A Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) allows Social Security Income recipients to save or spend money or resources in pursuit of a career goal. This is designed to be an exception to the Social Security Association’s requirement that SSI recipients cannot have more than $2,000 in viable assets ($3,000 for married couples), and is designed to allow those receiving SSI to work towards a career which would allow them to get off the SSI and Social Security Disability Insurance programs.
In order to qualify for a PASS, you must present the Social Security Administration with a sound plan which they consider realistic. Your Plan for Achieving Self Support must have a reasonable chance of leading to gainful employment and must be something which the Social Security Administration believes you are capable of.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors are available to help those receiving Social Security Disability benefits establish a Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS). If your Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) was put together with the help of a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, it will generally be accepted by the SSA as being feasible and viable. Your plan must be designed to move you off of Social Security Disability benefits and towards being able to support yourself.
For those receiving Social Security Disability benefits, Plan for Achieving Self Support money can be set aside for:
- Education
- Training
- New work expenses
- Transportation
- Work related expenses
An example of a PASS would be a Social Security Disability recipient setting aside funds for job-training in an occupation that they would be able to comfortably work in with their disability.
In most cases, you are allowed to recover the money you set aside. The SSA simply adds the amount you saved or spent on your Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS) to your SSI check.
