Eligibility and Application

Eligibility

To set up a PASS, you must:

• Be on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), be getting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at a reduced amount, or become eligible for SSI as the result of an approved PASS application.
• Have a source of income other than SSI (for example, SSDI cash benefits or wages from a job) or have assets over $2,000 that you can use to fund your PASS plan.
• Have a work goal that will eventually enable you to earn enough money to lower your Social Security disability benefits, or to get off benefits altogether.
• Be able to write down a plan that shows how setting aside a certain amount of money will allow you to reach your work goal. Social Security has staff called PASS Cadre who can help you write your PASS plan.
• Be under age 65. Note: You may be able to set up a PASS if you are 65 or older, if you were getting an SSI cash benefit based on disability or blindness in the month before you turned 65.

PASS is not just for people who are waiting for school or work to begin. You can be employed right now, have a PASS, and use it to help pay for expenses directly related to increasing your income from work.

Application

To apply for a PASS, you need to fill out Social Security’s PASS application form. The form asks about a range of topics including your work goal, how you plan to achieve it, your work history, and your future plans.

You can fill out the application yourself, or ask a Social Security PASS Cadre for help. PASS Cadres have a great deal of experience with the program; working with one should increase the likelihood of your PASS being approved.

To contact the St. Paul PASS Cadre (serving all of Minnesota), call 1-866-667-6032, ext. 34021.

Tips for Successfully Completing Your PASS Application

The PASS application has lots of questions—but don’t let that scare you. There are ways to break up the PASS application and make it easier to complete.

• Fill out one section at a time. Take breaks. Don’t try to fill out the whole application in one sitting.
• Ask a Social Security PASS Cadre to assist you with the application.
• Ask a friend to check your work as you go.

You should also keep a list of any monthly expenses you could include in a PASS. Include descriptions and costs of all items.

Click here to see a sample of a completed PASS form that includes monthly expenses.

Work Goals

The first question of the PASS application asks about your work goal. Your goal could be a variety of things:

• Getting a new job
• Getting a new, higher paying position at your current job
• Increasing your work hours
• Working with less support, if you are in a supported employment position
• Starting your own business

You can only have one work goal per PASS plan and your work goal must be clear and specific. If it’s not clear and specific, your PASS won’t be approved.

Examples:

• “Getting a teaching credential” is probably not specific enough to be approved as a PASS goal. But "getting a teaching credential to teach high school science” probably is.
• “Working from home” is likley not specific enough. But "starting my own paper shredding business in my home” probably is.

Self-Support

Social Security will review your plan and decide whether or not your work goal will allow you to become self-supporting. Specifically, they look at the following:

• If you currently get a SSI cash benefit, you need to show how reaching your work goal will significantly reduce, or end, your SSI cash benefit. (Remember, if you’re not already on SSI, you will need to apply for SSI when you apply for your PASS).
• If you currently get SSDI, you need to show how reaching your goal will cause your earnings to exceed the Substantial Gainful Activity ($1,550 per month in 2024), which will eventually end your reliance on SSDI benefits.
• You must also show that your projected earnings after you complete your PASS will allow you to pay for your living expenses, medical expenses, and work-related expenses on your own.
• For a self-employment PASS you must show a detailed business plan.

Your Plan Must Be “Feasible and Viable”

When Social Security reviews your PASS plan, they will decide whether or not the plan is both “feasible” and “viable”.

If Social Security decides that your plan is not feasible and viable, they won't approve it, but they may allow you to make changes and resubmit it.

Timeline

The PASS application asks for a timeline listing the steps you will need to take to achieve your work goal.

• You need to figure out how much each step in your PASS will cost and set aside enough money in your PASS to pay for it. The cost of each of your expenses must be reasonable.
• You have to pay for the expenses in your PASS plan out of your own pocket. If someone else pays for an expense, it cannot be included as a PASS expense.
• For expenses like a car or computer, you will have to explain why you need a particular model and why your current car or computer (if you own one) is not good enough.
• You need to identify all your expenses, and do your best to calculate how much you will spend on each item during the time period of your PASS. Remember that Social Security may allow you to make changes to your PASS plan in the future, if you need to.

Once You Complete Your Application

There are several things to do once you have filled out all of your application:

• Before you submit your completed application to Social Security, make a copy of it for your records.
• Submit your application by hand or mail it to your local Social Security office or PASS Cadre office. Be sure to include all supporting documentation (for example, your business plan; information about expenses; and letters of support from your vocational rehabilitation counselor, advocate, therapist, or physician).
• If you are not currently on the SSI program, you must apply for SSI when you apply for the PASS program.

The PASS Cadre will review your application. If your application is complete and you’ve provided all necessary documentation, you should find out if your plan has been approved within one to three weeks (self-employment plans may take longer).

If your application is incomplete or if there are other problems with it, the PASS Cadre will contact you to try and resolve those problems.

If your application is denied and you disagree with the decision, you should ask for a meeting with your PASS Cadre. Find out why you were denied and the rules behind the decision.

If you still disagree with the decision after your meeting, you can submit a written request for reconsideration, asking that another PASS Cadre look at your case again.

If you need help writing your request for reconsideration, contact a PABSS Advocate at the Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC).

Social Security Approved My PASS. What Should I Do Now?

First, you should review all the materials you get from Social Security about your PASS. This will include a letter of approval that gives details on your monthly PASS set aside amount, your approved expenses, and the date of your first PASS review with your PASS Cadre. If you have any questions at all, contact your PASS Cadre to discuss them.