PASS Plan SSI Virginia: How a Plan to Achieve Self-Support Works

What a PASS Plan Does

A Plan to Achieve Self-Support is one of SSI's most powerful — and least understood — work incentives. It lets an SSI recipient set aside income or resources that would normally count against their SSI eligibility, directing those funds toward a specific work goal instead.

Without a PASS, any income above the standard exclusions reduces the SSI payment dollar for dollar (unearned) or at a 2:1 ratio (earned). Resources above $2,000 disqualify the individual entirely. A PASS creates a protected channel: money flowing into the plan doesn't count as income, and money saved in a PASS account doesn't count as a resource.

For Virginia families navigating the transition from school to adult employment, a PASS plan can mean the difference between choosing employment and choosing benefits — because with a PASS, your adult child doesn't have to choose.

How PASS Works in Practice

A PASS plan requires four elements:

A specific, viable work goal. This isn't "get a job someday." The SSA requires a clearly defined employment objective — becoming a self-employed graphic designer, working as a veterinary technician, starting a janitorial service. The goal must be achievable given the individual's abilities and the available labor market.

An itemized list of expenses needed to reach the goal. These are the costs the PASS will cover — things like trade school tuition, certification exam fees, a laptop for remote work, vehicle modifications for commuting, professional equipment, or the start-up costs for a small business. Each expense must directly connect to achieving the work goal.

A timeline. PASS plans must have a defined start and end date. Most plans run 12 to 48 months, though extensions are possible if the goal is on track but needs more time.

A dedicated PASS account. All income or resources set aside under the plan must go into a separate, restricted bank account used exclusively for PASS expenses. This money is invisible to the SSI resource test.

What Income Can Fund a PASS

The income sheltered by a PASS can come from several sources:

• Earned income from employment — your adult child's wages can flow into the PASS account instead of reducing their SSI payment
• Unearned income — DAC benefits, SSDI, pensions, or any other non-work income
• Resources — savings, investments, or other assets that would otherwise push the individual over the $2,000 resource limit

The sheltered amount is excluded from the SSI income calculation, which means the SSI payment stays higher (or at the full $994 in 2026) while the individual simultaneously saves toward their work goal. This is the mechanism that makes PASS so valuable: it effectively lets your child keep their SSI benefit and invest in their employment future at the same time.

Examples of PASS-Funded Expenses

The SSA approves PASS plans for a wide range of employment-related costs. In Virginia, common approved expenses include:

• Community college or trade school tuition — culinary arts programs, IT certifications, welding programs, cosmetology school
• Work-related transportation — vehicle purchase or modifications, public transit passes, rideshare costs during training periods
• Assistive technology for employment — screen readers, adaptive keyboards, communication devices used on the job
• Business start-up costs — equipment, licensing fees, inventory for self-employment ventures
• Childcare during training or work hours (for parents with disabilities)
• Professional clothing and tools — uniforms, safety equipment, trade-specific tools

The SSA rejects expenses that aren't directly connected to the work goal. General living expenses, recreational purchases, and items unrelated to employment don't qualify.

How to Submit a PASS Plan

PASS plans are submitted on Form SSA-545 (Plan to Achieve Self-Support) to the SSA's PASS Cadre — a specialized unit that reviews and monitors PASS plans nationwide. The form requires detailed information about the work goal, the budget, the timeline, and how the individual will transition from benefits dependence to earned income.

Because the form is detailed and the SSA's approval criteria are specific, most families benefit from working with a PASS specialist. Virginia's DARS vocational rehabilitation counselors often help develop PASS plans as part of the Individualized Plan for Employment. Additionally, the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program provides free benefits counseling that includes PASS plan development.

After approval, the SSA reviews the plan periodically to confirm the individual is following the timeline, spending PASS funds on approved expenses, and making progress toward the work goal. If the plan goes off track, the SSA may modify or terminate it.

How PASS Interacts with Virginia Programs

A PASS plan coordinates with several Virginia-specific programs:

DARS vocational rehabilitation — DARS and PASS are natural partners. DARS provides the employment services (job coaching, training, placement), while the PASS plan protects the individual's SSI during the training period. Many DARS counselors build PASS plans into the vocational rehabilitation strategy from the start.

Medicaid Works — Virginia's Medicaid Works program lets employed individuals earn up to $75,000 per year while maintaining Medicaid. PASS-sheltered income doesn't conflict with Medicaid Works enrollment. The two programs can run simultaneously — PASS protecting SSI eligibility and sheltering income toward a work goal, while Medicaid Works protecting healthcare coverage as employment income grows.

ABLEnow — Resources in an ABLEnow account are already excluded from SSI's resource limit (up to $100,000). PASS-sheltered funds go into a separate dedicated account, not into ABLEnow. The two accounts serve different purposes — ABLEnow for general disability-related savings, PASS for employment-goal-specific expenses.

The Virginia SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide includes a complete walkthrough of SSI work incentives including PASS, SEIE, and earned income exclusions, showing how each tool fits into a coordinated employment strategy.

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