PASS and Other Programs

If you are using a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), you may be eligible for other disability benefits programs and work incentives. It's important to understand how these programs work together, as benefits from one program may affect eligibility for another.

Using a PASS should not reduce or end your other benefits. In fact, PASS is made to help you get the most out of your benefits, and your benefits will usually go up on a PASS. If you have questions, contact a benefits expert for help.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

PASS is part of the SSI program. To apply for a PASS, you must get SSI benefits or become eligible for SSI as a result of an approved PASS application.

If you already get SSI benefits and then start a PASS, your SSI benefits will stay the same or go up. Learn more about SSI.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

When you start a PASS, you continue getting your same SSDI benefits. You can set aside most of those funds in your PASS (unlike SSI benefits).

If you work, you still need to report your wages to your local Social Security office. All SSDI rules for Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) and the Trial Work Period (TWP) still apply. Learn more about SSDI.

Note: If you are getting SSDI and you apply for SSI because of your PASS, Social Security may do a new disability determination to make sure you are still eligible for benefits. If you do not meet Social Security's definition for having a disability, Social Security will deny your application and may start a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) for your existing SSDI benefits.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Using a PASS should not stop you from qualifying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In fact, a PASS can help you qualify for SNAP because it lowers your countable income. Like with SSI, any income or resources you put in a PASS will not be counted when determining your eligibility for SNAP.

If you have questions about this, contact your Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) office.

Learn more about SNAP.

Section 8

Using a PASS should not stop you from qualifying for Section 8. In fact, a PASS can increase your Section 8 benefits, because the money you put in your PASS is not counted when determining your eligibilty for Section 8 or calculating your Section 8 payments. However, you may need to give your housing worker a letter from your PASS specialist that explains this exclusion.

Setting up a PASS should never cause your rent to go up. Your rent may go up for other reasons (for example, if your landlord raises the rent), but it should not go up because of a PASS.

Learn more about Section 8.

PASS and Other SSI Work Incentives

In addition to PASS, there are other SSI rules that help people with disabilities who want to start working and saving money.

ABLE Accounts

If your disability started before you turned 26 and you want to start saving money, you can open a tax-free ABLE account. Like with a PASS account, the money in an ABLE account is excluded when figuring out your SSI benefits, as well as Medicaid and most other benefits. You can put up to $19,000 from any source each year into your ABLE account, plus another $15,060 of your own earned income, and you can spend the money from your ABLE account on any disability-related expenses. Note: Starting on January 1, 2026, people whose disability began before they turned 46 can open an ABLE account.

Learn more about ABLE accounts.

Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)

Students under age 22 have a few choices about how to set up a PASS plan. They can put some of their income into a PASS and use their SSI benefits payments to pay for basic living expenses. Or they can use the Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE), which lets them exclude up to $9,460 in earned income per year, and then add any additional income to their PASS.

Deciding whether or not to use a PASS, the SEIE, or both can be complicated. If you’re under age 22 and thinking about your options, contact a benefits expert.

Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) and Blind Work Expenses (BWEs)

When you are working, you may pay out of pocket for items or services related to your disability. These expenses may be Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) or Blind Work Expenses (BWEs). Social Security deducts about half of the value of your IRWEs (and up to 100% of the value of BWEs) from your earned income when calculating your SSI benefits amount.

Many expenses that could be included in your PASS plan may also qualify as an IRWE or BWE. But you cannot use an expense as an IRWE or BWE and also list it as a PASS expenses. Most of the time, you'll be better off listing an expense as a PASS expense rather than using it as an IRWE or BWE. But we recommend you contact your PASS specialist before you make that decision.

Section 301

Under Section 301 rules, you can continue to get SSI or SSDI benefits, even if Social Security decides that you are no longer disabled, if you are participating in a vocational rehabilitation program that is approved by Social Security and expected to help you become self-supporting.

The PASS program is approved under Section 301. So if you start a PASS plan and keep working towards your work goal, you can continue to get SSI or SSDI benefits, even if your condition changes and you no longer meet Social Security’s definition of a disability.