Will benefits experts still be able to help my family member after they have a job?
While it may seem daunting, resources are available to support your family member in learning about benefits once they start working. The National Center for Federal Benefits Counseling provides employees nationwide with the knowledge to approach their benefits plan. Agencies exist on a state level to provide resources as well, such as the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission which provides information on benefit changes once individuals with disabilities begin working.
The Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work program provides resources such as Work Incentive Seminar Events (WISE) which educate individuals on how employment may impact Social Security benefits. These webinars are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month and archived webinars are available for those who would prefer to watch at their own pace. Vocational programs in your area may also provide guidance on these matters directly.
How can I help my family member maximize income once they are working?
Local banks can be very helpful in providing free guidance for your family member on how to set up checking and savings accounts, use online banking, make automatic savings deposits, and other practical money management approaches.
For those receiving Social Security Disability Income or Supplemental Security Income work incentives may be available. These may include the Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS), work expense exclusions, and continued Medicaid coverage. Your family member may also benefit from periodic benefits counseling with specialists who often provide free services through Ticket to Work service providers. They may also need assistance with taxes and education on how to reduce tax burden once employed, which the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs provide for free.
Are there methods and resources for saving money for future goals?
The Financial Resilience Center of the National Disability Institute has accumulated resources to support money management. Resources on this page include what to do if someone has trouble paying bills, navigating banking, and developing money management skills. Your family member may also benefit from this video on managing and saving money. The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act supports disabled individuals’ financial advancement by allowing them to save money in a non-taxed account that may be used for qualified disability expenses. This #ABLEtoSave webinar provides an overview of the act and how it may be useful for your loved one.
There are also many ways to obtain more inexpensive food (food stamps, food banks, co-ops); clothing (thrift shops, donations to programs; special shops that provide work clothing to low income people); automobiles (special programs for low income employed persons); tax programs and many other resources that help to stretch the dollar so that funds can be put away for future goals.