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Understanding Supplemental Security Income
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What is the special rule? |
There is a special rule to help people who work and receive SSI benefits because of blindnessblindness. This rule allows a blind person to exclude from earned incomeearned income all expenses that enable the person to work. The expense does not need to be related to the impairment. |
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What are some examples of expenses that can qualify under the rule? |
Expenses that can qualify include:
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Example: |
Ray Barnett receives SSI benefits because of blindnessblindness. He works and earns $805 per month, which is the only income he receives. He has the following work expenses:
Mr. Barnett uses $350 of his earnings to pay for these work expenses. Therefore, $350 of his earnings is not counted in determining the amount of his SSI benefit as follows: $805 - $20 (general exclusion) = $785 |
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Are there any other rules that may help? |
A blind person may also use other SSI work rules such as Plans to Achieve Self–Support (PASS)Plans to Achieve Self–Support (PASS) and continued Medicaid coveragecontinued Medicaid coverage while working. |
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