1. Introducing PASS
2. How a PASS Works
3. PASS Candidates
4. Starting a Business
5. A Viable Plan
6. Responsibilities
PASS works when a person on SSI has a second source of income. A second source of income reduces the amount of SSI you are eligible to receive. The second source of income can include Title 2 or earnings from work.
For example, Joan receives both SSI and Title 2. Joan plans to attend a two-year community college program to become an occupational therapy assistant. She will receive support from her state’s Vocational Rehabilitation agency to pay for tuition, transportation to college, and books. She will still need the following to achieve her work goal: $600 for a laptop computer; $10,000 for a used car to travel to work or work sites; and $1,000 for the first six months of car insurance.
Joan proposes to set aside $600 of her Title 2 check each month (her 2nd source of income) to save for these items to meet her work goal.
If Joan's PASS proposal is approved, the SSI program will no longer count the $600 of her Title 2 as her countable income. This will reduce her countable income that SSI counts to $0 and increase her SSI check to the full Federal Benefit Rate. With $600 per month in PASS savings, in 18 months she can save the $10,800 needed to pay for the computer, car, and insurance. Joan still has her SSI monthly benefits for her living expenses.
A person could also use assets or resources to support a PASS plan. Normally a person receiving SSI can only have $2,000 in assets. Assets are things you own and include savings, checking and cash. If a person receives an inheritance or cash settlement, they may be found ineligible for SSI. However, using that money to fund a PASS can help maintain SSI eligibility.