change in the expenses you will have. The expert will review the changes and let you know if they are approved. It is very important that you tell them as soon as possible about any changes that might affect your plan.

Let them know if you cannot complete your plan
It is important to contact the Social Security office if you decide that you cannot continue with your plan. The plan expert may be able to help you change your plan so that you can still reach your goal. Or, you may write a new plan with a new work goal.

If you do not complete your plan, they will start counting the income or resources that you were setting aside for your plan when we figure your SSI payment amount. That means that your SSI payment probably will go down or stop. If you wait too long to tell them that you stopped working on your plan, you may get too much SSI. Then, you may have to pay back the SSI payments you received since you stopped working on your plan. You may write a new plan with a new work goal at any time.