A PASS can be established by setting aside one or more of the following to achieve a vocational goal:

• Earned income (wages, self-employment, certain sick pay, royalties and or honoraria)
• Unearned income (Social Security or other types of benefits, or other types of monetary support) and/or
• Resources. The PASS enables individuals to recoup some or all of the expenses paid for under the PASS.

Earned Income: If individuals who receive SSI were to go to work, their new earnings would result in the SSI check being reduced. Recipients' SSI checks would normally be reduced by the earnings minus allowable exclusions (known as the countable earned income). By setting aside new earnings that would normally reduce the SSI check, individuals are provided an opportunity to purchase the goods and services needed to work.

Unearned Income: Individuals who have only unearned income in the form of Social Security or another type of pension may also benefit from the PASS work incentive. Depending on the amount of their countable unearned income, individuals may not be eligible for SSI, or if eligible be receiving a reduced SSI check (i.e., would not be receiving the maximum FBR.) By setting aside a portion or all of this countable unearned income in the PASS, individuals may be able to increase the amount of the SSI check they are currently receiving.

Resources: If individuals have resources that exceed the resource limit for SSI, these resources may be set aside in the PASS as well. Resources can be anything that is owned, including bank accounts, real estate, or personal property.