Mission Possible Employment Services

01/02/2025

As we begin a new year Social Security is making some changes to better serve you. One of the most important is a change to accessing In-Person services. Check out the following link for more information about this change that goes into effect January 6, and other changes.

Social Security Update Archive

11/19/2024

Are you a disabled veteran who receives Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI) looking to join the civilian workforce? Join ’s next Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) webinar on November 20 at 3 p.m. ET to learn how Ticket to Work service providers can help disabled veterans successfully transition into a new career.

Attend a free Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) online webinar to learn about the Ticket to Work program or Work Incentives.

09/18/2024

As summer turns to autumn we're looking forward to cooler temperatures! We'd like to share a blog from SSA on remarrying affecting benefits. Check it out here!

Whether it’s a morning ceremony or an evening gala, excitement is in the air. You’re getting remarried! We can help you with Social Security-related questions regarding your remarriage.

08/08/2024

Summer is in full swing, some may even say it's coming to a close, but we - the MPES team - are still enjoying the summer and all it's bringing with it!

SSA is hosting a webinar, check out the link below for more information:

Want to work from home? Learn how Ticket to Work and service providers can help you on your path to employment. Join ’s next Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE) webinar on August 28 at 3 p.m. ET.

Attend a free Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) online webinar to learn about the Ticket to Work program or Work Incentives.

07/10/2024

On May 9 the Social Security Administration issues a news release: Social Security to Expand Access to SSI Program by Updating Definition of a Public Assistance Household. Following you will find the News Release.

The Social Security Administration recently published a final rule, “Expand the Definition of a Public Assistance Household.” This final rule announces one of several updates to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) regulations that will help people receiving and applying for SSI. SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness, and to adults aged 65 and older. These benefits help pay for basic needs like rent, food, clothing, and medicine. People applying for and receiving SSI must meet eligibility requirements, including income and resource limits.

Under the final rule, beginning September 30, 2024, the agency will expand the definition of a public assistance household to include households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments and households where not all members receive public assistance. The expanded definition will allow more people to qualify for SSI, increase some SSI recipients’ payment amounts, and reduce reporting burdens for individuals living in public assistance households.

The revised rule also changes the definition of a public assistance household when determining who in a household receives public assistance. The new rule defines a public assistance household as one that has both an SSI applicant or recipient, and at least one other household member who receives one or more of the listed means-tested public income-maintenance (PIM) payments (the any other definition). The previous policy required all household members to receive public assistance. This change benefits SSI recipients living in households where only some members receive public assistance.

“I’m committed to making systemic changes to help people access the critical benefits they need, including SSI,” said Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security. “By simplifying our policies and including an additional program geared towards low-income families, such as the SNAP, we are removing significant barriers to accessing SSI. These changes promote greater equity in our programs.”

SNAP is the first PIM benefit added to the agency’s public assistance household definition since it was established in 1980. This change helps ensure the agency’s policies better represent the current landscape of means-tested programs in the United States.

These changes are key because, if an applicant or recipient is determined to be living in a public assistance household, the agency assumes they are not receiving assistance from other household members that would otherwise be counted as income. This will allow more people to qualify for SSI and in some cases, receive a higher SSI payment.

This regulation update is one of several that Social Security is publishing to improve the SSI program. The agency recently announced it will exclude the value of food from SSI benefit calculations. (Refer to Press Release | Press Office | SSA) The agency also recently announced it will expand its rental subsidy exception, currently only in place for SSI applicants and recipients residing in seven States, as a nationwide policy. (Refer to Press Release | Press Office | SSA)

Social Security continuously examines programmatic policy and makes regulatory and sub-regulatory changes as appropriate.

For more information on the SSI program, including who is eligible and how to apply, visit Supplemental Security Income (SSI) | SSA.

To read the final rule “Expand the Definition of a Public Assistance Household,” visit Federal Register: Expand the Definition of a Public Assistance Household.

05/28/2024

A recent letter from SSA on Overpayments.

Dear Colleague,

We strive to provide you with valuable information to help your clients avoid unnecessary financial burden, such as overpayments. Overpayments occur when your clients receive more money than they are due. By law, we are required to adjust benefits or recover debts when that happens. Your clients can avoid overpayments by reporting changes in income, resources, work, earnings, and living arrangements that could affect their benefits, as soon as possible.

If your client receives an overpayment notice, they can:

Repay the Overpayment – If they agree with the overpayment and are currently receiving benefits, they can make a payment in full, through monthly benefit withholding, or through a repayment plan by check, money order, or credit card. If they are not currently receiving benefits, they can make a full or partial repayment using Pay.gov or their bank’s online bill pay option. We offer flexible repayment plans, including payments as low as $10 per month.
Request an Appeal – If they disagree with the overpayment or believe the overpayment amount is incorrect, they can request a review of the decision by completing form SSA-561-U2, Request for Reconsideration. The appeal must be filed within 60 days of receiving the overpayment notice.
Request a Waiver – If they believe they did not cause the overpayment, the overpayment is unfair, or cannot afford to repay the overpayment, they can request to relieve some or all the amount due by completing form SSA-632-BK, Request for Waiver of Overpayment Recovery.
We simplified our waiver request form to make it easier to understand and less burdensome for people to request a waiver.

If they believe they are not at fault and the overpayment is $1,000 or less, they may request a waiver by calling 1-800-772-1213 or their local Social Security office. We may be able to process their request quickly by phone without having to submit a paper form.

Request a Different Repayment Amount – We offer flexible repayment plans, including payments as low as $10 per month. If they are unable to meet their necessary living expenses due to the current repayment amount, or are unable to repay the debt within 60 months*, they can request a change in the recovery rate by completing form SSA-634, Request for Change in Overpayment Recovery Rate. *This is a recent policy change. Previous policy required the completion of the SSA-634 if the overpayment could not be repaid within 36 months.
For more information, please read the Overpayments Fact Sheet.

Please share this important information with your members, colleagues, affiliates, and other interested parties. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Dawn Bystry
Associate Commissioner
Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
oea.net.post@ssa.gov

05/21/2024

Looking for a job? Join for the next Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) webinar on May 22 at 3 p.m. ET to learn about apprenticeships, working for the federal government, and how Ticket to Work can help you advance your job search.

Attend a free Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) online webinar to learn about the Ticket to Work program or Work Incentives.

02/02/2024

This week's blog focuses on the process for applying for disability benefits and how we can help. If you're in need of assistance check out our blog and contact us.

https://mpes.net/the-life-of-your-social-security-claim/

01/25/2024

Time for a new blog...this week we're sharing the importance of considering an appeal on a favorable decision. Check it out here if you've had a favorable decision that you want to appeal.

https://mpes.net/appealing-a-favorable-decision/

01/02/2024

Are you worried about working while receiving SSDI benefits? There are safety nets abailable to you. Check out our blog this week to learn more about one of the four important tools used by SSA.
https://mpes.net/subsidy-special-conditions/

12/07/2023

Have you wondered what it takes to get a favorable decision on your disability case? Social Security evaluates your ability to work based on exertional levels. Check out our blog for more detailson the process:

Exertional Levels Dec 7, 2023 | Uncategorised | 0 comments When looking at your ability to work Social Security evaluates exertional levels. Exertional Level (Level of Exertion) is a work classification defining the functional requirements of work, in terms of the primary strength that activities re...