October 9 – Job Coaching as a Special Condition
Question: I’m working with a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiary who has a job coach. The job coach checks in with beneficiary before the beneficiary starts his shift for work each day. Could this be considered a special condition?
Answer: Most likely it would not be considered a special condition because the job coach does not have a direct effect on the beneficiary’s productivity. Examples of special conditions do include job coaching, but it is specifically on-the-job-coaching and substitution during which the job coach performs part or all of the individual’s job duties, or close and continuous supervision.
Here is an example: Jane’s employer explains that Jane is not fully earning her wages because the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency pays for a job coach for Jane. Jane works 120 hours a month and she is paid gross wages of $1,200 per month (120 hours at $10.00 an hour). The State Agency explains that the job coach is with Jane 40 hours a month. For 10 of these hours, the job coach performs the more technical work while Jane simply observes, and during the remaining 30 hours, the coach just observes Jane working and verifies the quality of Jane’s work. Based on this explanation, Social Security determines that Jane is fully earning her wages during these 30 hours. The amount of Jane’s income not directly attributable to her own productivity (due to a special condition) is $100 per month (10 hours at $10.00 an hour). The amount of Jane’s earnings attributable to her own productivity is $1,100 (110 hours at $10.00 an hour).
Would you like to find out more about WIPA and your benefits? Contact your statewide WIPA Program-Project 20/20 if you have questions like our Daily Tips or want to learn more about working while receiving social security disability benefits. Call our North Augusta office at 803-279-9611 or the Ticket to Work Helpline at 1-866-968-7842. You can also complete a Contact Us or Self-referral Form.