Blind Work Expenses (BWE)
If you are blind and get SSI benefits, you can use Blind Work Expenses (BWE) to lower your countable earnings. Using BWEs can help you get a higher SSI check. Here are some things you can count as BWEs:
- Service animal expenses.
- Transportation to and from work.
- Federal, state, and local income taxes.
- Social Security taxes.
- Attendant care services.
- Visual and sensory aids.
- Translation of materials into Braille.
- Professional association fees.
- Union dues.
Rules for BWEs
To count as a BWE, expenses must be:
- Needed for you to work
- Paid by you and not reimbursed by someone else
- Paid in a month when you are working
- Reasonable
Can Social Security help me if I’m blind and thinking about working?
Yes. Social Security has programs to help you decide if working is right for you. These programs can help you get ready for work, find a job, and learn how working affects your benefits.
What are “employment supports”?
Social Security has special rules called “Work Incentives.” These rules can help you start working without losing your benefits right away. They can also help you keep Medicare or Medicaid even while you’re working. Most people with disabilities can use these supports, but if you’re blind, there are some extra benefits that make the rules more flexible for you.
How BWEs Help Your SSI Benefits
When you deduct BWE costs from your monthly wages, the earnings used to calculate your SSI check are lower, which can increase your SSI payment.
Example:
- David got $710 per month from SSI in 2013.
- He starts a part-time job and earns $500 a month.
- His SSI check before his BWE is $502.50
- David pays $200 a month for physical therapy.
- After these expenses are approved as BWEs, his SSI check is $702.50.
- Now, his total monthly income is $1202.50.
BWE vs. IRWE
The difference between Blind Work Expenses (BWE) and Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are:
- BWEs don’t have to be related to your impairment.
- BWEs can include transportation, taxes, meals at work, and more.
- You can recover the total cost of BWEs. For IRWEs, you can only recover half.
If an expense can be counted as either a BWE or IRWE, it’s better to count it as a BWE, so that you can recover more of the total cost.
