The PASS Program: Disability Assistance to Return to Work

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If you are on disability and dream of pursuing a career or even owning your own business, there is good news. There is a program designed to help you achieve that dream.

What is PASS?

The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) is a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provision available through Social Security. This plan provides extra income to be set aside for education, training, or business start-up expenses in pursuit of a specific job goal.

The ultimate goal of this plan is to help an individual reach their job goal and become more self-supporting to reduce or even eliminate their future need for SSI or SSDI benefits.

The Application Process

The application process is simple but very strict, so having the help of a Social Security lawyer will be helpful to having your application accepted. The attorney can help walk you through the specifics of creating your plan.  Details of your plan will include:

  • Your specific job goal
  • The education or training you will need to qualify for that job
  • A time frame for reaching your goal (considering time for education/training or new-business startup)
  • Exactly how much money you will set aside every month to help pay for this goal, as well as how you will keep that money separate from other income

Application approval may take several weeks, so plan accordingly.

How it works

If you are approved for PASS, then you will receive more money in your Social Security check to be saved as outlined in your plan. The extra income and savings provided through PASS does not affect your eligibility for your current benefits.  Once you have achieved your job goal and have started working, your benefits will be reduced as needed as your new income fills that gap.

Our Lawyers can Help

If you are interested in the PASS program, our lawyers can help. We at Ward Law Group focus a large part of our practice on helping clients receive SSDI benefits and appeal SSDI denials. If your PASS application is denied for any reason, our lawyers can help walk you through an appeals process or through the submission of a new plan. Contact our law firm today to schedule your initial consultation.