Work Expenses for People with Disabilities

If you have a disability and need to pay extra costs to get to work or do your job, Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) can help! IRWEs let you reduce your countable earnings when figuring out your SSI or SSDI benefits, so you might get more from your benefits each month. IRWEs include the following:

• • Personal care helpers

• • Transportation costs

• • Work equipment or assistance

• • Prosthetics or mobility aids

• • Home modifications for accessibility

• • Regular medication and medical services

• • Service dogs, including food and vet services

Rules for IRWEs

IRWE costs must:

• • The item(s) or service(s) enable you to work

• • You need the item or service because of a physical or mental impairment

• • You pay for the item or service yourself and are not reimbursed by another source such as Medicare, Medicaid, or a private insurance carrier

• • The cost is “reasonable,” meaning that the price represents the standard charge for the item or service in your community

How Do IRWEs Affect SSI Benefits?

When you subtract IRWEs from your monthly income, your SSI benefits may go up. This means more money in your pocket each month, helping you meet your needs!

Example: Keith gets an SSI check of $710 a month. He starts a part-time job and earns $500 a month. His SSI check is adjusted to $502.50, so his monthly income is $1002.50.

Keith pays $200 a month for physical therapy. After getting this cost approved as an IRWE, his SSI check is adjusted to $602.50. Now, his total income is $1102.50 a month.

How Do IRWEs Affect SSDI Benefits?

If you receive SSDI, approved IRWEs can lower your countable earnings to keep you under the income limit, helping you keep your SSDI check.

Example: Hannah earns $1,100 monthly from her job and pays $100 monthly for her medication. After getting this cost approved as an IRWE, her income is reduced to $1,000 monthly, below the $1,040 limit, so she can keep her SSDI check.

How to Handle Large IRWEs

For big one-time IRWEs, like home changes, you can:

• • Deduct the cost all at once

• • Spread the deduction over up to 12 months

Spreading the cost over many months can help keep your income below the limit for longer.

Check out the SSI Income Calculator for more information if you have any questions.