What is a work incentive?

Work incentives are special rules that make it possible for people with disabilities who receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to work and still receive monthly payments and Medicare or Medicaid. Social Security calls these rules “work incentives.”

The work incentives that are available are specially designed to help lessen the barriers to employment that many people with disabilities face. These work incentives help ease people back into the workforce by allowing a person to try to work and, if possible, gradually become self supporting.

For publications and online resources that can provide additional information, go to our Resources page, and search for titles that interest you under Publications or Links.

Some work incentives and programs that are available to both SSDI & SSI recipients are:

Expedited Reinstatement ExR

Impairment Related Work Expenses IRWE

Department of Housing & Urban Development HUD

HUD Income Worksheet

Earned Income Tax Credit EITC

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP  Earned Income Deduction

Ticket to Work TTW

Transition for Young Adults

Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities MAWD

Work Incentives Planning & Assistance WIPA

These are the work incentives that apply to SSDI recipients only:

Social Security Disability Insurance SSDI

Substantial Gainful Activity SGA

Trial Work Period TWP

Extended Period of Eligibility EPE

Grace Period GP

These are the work incentives that are available to SSI recipients only:

Supplemental Security Income SSI

Plan for Achieving Self Support PASS

Blind Work Expense BWE

Student Earned Income Exclusion SEIE

Subsidy

Subsidy Worksheet