Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) For USA PWDs What is a PASS?

 Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) For USA PWDs

What is a PASS?

It is an SSI provision to help individuals with disabilities return to work.

If you receive SSI or could qualify for SSI after setting aside income or resources so you can pursue a work goal, you could benefit from a PASS.

How does a PASS help someone return to work?

The government basis SSI eligibility and payment amounts on income and resources (things of value that the individual owns).

PASS lets PWDs set aside money and things they own to pay for items or services needed to achieve a specific work goal.

The PASS objective is to help PWDs find employment that reduces or eliminates SSI or SSDI benefits.

How does PASS work?

The applicant finds out what training, items, or services they need to reach a work goal.

A PASS can include supplies to start a business, school expenses, equipment and tools, transportation, uniforms, and other items or services you need to reach your employment goal.

The applicant finds out how much these items and services will cost.

PASS can help the participant save to pay these costs. PASS lets PWDs set aside money for purchases, installment payments, and down payments for things like a vehicle, wheelchair, or a computer if needed to reach their work goal.

How do you set up a PASS?

Decide on your work goal and determine the items and services necessary to achieve your work goal.

You can get help in setting up a plan from a vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselor; an organization that helps people with disabilities; Benefits Specialists or Protection and Advocacy organizations who have contracts with the government; Employment Networks involved in the Ticket to Work program; your local Social Security office; or anyone else willing to help you.

Contact local SSA office, SSA worksite, or third parties shown above to get a PASS form (SSA-545-BK) to complete.

Bring or mail it to the Social Security office.

SSA usually approves plans prepared by VR.

If your goal is self-employment, you must also submit a business plan.

What happens to the PASS?

SSA sends the PASS to agency employees who SSA has trained to work with PASS.

A PASS expert works directly with the applicant. The PASS expert looks over the plan to see if the work goal is reasonable.

SSA reviews the plan to ensure that the applicant needs the items and services listed on the PASS to achieve their work goal and are reasonably priced.

If the plan needs changes, the PASS expert discusses the changes with the applicant.

If SSA does not approve the PASS, the applicant can appeal the decision.

United Nations 53 PWD Entrepreneurs Study

The United Nations wanted to know which of 53 entrepreneurs with disabilities it studied failed to compare it to the failure rate of entrepreneurs without disabilities. One problem - none failed. The U.N. found that entrepreneurs with disabilities' failure rate are far less than entrepreneurs without disabilities; this was known in 1989! 

The Story Of Leaders With Disabilities Started In The Ancient World

The story of leaders with disabilities started in the Bible and in ancient Egypt, Greece, China, and Rome. In the ancient world the wealthy sometimes elevated family members with disabilities to positions of power. For example, King David gave to a family member with a disability power.  Also, in antiquity military service was a method by which soldiers with acquired disabilities achieved power. Before the birth of the Roman Empire other societies produced leaders with a disability. 

Then in 80 BC a young man with a neurological disability with a great purpose would transform the world and who impacts humanity today - the man was Julius Caesar. He used conquests and politics to achieve wealth and power. Politics is the most effective strategy to achieve political power for past and current people with disabilities.

Transportation Freedom

Transportation Freedom

We at the UAAAC, believe that access to safe transportation is very important for freedom for us. Without transportation, people with disabilities cannot work and cannot enjoy their life. During 1950's, the lift was developed to get people with disabilities and out of vehicles. But currently most areas of the world do not have lifts on vehicles.

By Sharon Riguer

An Accessible Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Josh Management operates apartments. It has a rental office with a parking lot. The parking lot has accessible parking. The apartments have accessible units.

Josh has a website that advertises the apartments. The website has pictures of the pool, clubhouse, units and gym. However, there are no pictures of the accessible units or the accessible parking.

Pat uses a wheelchair for mobility. He uses the bus. Before he travels he wants to know if his destiny is accessible. Pat wants to move to a new home. He finds the website by Josh Management but it has no accessible pictures. Can Pat bring a valid lawsuit against Josh Management.

The Americans with Disabilities Act says a person using a wheelchair cannot be denied the opportunity to participate. Is Pat denied the opportunity to participate in the picture website experience because Josh posts pictures for surfers without disabilities but does not posts pictures for people with disabilities? No court has decided the issue yet.

The UAAAC filed lawsuits asking the California Central and Northern United District Courts to decide the picture issue.

Penned by Sharon Riguer

UAAAC President

WHAT'S ADA?

ADA stands for Americans With Disabilities Act. It is a civil rights law.

The ADA idea is to reward ability. It says persons with abilities and physical or mental impairments, and their associates have full and equal access to jobs, government programs and business services.
The ADA has several ways to make sure the idea of full and equal access is followed. First way is by prohibitIng intentional discrimination. Second way is by prohibiting unintentional discrimination. Third way is by requiring reasonable accommodation in employment. Fourth way is by requiring the opportunity to participate. Fifth way is by requiring integration. Sixth way is by requiring the effective communication related to providing the auxiliary aid. Seventh way is by requiring physical access. Eight way is by requiring removal of communication barriers.

By Theodore Arthur Pinnock, JD
UAAAC Secretary

What's A Reasonable Accommodation?

A reasonable accommodation is any action to facilitate the abilities of a person to do something. The phrase was first used in disability law to implement the Rehabilitation Act. It was next used in the Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988. Finally, it was used in the employment and public service titles of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

An employer has a duty to provide reasonable accommodation upon request.

A government has a duty to provide reasonable accommodation upon request.

A residential landlord or residential manager has a duty to make obvious reasonable accommodations.

Penned by Theodore Arthur Pinnock, J.D.