[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37948-37949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18660]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Administration of Plans for Achieving Self-Support (PASS); Public 
Forums

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice.

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PLACES AND TIMES OF PUBLIC FORUMS:
St. Paul, Minnesota, July 25, 1997, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.--State Office 
Building, House of Representatives, Hearing Room #10, 100 Constitution 
Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55111
Denver, Colorado, July 31, 1997, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, and 1:00 p.m.-
3:00 p.m.--Holiday Inn-Southeast, 3200 S. Parker Road, Aurora, CO 
80014.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Type of Meeting: The forums are open to the public. Individuals/
organizations wishing to present oral statements should register with 
the Social Security Administration (SSA) prior to the date of the 
forum.
    Purpose: SSA is seeking information and suggestions from the public 
about its administration of Plans for Achieving Self-Support (PASS), a 
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provision. SSI is a federal needs-
based program. Under this program, PASS is intended to increase an 
individual's potential to be self-supporting. It encourages individuals 
who are blind or disabled to return to work by allowing certain income 
and resources to be excluded from consideration in SSI eligibility 
determinations and benefit computations. In so doing, the income and 
resources used for goods and services purchased in order to complete 
the PASS will not be considered as countable income and resources which 
could be used for food, clothing and shelter, and may allow the person 
to receive payments up to the monthly SSI federal benefit rate (plus 
any State supplementary payment). In order for the provision to apply, 
the PASS must be approved by SSA. The PASS must stipulate a specific 
occupational goal, and specify the income and resources to be excluded 
and how they would be used toward attaining the goal.
    SSA is seeking information on areas of particular concern to the 
public, in order to improve the administration of PASS. While any 
information and all views about PASS are welcome, SSA is focusing on 
the following issues:
    SSA is responsible for evaluating the feasibility of occupational 
goals under a PASS. What standards should SSA use to determine if an 
occupational goal is feasible for a particular individual? 
    SSA must also discern a link between the goods and services sought 
through a PASS and the stated goal. What elements should we expect to 
be present in a plan to demonstrate such a connection? 
    What types of goods and services are appropriate for a PASS? What 
types of goods and services are inappropriate for a PASS? How should 
SSA evaluate whether the planned costs are reasonable? 
    PASS recipients must demonstrate progress under an approved PASS. 
How should this progress be evaluated by SSA? 
    In response to concerns about PASS outcomes, how should SSA define 
success for the purposes of a PASS? 
    Since SSA wants the use of PASS to promote movement towards 
financial independence, how can SSA increase a person's opportunity for 
success, as you propose defining it?
    Agenda: The forums will begin with opening statements by 
representatives from the Social Security Administration providing a 
historical perspective of the PASS provision.
    The remainder of the agenda will be devoted to the presentation of 
oral statements by members of the public. Statements will be limited to 
5 minutes per speaker.
    Persons wishing to provide oral testimony at the St. Paul forum 
should contact Helen Fitch of the SSA Regional Public Affairs Office in 
Chicago, Illinois to reserve time to speak. Telephone: (312) 575-4052, 
E-Mail: [email protected], FAX: (312) 575-4051, TTY: (410) 965-0045 
(Laura Vogt, Baltimore, MD).
    Persons wishing to provide oral testimony at the Denver forum 
should contact Rita Salomon of the SSA Regional Public Affairs Office 
in Denver, Colorado to reserve time to speak. Telephone: (303) 844-
4441, E-Mail: [email protected], FAX: (303) 844-3674, TTY: (410) 965-0045 
(Laura Vogt, Baltimore, MD).
    Persons who cannot attend the forums but wish to provide 
information or views for the Agency's consideration can send written 
statements to: Mail: Social Security Administration, PASS Testimony, P. 
O. Box 17746, Baltimore, MD 21235, E-Mail: [email protected], FAX: 
PASS Testimony, 410-966-5366.
    SSA will allow unscheduled testimony from members of the public. 
However, depending on the number of individuals/organizations wishing 
to present statements, the time allotted for unscheduled testimony may 
be limited.
    For further information about PASS, you may also contact Steve Fear 
at (410) 965-9824 or TTY (410) 965-0045.


[[Page 37949]]


    Dated: July 10, 1997.
Marilyn O'Connell,
Acting Associate Commissioner for Program Benefits Policy.
[FR Doc. 97-18660 Filed 7-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29-P