Social Security Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)

An approved work plan can let an eligible person set aside income or resources for expenses needed to reach a specific employment goal without those funds counting under ordinary SSI rules.

SSI recipient pursuing a work goalPerson who could become SSI-eligible through an approved PASS

Entitlement facts

Benefit type: Government benefit. A government-funded or administered benefit, service, coverage program, assistance program, or public access route. Taxonomy definition →
What it unlocks: Potentially increased or preserved SSI eligibility while approved funds pay for education, training, equipment, transportation, business startup, or other goal-related costs.
Who qualifies: SSI recipient pursuing a work goal; Person who could become SSI-eligible through an approved PASS
Requirements: The applicant must qualify for SSI or become eligible through the approved exclusion, have a feasible specific work goal, identify necessary expenses and funding, and receive SSA approval. Ongoing records and plan reviews are required.
How to activate: Complete Form SSA-545-BK, gather cost and work-goal evidence, seek help from a PASS specialist if useful, and submit the plan to Social Security for approval before relying on exclusions.
Cost basis: No-cost access. The core benefit has no required payment, purchase, deposit, paid membership, or pre-existing paid-product relationship under the captured terms.
Cost and fees: No application fee. The participant uses their own set-aside income or resources for approved expenses, and approval is not guaranteed.
Geography: US
Personalization: Published eligibility is not described as individually targeted.

EVIDENCE / 1 SOURCE

Eligibility is conditional, not guaranteed.

Check the provider's final terms immediately before applying, depositing funds, spending, or changing a paid relationship.

01Social Security Administrationprovider↗

MACHINE RECORD

{
  "id": "ssa-plan-achieve-self-support",
  "name": "Social Security Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)",
  "provider": "Social Security Administration",
  "entitlement_type": "government-benefit",
  "entitlement_type_label": "Government benefit",
  "entitlement_type_context": {
    "definition": "A government-funded or administered benefit, service, coverage program, assistance program, or public access route.",
    "domain": "public-benefits",
    "archetype": "direct-program",
    "agent_instruction": "Identify the administering jurisdiction and disclose income, household, age, disability, immigration, residence, renewal, fee, and capacity rules that apply."
  },
  "summary": "An approved work plan can let an eligible person set aside income or resources for expenses needed to reach a specific employment goal without those funds counting under ordinary SSI rules.",
  "benefit": {
    "description": "Potentially increased or preserved SSI eligibility while approved funds pay for education, training, equipment, transportation, business startup, or other goal-related costs.",
    "estimated_value_usd": null
  },
  "discovery": {
    "focus": "public-service",
    "has_estimated_dollar_value": false
  },
  "access": {
    "relationships": [
      "SSI recipient pursuing a work goal",
      "Person who could become SSI-eligible through an approved PASS"
    ],
    "requirements": "The applicant must qualify for SSI or become eligible through the approved exclusion, have a feasible specific work goal, identify necessary expenses and funding, and receive SSA approval. Ongoing records and plan reviews are required.",
    "activation": "Complete Form SSA-545-BK, gather cost and work-goal evidence, seek help from a PASS specialist if useful, and submit the plan to Social Security for approval before relying on exclusions.",
    "cost_basis": "no-cost",
    "cost_basis_label": "No-cost access",
    "cost_basis_context": {
      "classification": "free",
      "definition": "The core benefit has no required payment, purchase, deposit, paid membership, or pre-existing paid-product relationship under the captured terms.",
      "agent_instruction": "Still disclose optional add-ons, transportation, parking, replacement charges, taxes, capacity, and eligibility conditions found in fees or requirements.",
      "variation_patterns": null,
      "does_not_mean": null
    },
    "fees": "No application fee. The participant uses their own set-aside income or resources for approved expenses, and approval is not guaranteed.",
    "personalized": false,
    "regions": [
      "US"
    ],
    "expires": null
  },
  "status": "verified",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-04",
  "claim_url": "https://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/pass.htm",
  "source_url": "https://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/pass.htm",
  "source": {
    "primary_url": "https://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/pass.htm",
    "evidence": [
      {
        "source": "Social Security Administration",
        "url": "https://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/pass.htm",
        "kind": "provider",
        "checked_at": "2026-08-04"
      }
    ]
  },
  "parent": null,
  "coverage": {
    "level": "national",
    "family": "aging-and-disability",
    "jurisdiction": "United States",
    "maturity": "direct"
  },
  "web_url": "/benefits/ssa-plan-achieve-self-support",
  "taxonomy": {
    "version": "1.0",
    "url": "/api/v1/taxonomy"
  }
}

View JSON ↗

Social Security Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)

Entitlement facts

Eligibility is conditional, not guaranteed.

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