YOUR TEEN CAN WORK
UNDERSTANDING WORK INCENTIVES
Work is about more than earning money. Employment gives your teen a sense of purpose, builds confidence, develops skills, and creates opportunities for independence and community connection. Work experience during the teen years helps your child discover their talents, learn job skills, and build a foundation for adult employment.
Many parents worry that their teen working will cause them to lose SSI or Medicaid benefits. There are federal programs specifically designed to help your child work while keeping their benefits. These “work incentives” allow your teen to earn income, gain experience, and move toward financial independence without losing the healthcare coverage and support they need.
Getting Accurate Information About Your Teen’s Benefits:
Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office to discuss your specific situation and learn how work will affect your teen’s benefits.
Local Fort Wayne Social Security Office:
Social Security Administration
1000 East Main Street, Suite 201
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Phone: 1-800-772-1213
Website: www.ssa.gov
Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)
The Student Earned Income Exclusion allows students under age 22 to exclude earned income from SSI calculations. This means your teen can work and earn money while keeping their full SSI benefit.
How It Works:
When your teen works, the money they earn doesn’t count against their SSI. Your teen keeps both their SSI benefit AND their work earnings.
Eligibility:
• Must be under age 22
• Must attend school at least 15 hours per week (high school, vocational school, college, or other accredited institution)
• Can earn up to $8,230 per year (2026 limit) without affecting SSI
Important: Once your child turns 22 or stops attending school, SEIE ends. Other work incentives may be available.
Notify Social Security when your teen starts working. Call 1-800-772-1213 and tell them your child is a student who will be working. They’ll make a note in your file so work earnings are properly excluded.
Impairment Related Work Expenses
(IRWE)
IRWE allows your teen to deduct costs related to their disability that are necessary for them to work. These expenses are subtracted from their earnings before SSI is calculated, so they keep more of their work earnings.
How It Works:
Your teen works and earns money. They have expenses directly related to their disability that enable them to work. Those expenses are deducted from gross earnings. SSI is calculated on the remaining earnings (called “countable earnings”).
Example:
Your 19-year-old uses a wheelchair and works part-time earning $1,000/month. They pay $300/month for specialized transportation to work required because of their disability. With IRWE, the $300 transportation cost is deducted from their $1,000 earnings, leaving $700 countable earnings. Their SSI is based on $700, not $1,000, so they keep more of their SSI benefit.
What Expenses Can Be Deducted:
• Specialized transportation (not regular public transportation)
• Personal care attendant services needed to work
• Medical equipment or devices needed for work
• Medications required to work
• Work-related modifications to home or vehicle
• Job coaching or training
• Prosthetics, orthotics, or mobility aids needed for work
• Mental health services related to work capacity
Expenses must be:
• Directly related to your teen’s disability
• Necessary for your teen to work
• Not covered by insurance or other sources
• Reasonable and documented
How to Apply for IRWE:
Keep receipts and documentation of all disability-related work expenses. Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask to set up IRWE. Provide documentation of expenses to Social Security then Social Security calculates how much to deduct from earnings
Ticket to Work Program
The Ticket to Work Program allows your teen (ages 18-64) to work and continue receiving SSI or SSDI benefits and Medicaid for an extended period, even if their work earnings would normally cause benefits to stop.
How It Works:
Your teen receives a “Ticket to Work” from Social Security. Your teen gives the ticket to an approved Employment Network or Vocational Rehabilitation agency. That organization provides employment services and job coaching. Your teen works and earns income while keeping benefits. Your teen has protection if they need to return to benefits
Timeline:
• Your teen can work for up to 93 months (over 7 years) with continued benefits protection
• Benefits continue during this time, even if earnings are high
• If your teen’s work doesn’t succeed, they can return to benefits without reapplying
Key Benefits:
• Extended Medicaid coverage (critical for healthcare access)
• Continued SSI or SSDI while working
• Access to employment services
• No work requirement or deadline pressure
• Protection if you need to return to benefits
Who Can Get a Ticket:
• Individuals receiving SSI or SSDI
• Ages 18-64
• Working or wanting to work
Getting Your Ticket:
Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit www.choosework.ssa.gov to request your Ticket to Work. You can also visit your local Social Security office.
Employment Networks in Fort Wayne:
Once you have your ticket, you can choose from approved Employment Networks that provide job coaching and support. Ask Social Security for a list of Employment Networks in Allen County, or visit choosework.ssa.gov to search for providers.