Outline:

Section 1: Introduction

1. About This Course


2. Learning Objectives

Section 2: Why Bother With Work Incentives?

1. Meet Jillian


2. Fear and Confusion Factors


3. The Possibilities


4. Could Work Incentives Be Part of the Solution?


5. Jillian’s Story- This Time With Support


6. Review


7. Summary

Section 3: The Basics of Social Security Administered Disability Benefits

1. Introduction to Social Security Administered Disability Benefits


2. Title II Disability Benefit Eligibility Criteria


3. Important Title II Disability Benefit Details


4. Who Could Get What?


5. Medicare


6. Medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDR)


7. Review


8. Summary

Section 4: Title II Disability Benefits and Medicare Work Incentives

1. Title II Disability Benefits and Work


2. The Benefits Box


3. Title II Disability Benefit’s Phases of Work Incentives


4. Trial Work Period (TWP)


5. Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) and Earnings


6. Countable Earnings


7. Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)


8. Knowing When TWP and EPE Have Been Used


9. George’s TWP and EPE In Action


10. Life After EPE


11. Medicare Work Incentives


12. Review


13. Summary

Section 5: Concrete Ways You Can Help Remove This Barrier to Employment

1. Five Key Steps You Can Take


2. Step 1: Identify Concerns and Questions


3. Step 2: Dispel Myths and Encourage Work


4. Step 3: Identify and Support Work Incentive


5. Which Work Incentive May be Helpful?


6. Step 4: Remind and Support the Reporting of Earnings


7. Step 5: Strategize and Reach Out for Help


8. Review


9. Summary


10. Put In Practice

Section 6: Conclusion

1. Summary


2. Course Contributors


3. Resources


4. References


5. Congratulations!


6. Exam


7. BrainSparks

For over 20 years, Molly Sullivan has been assisting people with disabilities financially plan around public benefits and working. She has provided this service directly to people with disabilities, as well as managed benefit planning programs. Additionally, Molly has provided training and technical assistance in this area through several national projects, including the SSA funded National Training Center, the Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) national self-employment demonstration project START-UP-USA, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) funded Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG). She has also supported numerous non-profit and government agencies across the country, through various local or state-level initiatives, to build their capacity in supporting people with disabilities to financially plan for economic advancement. Disclosure: Molly Sullivan has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.

Nellie Galindo received her Masters of Social Work and Masters of Science in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has worked with individuals with disabilities in several different settings, including working as a direct service provider for individuals with mental illness and leading a youth program for young adults with disabilities. She has facilitated and created trainings for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the areas of self-advocacy, healthy relationships, sexual health education, and violence and abuse prevention. Mrs. Galindo has worked in state government assisting individuals with disabilities obtain accessible health information in their communities, as well as utilizing the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure equal access to healthcare services. Disclosure: Nellie Galindo, MSW, MSPH has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.