2009 Red Book

Employment supports, in general, are special rules that help you return to work or work for the first time. Congress included language in the law specifically to make it easier for individuals who are blind to go to work. Some of these rules apply only to individuals who are blind.

Blindness is central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with best correction, or a limitation in the field of vision in the better eye so that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle of 20 degrees or less.

No. Under SSDI, this condition has to have lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months. There is no duration requirement for blindness under SSI.

Blind work expenses (BWE) are available if you receive SSI based on blindness (see the section on BWE for more information). Impairment related work expenses (IRWE) are available if you receive SSDI based on blindness (see the section on IRWE).

How SGA is Applied under SSDI to Individuals Who Are Blind

We change the SGA level for beneficiaries who are blind every year to reflect changes in general wage levels. For the year 2009, if you are blind, average monthly earnings over $1,640 will ordinarily demonstrate that you are performing SGA. This is higher than the current guideline for non-blind disabled workers.

REMINDER:  If you are blind, you may use any or all of the deductions from earnings that apply to SGA decisions.

How is SGA applied to blind SSDI beneficiaries who are self-employed?

How is SGA applied to SSDI beneficiaries who are blind and age 55 or older?

Does SGA apply to individuals who are blind under SSI?

Blind Work Expenses (BWE) — SSI Eligible

We do not count any earned income that you use to meet expenses that are needed to earn that income in deciding your SSI eligibility and your payment amount. To qualify you must be eligible for SSI based on blindness.

The BWE items do not have to be related to your blindness.
When we figure your SSI payment amount, we treat items as BWE instead of IRWE. We do it this way because it always results in a higher SSI payment amount for you. The table below shows how your monthly payment would be affected by BWE versus IRWE.

• 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, and
• Union dues.

Accommodations for Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually-Impaired

We recognize our duty to inform you of your rights and responsibilities under our programs.

We make every reasonable effort to maintain the accessibility of our web sites:

• www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityresearch
• www.socialsecurity.gov/redbook
• www.socialsecurity.gov/work

We can send letters and other correspondence to you by first class mail followed by a telephone call to explain the information in the letter; by first class mail, without a telephone call, or by certified mail. Please let us know your preference.

This book, The Red Book, and some other publications are available in alternative media. You can get some of these materials in Braille, audiocassette tape, disk, or enlarged print form. A list of the publications available in alternate formats can be found on our web site at: www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/alt-pubs.html

You may order these publications while you are online, or you may contact our Braille Services Team by telephone at: 410-965-6414, or 410-965-6407, or by fax at 410-965-6413. TTY users may call 1-800-325-0778.