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Impairment Related Work Expense - SSI

If you need to pay for certain items or services in order to be able to work, you may be able to use the SSI Work Incentive (WI) called an Impairment-Related Work Expense (IRWE). The expense must, as its name implies, be related to your impairment and be needed in order to work. It can not be an expense that any similar worker without a disability would also have (such as purchase of a uniform, or bus fares if the bus is not specifically used for transporting you because of your disability).

If your SSA Claims Representative agrees that your claimed work expenses can be included in an IRWE, you may recover up to 50% of those expenses by having your SSI check increased up to its maximum amount. Exactly how much your SSI benefit may increase depends on your living situation, your earned and unearned income, and the amount of your IRWE.

Use WorkWORLD to see how much, if any, your benefit will be raised in your specific situation.

For more information about IRWEs and the types of expenses that may and may not be included in an IRWE, see:

·     IRWE Overview

NOTE: In the 2001 version of its "Red Book," the Social Security Administration (SSA) began using the term "Employment Supports" in place of "Work Incentives." See the SSA Red Book topic for additional information. The latest version of SSA's Red Book on Employment Support is available at:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/redbook/

See Also:

SSI Work Incentives

Work Incentives Overview

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