Blind Work Expense (BWE) Calculation

For Earned Income Only

If you are blind, Social Security allows certain expenses to be deducted from your wages when calculating your SSI eligibility and payment amount. A list of BWE expenses can be found in the SSA Red Book or at SSI Spotlight on Impairment-Related Work Expenses

Scenario:

STEP1				Gross Wages (before taxes)
	-	$20.00		General Income Exclusion
	=	$0.00
	-	$65.00		Earned Income Exclusion
	=	$0.00
	÷	2		Divide remaining Earned Income by 2
	=	$0.00		Total Countable Earned Income
STEP 2		$710.00		SSI Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) = $710.00 in 2013
	-	$0.00		Total Countable Income
	=	$710.00		SSI Benefit Check without a BWE
STEP 3		$0.00		Total Countable Income
	-			Monthly BWE amount
	=	$0.00		revised Total Countable Income
STEP 4		$710.00		SSI Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) = $710.00 in 2013
	-	$0.00		revised Total Countable Income
	=	$710.00		SSI Benefit Check with a BWE
STEP 5		$710.00		SSI Benefit Check with a BWE
	+	$0.00		Gross Wages (before taxes)
	=	$710.00		Total Gross Monthly Budget amount with BWE

Please note this calculator is for estimating only. Social Security will make the official determination when you report your wages.

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