Meet Susan
At 33, Susan was an architect at a small firm. Her employer did not offer health coverage, so she bought the cheapest plan she could find on HealthCare.gov, a bronze level plan with a high deductible. When she was injured in a serious car accident and couldn’t work for 4 years, Susan started getting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. For the next 2 years, she got health coverage through the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), until she began to get Medicare health coverage. Even with the help of benefits, Susan had to spend most of her savings to pay for her and her son’s expenses.
When she was ready to begin work, Susan talked with a Work Incentive Consultant to learn about SSDI’s work incentives and how AHCCCS could help her.
| Meet Susan | |
| Before Injury: | |
| Age: | 33 |
| Disability: | None |
| Occupation: | Architect at a small firm |
| Income: | $4,160 per month ($50,000 annually) |
| Resources: | $5,000 in an IRA; $15,000 in savings |
| Health Coverage: | Individual coverage purchased on HealthCare.gov |
| 4 years after accident: | |
| Age: | 37 |
| Disability: | Brain trauma |
| Occupation: | None |
| Income: | $1,500 per month ($1,004 in SSDI benefits; $488 in Child’s Benefits for her son) |
| Resources: | $5,000 in an IRA; $1,000 in savings |
| Health Coverage: | Medicare for herself, AHCCCS for her son |
| 5 years after accident: | |
| Age: | 38 |
| Disability: | Brain trauma |
| Occupation: | Architect at a small firm |
| Income: | $4,000 per month ($2,500 from earnings; $1,004 in SSDI benefits; $488 in Child’s Benefits for her son) |
| Resources: | $5,000 in an IRA; $4,000 in savings |
| Health Coverage: | Medicare and AHCCCS Freedom to Work for herself, AHCCCS for her son |
Learn more
Get Expert Help
Ask an Arizona Work Incentive Consultant your questions about work and benefits.
1-866-304-WORK (9675)
A Work Incentive Consultant is a trained expert who can help you understand Social Security work incentives, disability benefit programs, and how they are impacted by work. Their goal is to help you transition to work and make a sustainable financial plan for your future.
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