Disability Benefits & Employment
Fear of losing critical cash benefits and health insurance prevents millions of beneficiaries from attempting to obtain employment or return to work. As a result, many individuals with disabilities remain unnecessarily dependent on government benefits as their sole source of financial security, according to the National Council on Disability. 
The dependence is often unjustified, as SSA disability programs include many work incentives designed to encourage and facilitate employment. When provided complete and accurate information, many individuals can pursue careers that will lead to increased independence and economic self-sufficiency.
- Cash benefits are very helpful but usually not enough
- Work provides additional income
- Most people who work have more income whether they have a combination of earning and benefits or earning alone
Work incentives planning and assistance services provided by Community Work Incentives Coordinators provide correct information to help beneficiaries overcome fears.
Work Incentives
If you receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, and are interested in working or learning how earnings would affect your disability and healthcare coverage benefits, you can get help from a community organization.
The 2009 Red Book serves as a general reference source about the employment-related provisions of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Programs for educators, advocates, rehabilitation professionals and counselors who serve people with disabilities. For more information, go to www.socialsecurity.gov.
Nebraska's foundation for a sustainable statewide work incentive planning and outreach infrastructure. The goal is to increase the use of work incentives and earnings potential of beneficiaries.
The purpose of these monthly 'topics' is to increase the basic awareness and conversational knowledge of programs and resources available to support competitive employment for persons with disabilities.
Further information regarding any of the disability work incentives referenced in this document can be found in the Social Security Administration Red Book. The 2006 2009 (link to Red Book found on left margin box) Red Book serves as a general reference source about the employment-related provisions of Social Security Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income Programs for educators, advocates, rehabilitation professionals and counselors who serve people with disabilities. For more information, go to www.socialsecurity.gov.
View a listing of common Work Incentive acronyms
1619(b)
Allows beneficiaries with disabilities to keep Medicaid coverage even if they no longer qualify for SSI cash benefits because of increased earnings so long as they remain otherwise eligible for SSI. Medicaid coverage continues until earnings exceed a threshold amount determined by SSA for each state. Nebraska threshold is $35,430 for 2009.
The SSDI and SSI programs share many concepts and terms, however, there are also many, very important differences in the rules affecting eligibility and benefit payments.
This booklet will assist you in using the range of services available to find employment. It will provide you with information on what services are available, how to make the best use of that service and how to get the services you want and need. This booklet also describes general information about Nebraska Workforce Development and answers specific questions individuals with disabilities may have related to employment.
This IRS publication presents basic information abut existing tax credits and benefits that may be available to qualifying taxpayers with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, and businesses or other entities wishing to accommodate persons with disabilities.
Medicaid Insurance for Workers with Disabilities (MIWD), referred to by some as Nebraska's Medicaid Buy-In, is intended to allow people who are competitively employed and who, because of wages would lose their benefits, to purchase Medicaid like private insurance.
The purpose of ongoing evaluations of MIWD are to obtain an accurate picture of clients, determine the value of the program for the clients, evaluate the Medicaid Eligibility Workers’ awareness of program procedures, attitudes about people with disabilities and employment, and provide recommendations for improvement of MIWD.
Useful Local and National resources
Self-Employment Q and A: Frequently Asked Questions from Families Factsheet: Transition age youth with disabilities are increasingly exploring self-employment as a vocational option. Owning a business presents a myriad of opportunities to attain personal wealth, a respected role in the community, and a sense of accomplishment. However, families often have questions that require serious reflection and investigation prior to deciding that self-employment is the desired employment outcome. This Q and A will present some of the commonly asked questions from parents and students with disabilities who are considering business ownership.
Read this factsheet.
Start-Up-USA is funded by cooperative agreement # E-9-4-6-0111 from the U.S. DOL-ODEP.
This program's primary function is to help veterans who have service-connected disabilities become suitably employed, maintain employment, or achieve independence in daily living. To receive an evaluation for vocational rehabilitation services, a veteran must:
- Have received, or eventually receive, an honorable or other than dishonorable discharge
- Have a VA service-connected disability rating of 10% or more
- Apply for vocational rehabilitation services
A Comprehensive Evaluation is completed with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor that includes:
- A full assessment of the veteran's interests, aptitudes, and abilities to determine whether the veteran is "entitled" to VR&E services
- An assessment of whether service-connected disabilities impair the veteran's ability to find and/or hold a job using the occupational skills already attained
- Vocational exploration and goal development
The Department of Veterans Affair's Veterans Benefits Administration's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) service is vested with delivering timely, effective vocational rehabilitation services to veterans with service-connected disabilities. Enabling our injured soldiers, sailors, airmen, and other veterans with disabilities for a seamless transition from military service to a successful rehabilitation and on to suitable employment after service to our Nation. For some severely disabled veterans, this success will be to live independently, achieving the highest quality of life possible with a realized hope for employment given future advances in medical science and technology. The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment service strives to exceed the service delivery expectations of veterans and their families.
VA Disability Compensation is a monthly payment that varies in proportion to the degree of disability. Rates for veterans with dependents may be higher. The benefits are tax-free. In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must have a service-connected disability, injury or disease and must have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. There’s no requirement as to length of service. Compensation may also be paid to certain veterans who were disabled from VA health care or while participating in our Vocational Rehabilitation program. You may complete an Application online, through this website:
http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/. If you have questions about this benefit or about how to complete an application, you can call VA at this toll-free number: 1-800-827-1000 People who are hearing impaired may call this toll-free TTY number: 1-800-829-4833.
The National Resource Directory (NRD) is an online tool for wounded, ill and injured Service Members, Veterans, their families, and those who support them. The NRD provides access to more than 11,000 services and resources at the national, state and local levels that support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration.
Authorized by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA) in 2003 and implemented in January 2006, the Part D program covers beneficiaries through (1) a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) for drug coverage only, or (2) a Medicare Advantage plan (MA) that covers medical services and prescription drugs (MA-PD). Medicare beneficiaries have to affirmatively choose and enroll in a plan, unless they are dual eligible, having both Medicare and Medicaid. Dual eligibles are automatically enrolled into a random Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) in their area.
