Wesley's Plan for Achieving Self-Support

Name: Wesley SSN:

Part I - Your Goal

A. What is your work goal? (Show the specific job you expect to have at the end of the plan. If you are undergoing vocational evaluation to determine a feasible goal, show "VR Evaluation." If your goal involves a supported employment position, show the amount of job coaching you expect to need after the plan is completed compared to the amount you currently receive or will receive when you begin working.) My goal is to be an office worker focused on Confidential High Volume Paper Shredding. My goal involves Supported Employment. I will begin my position requiring 20 hours per week of job coaching, with the amount of Job Coaching fading to 0 hours per week after 24 months.

B. Describe the duties you will be expected to perform in this job: Shredding of confidential documents, including: Material handling of documents prior to shredding, preparing documents for shredding including removal of any metal objects such as paper clips, bindings, and staples, shredding documents, bagging, and disposal of shredded
materials.

C. How much do you currently earn (gross) each month in wages or self-employment income? $100.00/month

How much do you expect to earn each month (gross) after your plan is completed? $800.00/month

How do you expect to find a job by the time your plan is completed? This plan is based on a job already negotiated for me with Local Hospital. I will be utilizing both State Vocational Rehabilitation Services and XYZ Services Inc. (XYZSI), in Anytown, Anystate for securing the position outlined in this PASS.

D. If your goal involves self-employment, explain why you believe that operating your own business is more likely to result in self-support than if you worked for someone else. My Goal Does not involve Self-Employment

Part II - Medical/Vocational/Educational Background

A. What is the nature of your disability? Mild Mental Retardation and Chronic Paranoid Schizophrenia.

B. Explain any limitations you have because of your disability (e.g., limited amount of standing or lifting, etc.) I have no physical limitations, but have varying degrees of anxiety due to my mental health disability and also some cognitive and thought processing limitations due to my mental retardation.

C. List the types of jobs you have had most often in the past few years and those you have had which are similar to your work goal. Also show how long you worked (i.e., how many months or years) in each type of job.
How long - Job Type did you work?Part Time Sheltered Workshop work over the past 5 years, based on sub-minimum wage piece rate in the following three areas: 5 Years
Contract paper shredding for a local bank contract, up to 2 hours/day
Janitorial contract at local gas station for 1 ½ hours/week
Piece-Rate, silk screen work at sheltered workshop, up to 5 hours/day

D. Check the block which describes the highest educational level you have completed:

[] Elementary school (Special Ed Diploma)**[X] High school graduate or G.E.D.
[] Some college [] College graduate
[] Post graduate courses [] Postgraduate degree
[] Trade or Vocational School [] Other (Specify):
If you completed college, list your major and degree(s) attained; if you completed one or more
courses in a trade or vocational school, list the trade(s) you learned: N/A

E. Describe any other training you have received: Life and Work Skill Training through XYZSI, a developmental disability services program, including general life skills, budgeting, quality awareness, mental health counseling, proper hygiene, silk screen operational duties, paper shredding duties, and janitorial duties.

F. Have you ever undergone a vocational evaluation? [] Yes [X] No

If yes, show the name, address and phone number of the person or organization who conducted the evaluation: N/A

G. Have you ever had a Plan for Achieving Self-Support before? [] Yes [X] No
If yes, please answer the following:

When was your prior plan approved (month/year)? N/A

When did it end (month/year)? N/A

What was your goal in the prior plan? N/A

Why did your prior plan not enable you to become self-supporting? N/A

Why do you believe that this plan will be successful? This plan will build on my current proven skills and interests in shredding paper in an office environment, and my negotiated agreement for employment at Local Hospital.

H. If someone is helping you prepare this plan, please give their name, address and telephone number: RSL, Organizational Consultant, Institute on Disabilities at the Anystate University, XXX Street, Anytown, Anystate 00000, (XXX) 111-0000; J. J., Day Services Supervisor & Supported Living Manager, P.O. Box XXX, Anytown, Anystate 00000, (XXX) 111-0000.

Do you want us to contact the person who is helping you if we need additional information about your
plan? [X] Yes [] No

Do you want us to send a copy of our decision on your plan to the person who is helping you?
[X] Yes [] No

Part III - Your Plan

List the steps, in sequence, that you will take to reach the goal and show the dates you expect to begin and complete each step. Be sure to show when you expect to purchase the items or services listed in Part IV.
Beginning; Completion Date; Step Date
I. Past Steps (Accomplishments to Date)
Approached Local Hospital and negotiated employment agreement for Confidential Paper Shredding
Position to be created at the Hospital based on my agreement to purchase a high volume paper shredder, in exchange for employment as a Paper Shredder "carved position." From 12/97 to 2/98.

Develop & Submit this PASS with XYZSI and the Institute, (to coordinate with State Vocational Rehabilitation Services). From 2/98 to 3/98.

Set Up PASS Checking Account with personal savings. From 2/98 to 3/98.

Apply and Receive State VR Services. From 2/98 to 8/98.

II. New Steps for PASS (Future Steps)
PASS reviewed and approved by SSA. From 3/98 to 4/98.

Receive PASS funds Retroactive to SSI application and PASS submission date of 3/1/98. From 4/98 to 4/98.

XYZSI Board of Directors Authorizes Loan co-signature and assists with securing loan to purchase shredder. From 4/98 to 4/98.

Purchase Paper Shredder. From 4/98 to 5/98.

Pay off loan on Paper Shredder. From 5/98 to 4/99.

Purchase Initial Work Clothes. From 4/98 to 5/98.

Begin Employment at Hospital and pay for transportation to and from work until PASS is completed. From 5/98 to 4/2000.

Employment at Hospital, with State Vocational Rehabilitation paying for Job Coaching per the following Schedule, based on 20 hours per week worked:
1st Week: 100% Coaching = 20 hours
2nd-4th Weeks: 90% Coaching = 54 hours
2nd Month: 60% Coaching = 48 hours
3rd Month: 30% Coaching = 24 hours From 5/98 to 8/98.

Begin PASS funded Job Coaching per the following schedule, based on increasing hours to 30 hours per week by the end of the 1st year, and to 40 hours per week by the end of the 2nd year:

4th - 12th Months: 20% Coaching = 156 hours
13th - 24th Months: 10% faded to 0% by the end of 24 months: 100 hours, From 8/98 to 4/2000.
PASS Completed achieving goal of working 40 hours per week with no job coaching required (Reduced Job Coaching from 100% support to 0% support in 24 months). From 4/2000 to 4/2000.

Part IV - Plan Expenditures and Disbursements

A. List the items or services you are buying or will need to buy in order to reach your goal. Be as specific as possible. Where applicable, include brand and model number of the item. (Do not include expenses you were paying prior to the beginning of your plan; only additional expenses incurred because of your plan can be approved.) Explain why each is needed to reach your goal. Also explain why less expensive alternatives will not meet your needs. Part III should show when you will purchase these items or services.

1. Item/service: Capital Shredder #2400VX Cost: $6,363.00
Vendor/provider: Capital Shredder Corporation
Why needed: Ownership of this shredder will create a single purpose job at a local hospital,
specifically developed for my skills and provide for long term employment security.
How will you pay for this item (e.g., one-time payment, monthly payment)? Monthly
How did you determine the cost? Cost of shredder and interest for loan purchase to begin work.

2. Item/service: Transportation to and from work Cost: $614.40
Vendor/provider: XYZSI or Co-worker mileage reimbursement at $.32/mile
Why needed: I cannot drive due to my disability and there is no public transportation in Anytown.
How will you pay for this item (e.g., one-time payment, monthly payment)? Weekly
How did you determine the cost? $.32/mile time 4 miles per day, for 5 day work weeks

3. Item/service: Initial work clothes Cost: $600.00
Vendor/provider: Anytown Mall in Anytown, Local clothing stores in Anytown, Anystate
Why needed: Initial work clothing for working in a hospital office environment
How will you pay for this item (e.g., one-time payment, monthly payment)? Two to three payments
How did you determine the cost? Personal Estimate from Experience of Staff at XYZSI & VR

4. Item/service: Job Coaching from 8/98 - 4/2000 Cost: $11,264.00
Vendor/provider: XYZSI in Anytown, Anystate
Why needed: To support my work skills development through a supported employment methodology designed to fade supports from an initial 100% coaching to 0% coaching over 24 months.
How will you pay for this item (e.g., one-time payment, monthly payment)? Quarterly
How did you determine the cost? XYZSI Contracted State VR Rate of $44.00/hour

B. If you propose to purchase, lease or rent a vehicle, please provide the following additional
information: I am not proposing to purchase, rent or lease a vehicle.

1. Do you currently have a valid driver's license? [] Yes [x] No - If no, Part III must include the steps necessary to attain a driver's license.

2. Explain why alternate forms of transportation (e.g., public transportation, cabs, having friends or relatives drive you) will not allow you to reach your goal? N/A

3. If you are proposing to purchase a vehicle, explain why renting or leasing are not sufficient. N/A

4. If you are proposing to purchase a new vehicle, explain why purchasing a reliable used vehicle is not sufficient. N/A

5. Explain why you chose the particular vehicle rather than a less expensive model. N/A

C. If you propose to purchase computer equipment or other expensive equipment, please explain why a less expensive alternative (e.g., rental or purchase of less expensive equipment) will not allow you to reach your goal. Explain why you need the capabilities of the particular computer/equipment you identified. Also, if you attend (or will attend) a school with a computer lab for student use, explain why use of that facility is not sufficient to meet your needs. Purchasing the Shredder outlined in this PASS is a critical component of the development and negotiations for my position at the hospital. The job I have created by agreeing to bring the resource of a Shredder with me as part of my employment tools is a function of the skills I possess and the need to "carve" a single purpose job that is both efficient for the hospital and productive for me. The equivalent resource for some people might be a college degree which is often worth ten's of thousands of dollars and fits such individual's abilities. I however will not achieve a college degree in my lifetime, but can make maximum use of owning a shredder that will allow me to do what I do well, and provide enough efficiency for the hospital to hire me to just do shredding versus anyone else in that position at the hospital that the hospital would need to hire for multiple task capabilities such as also answering phones, entering data, and tasks that I cannot accomplish due to my disability. Ownership of this resource makes me employable in a small rural environment and levels the playing field for me where without such a resource for the past 12 years I have only been able to secure part time piece rate sub minimum wage work. It is my college degree equivalent in my home town.

D. If you indicated in Part II that you have a college degree or specialized training, and your plan includes additional education or training, explain why the education/training you already received is not sufficient to allow you to be self-supporting. N/A

Part V - Income/Resource Exclusion

A. List any items you already own (e.g., equipment or property) which you will use to reach your goal. Show the value of each item and explain why you need each of the items to attain your goal. None

B. What money do you already have saved to pay for the expenses listed in Part IV? (Include cash on hand or money in a bank account)? $600 I will deposit in my PASS account in the first two months of 3/98 - 4/98 to keep my PASS deposit steady even though my employment will not start until 5/98 with the needed additional wages of 20 hours per week starting pay at $5.15 per hour.

C. Other than the earnings shown in Part I, what income do you receive (or expect to receive)? (Show how much you receive and how frequently you receive or expect to receive it.) $590.00 SSDI/Month

D. How much of this money will you use each month to pay for the expenses listed in Part IV?
$570.00 per month, plus the additional amount required from part of my wages to meet the budget I outlined in the previous section.

E. Do you plan to save any or all of this money for a future purchase which is necessary to complete your goal? [X] Yes [] No
If yes, explain how you will keep the money separate from other money you have. (If you will keep the savings in a separate bank account, give the name and address of the bank and the account number.):

F. What are your current living expenses each month (e.g., rent, food, utilities, etc.)? $450.00
If the amount of income you will have available for living expenses after making payments or saving money for your plan expenses is less than your current living expenses, explain how you will pay for those living expenses. The amount of income I will have available is the same with or without a PASS due to being in a Medicaid Spend-down, HCBS waiver

G. Do you expect any other person or organization (e.g., Vocational Rehabilitation) to pay for or reimburse you for any part of the items and services listed in Part IV or to provide any other items or services you will need? [X] Yes [] No If yes, please provide details as follows: When will the item or Who will pay Item/service Amount service be purchased? Anystate Vocational Rehabilitation will pay for my initial intensive job coaching for the first three months at $44.00 per hour for 146 hours for a total of $6424.00 before my PASS funded job coaching begins.

Part VI - Remarks

Thank you for your patience and support in processing and approving my PASS. I intend to work diligently to achieve my goals. My intention is to achieve full (40 hour per week) employment and to reduce my job coaching from 100% to 0% in 24 months.

Part VII - Agreement

If my plan is approved, I agree to:

o Comply with all of the terms and conditions of the plan as approved by the Social Security Administration (SSA);

o Report any changes in my plan to SSA Immediately;

o Keep records and receipts of all expenditures I make under the plan until the next review of my plan at which time I will provide them to SSA;

o Use the Income or resources set aside under the plan only to buy the items or services approved by SSA.

I realize that if I do not comply with the terms of the plan or if I use the Income or resources set aside under my plan for any other purpose, SSA will count the income or resources that were excluded and I may have to repay the additional SSI I received. I also realize that SSA may not approve any expenditures for which I do not submit receipts or other proof of payment.

I know that anyone who makes or causes to be made a false statement or representation of material fact in an application for use in determining a right to payment under the Social Security Act commits a crime punishable under Federal Law and/or State Law. I affirm that all the information I have given on this form is true.

Signature _______________________ Date___________________________

Privacy Act Statement

The Social Security Administration is allowed to collect the information on this form under section 1631 (e) of the Social Security Act. We need this information to determine if we can approve you plan for achieving self-support. Giving us this information is voluntary. However, without it, we may not be able to approve you plan. Social Security will not use the information for any other purpose.

We would give out the facts on this form without your consent only in certain situations. For example, we give out this information if a Federal law requires us to or if your Congressional Representative or Senator needs the information to answer questions you ask them.

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 requires us to notify you that this information collection is in accordance with the clearance requirements of section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. We may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number.

TIME IT TAKES TO COMPLETE THIS FORM

We estimate that it will take you about 45 minutes to complete this form. This includes the time it will take to read the instructions, gather the necessary facts and fill out the form. If you have comments or suggestions on this estimate, write to the Social Security Administration, ATTN: Reports Clearance Officer, 1-A-21 Operations Bldg., Baltimore, MD 21235. Send only comments relating to our "time it takes" estimate to the office listed above. All requests for Social Security cards and other claims-related information should be sent to your local Social Security office, whose address is listed under Social Security Administration in the U.S. Government section of your telephone directory.

RECEIPT FOR YOUR PLAN FOR ACHIEVING SELF-SUPPORT

We received the plan for achieving self-support which you submitted. We will process your plan as soon as possible.

You should hear from us within _______ days. We will send you a letter telling you if your plan is approved. We will notify you if we need additional information before making a decision on your plan. We may ask you to modify your plan.

YOUR REPORTING AND RECORD KEEPING RESPONSIBILITIES

If we approve your plan, you must tell Social Security about any changes to your plan. You must tell us if:

o Your medical condition improves.

o You are unable to follow your plan.

o You decide not to pursue your goal or decide to pursue a different goal.

o You decide that you do not need to pay for any of the expenses you listed in your plan.

o Someone else pays for any of your plan expenses.

o You use the income or resources we exclude for a purpose other than the expenses specified in your plan.

o There are any other changes to your plan.

You must tell us about any of these things within 10 days following the month in which it happens. If you do not report any of these things, we may stop your plan.

You should also tell us if you decide that you need to pay for other expenses not listed in you plan in order to reach your goal. We may be able to modify your plan or change the amount of income we exclude so you can pay for the additional expenses.

YOU MUST KEEP RECEIPTS OR CANCELED CHECKS TO SHOW WHAT EXPENSES YOU PAID FOR AS PART OF THE PLAN. You need to keep these receipts or canceled checks until we contact you to find out if you are still following your plan. When we contact you, we will ask to see the receipts or canceled checks. If you are not following the plan, you may have to pay back the some or all of the SSI you received.