How Eric Did It

Eric was a high school student who graduated and went to college. During that time, his Individualized Education Program (IEP) ended and he started getting Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Eventually, he got his first job. Over the years, he got support from many different people and programs.

To improve his life situation, Eric:

• Worked with his IEP team on a transition plan
• Got help from a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselor
• Applied for and enrolled in college
• Applied for Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) as an adult
• Read DB101’s Young People and Benefits section
• Used DB101’s School and Work Estimator
• Called Disability Hub MN at 1-866-333-2466
• Applied for SSI benefits at his local Social Security office
• Updated his information for Medical Assistance (MA) at his local county or tribal human services office
• Got services and support from his university’s disabled student services office
• Learned about a summer job possibility
• Got help from a benefits expert to make sure that his job would not create problems with his SSI benefits
• Learned about how the Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) let him work and keep his full SSI benefits amount
• Took the summer job and earned his first paycheck

The following two summers, Eric did paid internships at local software companies. Both summers his earnings were lower than the limit set by the Student Earned Income Exclusion, so he had no problems with his benefits. He knew that in the long run, working would pay him a lot more than SSI would ever provide, so he was making sure to get good work experience that would help him get a solid job after graduation.