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What is the Utah SSDI ‘1 for 2’ Project?
The Social Security Administration is studying changing current SSDI rules so people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can:
- Return to work without suddenly losing all their cash benefits;
- Increase their employment and earnings; and
- Improve their financial independence.
Under current SSDI rules, SSDI recipients risk losing their entire SSDI cash benefit if they work above a “substantial” level. This is defined as $830 for 2005 ($1380 for individuals who are blind) and $860 for 2006 ($1450 for individuals who are blind).
The ‘1 for 2’ pilot will test alternative SSDI rules. These rules will allow for a gradual reduction in the SSDI cash benefit if earnings are above a “substantial” level.
Since this is a test project, half of the enrollees will be randomly assigned to a Pilot Rules Group and half will be assigned to a Current Rules Group. Individuals assigned to the Pilot Rules Group will receive a $1 reduction in their cash benefit for every $2 earned over the “substantial” level. Additional rules – such as protection from medical continuing disability rules (CDRs) – will be suspended to encourage individuals to go to work.
500 individuals will be eligible to participate in Utah’s pilot. Recipients of services from five programs will be invited to participate in the Pilot. The programs are:
- Vocational Rehabilitation program (Utah State Office of Rehabilitation),
- Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach (Utah State Office of Rehabilitation),
- Disability Medicaid program, including the Medicaid Work Incentive or the Spend down (Utah Department of Health),
- Valley Mental Health, and
- Bear River Mental Health.
Only individuals who are invited to participate may do so. If you have received a letter from one of the agencies listed and you want to learn more about participating, return your response form! You will then be contacted by the ‘1 for 2’ project team!