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.