Who Qualifies for a PASS?
To be eligible for a PASS, you must meet both of the following:
- You currently receive SSI, OR you could become eligible for SSI if your PASS is approved.
- You have a specific, feasible work goal.
The second condition is key. A PASS is not a savings account you can fund with no strings attached. Social Security will review whether your goal is realistic given your education, experience, and disability situation. If you currently receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) but have too much income to qualify for SSI, a PASS can help: you set aside part of your SSDI benefit to pay for work expenses, reducing your countable income enough to become SSI-eligible and receive both programs simultaneously.
There is no age cutoff, but your work goal must be achievable within a reasonable timeframe. Work goals that commonly get approved include:
- Completing a college or vocational degree
- Obtaining a professional certification or license
- Starting a small business
- Purchasing equipment needed for self-employment
- Paying for transportation, childcare, or assistive technology tied to a specific job
How a PASS Affects Your SSI Payment
The core benefit of a PASS is an income exclusion. Here is how the math works in 2026.
2026 SSI Federal Benefit Rates
| Household Type | Monthly FBR |
|---|
| Individual | $994 |
| Couple (both SSI-eligible) | $1,491 |
Without a PASS, SSI counts most unearned income dollar for dollar against your benefit after a $20 general exclusion. If you receive $400 per month in SSDI, for instance, Social Security subtracts $380 from your $994 FBR, leaving you with a $614 SSI payment.
With an approved PASS, you can designate some or all of that $400 toward your plan expenses. Social Security removes it from countable income before running the SSI calculation. If you set aside the full $400 for PASS expenses, your countable income drops to zero (after the $20 exclusion), and your SSI payment increases back toward the full $994 FBR.
Resources set aside for your PASS are also excluded from the SSI resource limit, which is $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples in 2026. Money in a dedicated PASS account does not count toward those caps.
What Expenses Does a PASS Cover?
Your PASS expenses must be directly tied to reaching your specific work goal. Social Security evaluates each line item to confirm it is necessary and reasonably priced.
Commonly approved PASS expenses:
| Expense Category | Examples |
|---|
| Education and training | Tuition, textbooks, course fees, tutoring |
| Transportation | Vehicle purchase or modification, public transit passes, rideshare costs |
| Assistive technology | Screen readers, hearing aids, adaptive computers, mobility aids |
| Business startup costs | Equipment, inventory, licensing fees, website |
| Childcare | Daycare or after-school care required for you to attend school or work |
| Uniforms and tools | Work clothing, specialized tools, safety gear |
| Vocational services | Job coaching, resume writing, occupational therapy |
Expenses that are not connected to your stated work goal will not be approved. If your goal is to become a licensed electrician, Social Security may approve tools and certification fees, but not a general-purpose laptop unless you demonstrate it is needed for coursework.
How to Write a Strong PASS Plan
The quality of your PASS application determines whether it gets approved, revised, or rejected. A PASS Specialist at Social Security reviews every submission and will contact you if changes are needed. Here is what a strong plan includes.
Work Goal
State a specific, realistic occupation or business. "I want to work" is too vague. "I plan to complete an 18-month medical coding certification and work as a remote medical coder earning approximately $38,000 annually" gives the reviewer what they need.
Timeline
Break your plan into phases with target completion dates. Social Security wants to see a clear path from where you are now to paid employment. Include milestones like enrollment date, expected graduation, credential exam date, and anticipated start of work.
Budget
List every expense item by category, amount, and timing. If tuition is $3,200 per semester, show two semesters at $3,200 each. Get written quotes or use current catalog prices for equipment. Vague or rounded figures raise questions.
Funding Source
Identify which income or resources you will set aside for PASS expenses. This must come from income other than SSI itself (SSI cannot be the source). Common sources include SSDI, wages from part-time work, or money in a savings account.
Separate Account
You must keep PASS funds in a bank account separate from your everyday money. Show the account information on your application. This separation proves you are actually directing funds toward your goal rather than spending them on living expenses.
Business Plan
If your work goal involves self-employment or starting a business, you must include a business plan. It does not need to be elaborate, but it should describe the product or service, projected revenue, startup costs, and how you will sustain operations.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1: Identify your work goal
Before you fill out anything, settle on a specific, achievable occupation or business. Research typical earnings to confirm the goal would meaningfully reduce your dependence on SSI.
Step 2: Contact a PASS Specialist
Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask to speak with or be referred to a PASS Specialist. These are SSA employees trained specifically to review and help develop PASS plans. You can also call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842, where counselors can help you draft your plan before submission.
Step 3: Complete Form SSA-545-BK
Download Form SSA-545-BK from the SSA website at ssa.gov/forms/ssa-545.html or pick up a paper copy at your local Social Security office. The form walks through your work goal, timeline, expenses, and funding source.
Step 4: Gather supporting documents
Supporting documentation strengthens your application. Useful documents include:
- School acceptance letters or enrollment confirmation
- Itemized vendor quotes for equipment or services
- Vehicle estimates if transportation is part of your plan
- Business licenses or permits if applicable
- Statements showing your current income sources
Step 5: Submit your application
You can mail the completed form and documents to your local Social Security office, hand-deliver them, or ask your PASS Specialist to walk through a joint submission. Keep copies of everything you send.
Step 6: PASS Specialist review
A PASS Specialist reviews your plan within several weeks. If revisions are needed, they will contact you directly to discuss changes. If approved, Social Security will send you a written approval letter that specifies the duration of your plan and the monthly amount you may set aside.
Step 7: Open a dedicated account
Once approved, open a separate checking or savings account for PASS funds. Transfer the approved monthly amount into this account. Keep receipts for every purchase made from it.
Step 8: Progress reviews
Social Security reviews active PASS plans regularly, typically every 12 months. You will need to show that you are spending funds as stated in your plan and making progress toward your work goal. If your circumstances change, notify your PASS Specialist promptly. Plans can be modified if your goal or timeline needs to shift.
PASS and Other SSI Work Incentives
A PASS works alongside other SSI work incentives rather than replacing them. Here are the most relevant interactions.
Earned Income Exclusion: SSI excludes the first $65 of monthly earned income plus half of anything above that. This exclusion applies separately from your PASS. If you are working part-time while your PASS is active, you get both the earned income exclusion and the PASS exclusion.
Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE): If you are under 22 and regularly attending school, SSI excludes up to $2,410 per month of earned income in 2026 (annual cap of $9,730). This can stack with a PASS if you are simultaneously working and running a PASS for education-related expenses.
Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE): SSI deducts IRWEs, which are disability-related costs you pay to work (like medication or special transportation), from your earned income before the standard calculation. IRWEs and PASS cover different expense types. IRWEs apply only to earned income; a PASS can cover startup costs, training, and resource set-asides regardless of employment status.
Ticket to Work: The Social Security Ticket to Work program assigns you a "Ticket" you can use with approved Employment Networks and State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies. Using your Ticket alongside a PASS can provide additional job placement services and vocational support at no cost to you.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using SSI itself as the PASS funding source: SSI payments cannot be set aside under a PASS. The income you use must come from other sources such as SSDI, wages, or existing resources.
Setting a work goal that is not feasible: Social Security will reject a plan if the work goal is not attainable given your situation. Be realistic about your timeline and choose a goal that matches your experience and medical condition.
Mixing PASS funds with everyday accounts: Keeping PASS funds in your regular checking account is a compliance problem. Open a separate account immediately upon approval.
Not keeping receipts: During your annual review, you must show that PASS spending matched your approved budget. Missing receipts for approved purchases can put your plan at risk.
Waiting too long to report changes: If your job goal, income, or timeline changes significantly, tell your PASS Specialist right away. Unreported changes can result in overpayment notices.
How Benefits Navigator Can Help
Figuring out whether a PASS makes sense for your situation involves looking at your current income, resource levels, SSDI receipt, and work goal all at once. Our free screener at /screener can help you identify which SSI work incentives you may be eligible for and estimate how they could affect your monthly payment. There is no cost and no obligation to use it.
If you want to explore other benefit programs at the same time, including SNAP, Medicaid, or housing assistance, the screener checks eligibility across 11 programs in a single session.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a PASS plan and an ABLE account?
Both allow people with disabilities to set aside money without affecting certain benefit calculations, but they work differently. A PASS is tied to a specific work goal and must be approved by Social Security. An ABLE account is a tax-advantaged savings account for disability-related expenses, not limited to employment. You can have both simultaneously. ABLE accounts have annual contribution limits ($18,000 in 2026 for most states); PASS plans have no separate contribution cap beyond what your approved budget specifies.
Can I have a PASS if I only receive SSDI and not SSI?
Not directly, but a PASS can make you eligible for SSI. If your SSDI benefit is high enough that you do not currently qualify for SSI, you can set aside part of that SSDI under a PASS, reducing your countable income below the SSI threshold. Once SSI-eligible, you receive both SSDI and SSI simultaneously, and the PASS income exclusion keeps both benefits in place while you work toward your goal.
How long can a PASS last?
There is no hard maximum duration, but your plan must include a specific timeline tied to your work goal. Plans are written in phases and reviewed regularly. Short-term goals like a one-year certification program may result in a 12-to-18-month plan. Longer goals like a four-year degree or multi-phase business launch can run several years. Social Security can extend an approved plan if you are making progress and the timeline adjustment is reasonable.
What happens to my benefits when I reach my work goal?
Once you complete your PASS and are earning enough from work to reduce or eliminate your SSI eligibility, your SSI payment adjusts based on your earned income using the standard exclusions. If your income eventually exceeds SSI eligibility, you lose the SSI payment, but you may still retain Medicaid through Section 1619(b), which allows people who earned SSI at least once to keep Medicaid even after losing the cash benefit due to earnings.
Can I modify a PASS plan after it is approved?
Yes. If your situation changes, for example your school program adds a semester, the cost of equipment increased, or your work goal shifts, contact your PASS Specialist to request a modification. Major changes require written amendment and re-approval. Minor adjustments are sometimes handled informally. Do not change how you use PASS funds without getting the modification approved first.
Who reviews my PASS application?
Every PASS application is reviewed by a PASS Specialist, an SSA employee with specific training in this program. PASS Specialists are centralized in regional offices and assigned based on your state. Your local Social Security office can connect you with the correct specialist. Specialists often work collaboratively with applicants before submission to improve the plan's likelihood of approval.
What if my PASS is denied?
If Social Security denies your PASS, you have the right to appeal. The denial letter will explain the specific reason. Common reasons include a work goal deemed not feasible, expenses that are not sufficiently tied to the goal, or missing documentation. You can request reconsideration within 60 days of the denial. Working with a benefits counselor or PASS Specialist to revise the plan before resubmitting is often the most efficient path.
