When you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you have many work incentives available to support your employment efforts and ensure you don’t lose your benefits prematurely.

There are some cases when a beneficiary may try to return to work but may only be successful for a short period of time. An Unsuccessful Work Attempt (UWA) is an effort to do substantial work which stopped or reduced to below Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) after 6 months or less because of a beneficiary’s impairment or removal of special conditions.

A subsidy is support provided by an employer that may result in a beneficiary receiving more pay than the actual value of his/her work. A beneficiary who receives extra assistance, a reduced production rate, frequent breaks, or fewer job duties than co-workers in a similar job may qualify for a subsidy.

Medi-Cal (Medicaid) provides basic medical coverage for individuals who meet certain income and/or disability criteria.  There are many different categories of Medi-Cal, and each one treats earnings and resources differently.

Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) are items or services that are paid for by the beneficiary, related to his/her disability and necessary for work.

Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) is an important safety net for beneficiaries who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

The TWP allows you to test your ability to work for at least 9 months. The TWP phase will help SSDI beneficiaries in their efforts toward employment by allowing them to test their ability to work to their fullest potential while still receiving their full SSDI cash benefit.

If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and your work schedule varies each month, you probably have fluctuating wages. This is often experienced by individuals working in restaurants, hotels, and retail stores.

The Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program is a free service that helps Social Security beneficiaries who receive benefits based on a disability make informed choices about their employment goals. This program is for individuals currently employed, self-employed, or who are seeking employment or selfemployment.