August 2023 Spotlight on
Social Security Newsletter
The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) Spotlight on Social Security Newsletter brings you exciting news, work incentives information, success stories, and other valuable information for beneficiaries receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and their families and the professionals serving them.
In this issue:
2023 Webinars on Social Security Programs and Work Incentives
The DOR offers a series of webinars where industry experts will address assorted topics relevant to SSDI and SSI beneficiaries. These webinars are designed to equip you with the tools, resources, and knowledge helpful for you to become successfully employed. Don’t miss out! Go to our Webinar Calendar to register for future upcoming webinars!
This month's webinar:
Title:
The Benefits Planning Query (BPQY)
Date:
Thursday, August 17, 2023
Time:
10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. PST
Location:
Zoom
Event Information:
Are you interested in learning more about your Social Security benefits and don’t know where to start? A
BPQY Statement is a great tool to help get you informed about where you stand with your current benefits.
In this webinar, we will discuss:
- What a BPQY is
- What information is on the BPQY and how to interpret the information
- How you can get a BPQY from Social Security
- Services available to help you interpret the BPQY
Presenter: Julian Elliott, Social Security Specialist (DOR)
Register for the August 17th Webinar on the Benefits Planning Query (BPQY)!
Submit your question about the Benefits Planning Query
This month’s featured Spotlight on Social Security Article: The Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) Statement
What is a BPQY statement?
The BPQY is a benefits statement issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA), that plays an integral role in helping beneficiaries of SSI and/or SSDI better understand their benefits. A BPQY report contains detailed information about the status of a beneficiary's disability cash benefits, scheduled medical reviews, health insurance, and work history. In essence, the BPQY provides a snapshot of the beneficiary's benefits and work history as stored in SSA's electronic records.
How can a BPQY help you?
The BPQY plays an integral part in planning a return to work for SSI and/or SSDI beneficiary. The BPQY can help you get a better understanding of your current benefits, what work incentives you have available, and help you plan for any impact your current or future employment might have on your benefits. When working with a Work Incentives Planner (WIP) at DOR or other benefits counselors, the BPQY is an essential tool that can be used to determine what work incentives and other resources can benefit you on your journey to employment and financial independence!
How do you request a BPQY statement?
Beneficiaries can request a BPQY Statement by contacting their local Social Security office or calling Social Security’s National number at 1-800-772-1213 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the toll-free TTY/TDD number, 1-800-325-0778, between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
A third party (for example a DOR Work Incentives Planner, Advocate, Representative Payee, or other organization) can request a BPQY Statement on the beneficiary’s behalf by having the beneficiary complete and sign a Consent for Release of Information form (SSA-3288). More information on this form can be found in the additional resources section in the BPQY handbook.
Does the BPQY statement cost money?
Social Security does not charge a fee for any BPQY requests when the justification for the BPQY is to assist the disability beneficiary with planning a return-to-work effort or to maintain their current employment. This includes receiving services from the DOR!
Check out these additional resources:
Meet our Work Incentive Planner of the Month!
Photo: Armando Nila
Armando is one of DOR’s expert Work Incentives Planners (WIPs) serving DOR participants in the Inland Empire District. He received his WIP certification through Cornell University and has worked one-on-one with hundreds of DOR participants to help them better understand their benefits and the resources available to them. Join us in celebrating one of Armando’s successes below, as he describes his work, along with his Vocational Rehabilitation team, to help one of his participants to gain successful employment.
Spotlight on Success: August DOR Participant Success Story
In this month’s newsletter, we are featuring an inspiring success story, achieved by one of our DOR participants, with the help of her WIP and her Vocational Rehabilitation team!
Mary is an SSI and SSDI beneficiary, who has a Birth Injury that causes her pain while standing and sitting. Her disability requires her to frequently use a cane or a set of crutches. Her friends, who also received disability benefits, convinced her not to work while on benefits because they believed that she would lose her cash benefits, Medi-Cal and Medicare health benefits. During her Intake with her WIP, Armando Nila, she learned that her friends were wrong about how work would impact her benefits. She learned that even with a reduction in her Social Security cash benefits, she would be able to work, earn more money and still receive her Medi-Cal and Medicare health benefits! Mary learned the great news that, if anything ever happened to her employment, she had safety nets, which gave her the confidence to become successfully employed. She was also surprised to learn about available work incentives, such as the Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs), which could help her out. For example, her Medi-Cal health coverage only covered one set of crutches per year, and she found she needed two per year. That additional expense would need to come out of her own pocket. However, by applying this additional expense as a work expense, Mary was able to increase her monthly SSI cash benefit to help cover the cost of the second set of crutches.
With her new confidence to go to work, Mary started applying for full time jobs. With the help of her Job Developer, she landed a job and is currently working full time, in an integrated environment, as a Data Entry clerk earning $16 per hour, or a Gross monthly income of $2,771, The great news is that Mary is making much more than she was receiving from Social Security while not working, and she still has the support of her benefits if needed.
Work Incentive Planning Services at DOR
Did you know that DOR has over 30 certified WIPs across the State of California that provide benefits planning services both in-person and virtually? Meeting with a WIP is a great way to get the facts about your Social Security Benefits.
Not currently Receiving DOR Services?
If you are ready to start an exciting journey with DOR, please click here to Get Started. You will need to provide additional information about yourself to request services.
Sound Interesting?
Talk to your DOR counselor to see if you are eligible for DOR Work Incentive Planning Services.
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Subscribe now to get our Newsletter that focuses on topics related to Social Security Disability Benefits. The Newsletter will keep you up to date with the latest developments in Social Security benefits and related programs and provide you with important information that may help you make informed decisions about your benefits and work.
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