Students and Youth with Disabilities:
Exploring Work Incentives

Welcome to the California Department of Rehabilitation’s page for students and youth with disabilities who receive Social Security benefits. We’re here to help you understand how you can explore work and education opportunities while still keeping important benefits that support your independence and goals.

This page is a helpful resource for students, families, educators, and counselors who want to learn about Social Security Work Incentives, including tools that make it easy to go to work or school without losing your benefits.

Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) (new tab)

If you're under 22 and receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), SEIE allows you to earn money from work without it counting fully against your SSI payments. This means you can work part-time while staying in school and still keep most of your monthly SSI.

Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) (new tab)

The PASS program lets you set aside money from work or other income to reach your career or education goals. You can use these funds for things like tuition, transportation, or job training—without reducing your SSI eligibility.

Ticket to Work Program (new tab)

This free and voluntary program supports people with disabilities, ages 18 to 64, who want to work. It offers help with career counseling, job training, job placement, and long-term support from DOR and authorized providers. Find a Ticket to Work Provider. (new tab)

Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) (new tab)

Students who incur expenses related to their disability that enable them to work can deduct these costs from their earnings for SSI eligibility.

Blind Work Expenses (BWE) (new tab)

Special deductions from earned income are available for students who are blind, allowing them to exclude a broader range of expenses from earnings calculations.

Section 301 Continued Payments (new tab)

This incentive allows continued SSI or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments for students participating in vocational rehabilitation or similar programs when their medical condition improves.

Additional Resources and Tools

SSA Red Book (new tab)

Comprehensive guide outlining all Social Security employment supports, with practical examples.

Disability Benefits 101 (new tab)

Interactive tools and information tailored for Californians to navigate work incentives and benefits.

Youth Transition Toolkit (new tab)

Toolkit designed to support the transition from school to work, providing resources for educators, parents, and students.

Job Accommodation Network (JAN) (new tab)

Resource providing free, confidential advice on job accommodation and disability employment issues.

Social Security Office Locator (new tab)

Find your nearest Social Security office for personalized assistance.