Utah SSI Work Incentives — SEIE, PASS, and the 2026 SGA Limit

Working on SSI Does Not Mean Losing SSI

The fear that earning any income will eliminate SSI benefits stops many Utah families from encouraging employment. But federal work incentive programs are specifically designed to let SSI recipients work without an immediate, total loss of benefits.

The key threshold is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). In 2026, the SGA limit for non-blind individuals is $1,690 per month ($2,830 for individuals who are blind). Earning above SGA can disqualify someone from disability benefits — but several exclusions and programs reduce countable income well below gross earnings.

Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)

For SSI recipients under age 22 who are regularly attending school, the SEIE is one of the most generous work incentives available. In 2026, up to $2,410 per month of earned income is excluded from SSI calculations, with an annual cap of $9,730.

"Regularly attending school" includes public or private school, college, vocational training, and home instruction programs that meet state standards. Post-high transition programs count — so a 19-year-old attending a Utah post-high school transition program and working part-time can exclude a substantial portion of their earnings.

The exclusion is applied before any other income calculation. If a student earns $2,000 per month, the entire amount is excluded under SEIE, and their SSI payment remains unchanged.

Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)

A PASS plan lets an SSI recipient set aside income and resources for a specific work goal — such as completing a training program, starting a small business, or purchasing equipment needed for employment. The money set aside under a PASS does not count as income or resources for SSI purposes.

To establish a PASS, you submit a written plan to SSA that describes the work goal, the steps to achieve it, the timeline, and how the set-aside funds will be used. SSA assigns a PASS specialist (called a PASS cadre) to review and approve the plan.

PASS plans are underused in Utah. They require effort to write and submit, but for individuals with specific vocational goals, they can protect thousands of dollars in income that would otherwise reduce SSI payments.

The Utah State Office of Rehabilitation (USOR) VR counselors can help develop a PASS plan as part of the Individualized Plan for Employment.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)

If a disabled individual pays for items or services needed to work because of their disability, those costs are deducted from earned income before SSI calculates the benefit. Common IRWEs include:

• Specialized transportation to and from work
• Attendant care services during work hours
• Medical devices, medications, or therapies needed to maintain employment
• Modified equipment or workplace accommodations the individual pays for

The deduction applies only to disability-related expenses directly connected to working. A prescription medication needed regardless of employment does not qualify, but a medication required specifically to function in a work environment does.

Section 1619(b) — Medicaid While Working

Even when earned income reduces the SSI cash payment to zero, Medicaid coverage can continue under Section 1619(b). In 2026, the Utah threshold for 1619(b) Medicaid continuation is $40,026 in annual earnings.

To qualify, the individual must have been eligible for SSI in the prior month, still meet all non-income SSI criteria, and need Medicaid to continue working.

For individuals earning above the 1619(b) threshold, Utah's Medicaid Work Incentive (MWI) program offers coverage for working adults with disabilities who have countable income up to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level ($3,325 per month in 2026) and countable assets up to $15,000. The MWI requires active employment, tax payment on earnings, and a monthly premium based on income.

Putting It Together

Work incentives interact in layers. A student might use SEIE to exclude $2,410 per month, then apply IRWE to deduct disability-related work costs from the remainder, then set aside additional income under a PASS plan. The net effect can preserve a full or nearly full SSI payment while the individual earns meaningful wages.

The Utah SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide includes a benefits summary worksheet that maps these incentives against actual earnings — showing families exactly how each dollar of income flows through the exclusion hierarchy.

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