In most cases, Social Security can deduct the out–of–pocket costs of these items, which we call impairment–related work expenses (IRWE), from the amount of earnings we use to figure your SSI benefit.
This means that we do not reduce your SSI benefit as much because we do not count all of your earnings.
Out–of–pocket expenses that may qualify as an IRWE may be items such as medicine, medical supplies, medical devices, service animals, and disposable items such as bandages and syringes...to name just a few.
Social Security may also be able to deduct your out–of–pocket expenses for medical services such as doctors visits and some attendant care services charged for preparing you for work, attending to you while you are at work, or getting you to and from work.
Social Security may also deduct certain out–of–pocket expenses for transportation and modifications to your home, car, or van to allow you to work.
The expense must not be reimbursed, and must be related to your disability(ies) and needed in order for you to work.
The next step is applying for the IRWE. When I do this, I use the form located below and attach a receipt for each claimed expense. Drop this off at SSA and you're done.Once a recurring IRWE is approved by SSA, one needs only submit the receipt for that IRWE on a monthly basis - not the entire application.
I will cover exactly how an IRWE positively impacts both countable income for an individual very soon in a new blog post. Stay tuned.
IRWE Request Template
Any questions may be directed to: rsi5@srt.com
Posts
Does employers have any responsibility in covering expenses?? For instance, an ergonomic work station not normally used in their work environment to accommodate an employee.
ReplyDeleteEmployers are required to provide "reasonable accommodations" as spelled out in the ADA. For more specifics on that, you should contact your local Protection and Advocacy.
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of options to make the accommodation though. If the person is working with VR/RCS, that would be a possible funding source. If the individual qualifies for a PASS - that would be an option. Or it could be a combo of both....or of all three - employer, PASS, VR/RCS.
Only if someone purchases the equipment themselves would it have a chance of qualifying as an IRWE.
If the item was purchased for the individual by VR/RCS though...and said individual was self-employ'd - they could still deduct the expense as per an IRWE, but in this instance, it would be considered an UBE (Unincurred Business Expense). Which is actually better.
IRWEs are for those expenses that an employer would not cover.
ReplyDeleteI used the Requesting an IRWE form in 2006 and submitted documentation. I followed in 2006 and submitted revised information in 2007. Each time I was told to just wait and retain my expenses. Not until summer of 2008 did I receive any communication and at that point it was in the form of an overpayment letter. I immediately cried wolf and they cancelled the overpayment and allowed me time to put together the medical documentation and expense receipts. We are still in the process of resubmitting additional documentation. I certainly did not find the process as easy as just submitting the letter above and this is one of my complaints and part of my basis for requesting a waiver if I don't prevail. Why did SSA wait 3 years before coming back to clarify the medical documentation that was required and types of receipts required etc regarding the impairment related work expenses.
I don't know - and legally, can not comment on why SSA took so long.
ReplyDeleteI can say that waiting and delay's with some of these work incentives can be bothersome at best. My only advice would be to document when you submit the request by getting a letter from the SSA office stating that you were there and dropped it off.
My second recommendation would be to work with your local WIPA project. Often times they have increased access to the SSA-housed WIL's (Work Incentive Liaison).
Since each office is slightly different, some may prefer one type of form over another, etc. Your WIPA is in a good position to know the most efficient way to submit.
It has been my experience that utilizing the above form expedites the IRWE request process and has been very quickly verified and deducted accordingly by the offices I've worked with.
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