Blind Work Expenses (BWE)
Blind Work Expenses (BWEs) are available only to individuals who receive SSI benefits based on blindness.
If you are blind, earned income you use to pay for work expenses may not count in calculating your SSI check amount, even if the expense is unrelated to blindness.
Some examples of BWEs are:
- Guide dog expenses
- Transportation costs to and from work
- Federal, state and local income taxes
- Social Security taxes
- Attendant care services
- Visual and sensory aids
- Translation of materials into Braille
- Professional association fees and union dues
If you are an SSI recipient and have any BWEs, the cost of these expenses will result in a dollar-for-dollar increase in your SSI payment. (The maximum SSI payment for an individual is $674 in 2010, and $1,011 for a couple).
What else do I need to know?
BWEs require that specific criteria be met and specific documentation be kept. BWEs also need to be approved by the Social Security Administration (SSA) before they can be considered to be in effect.
For more information on the rules that apply to individuals who are blind, refer to the SSA website, Rules for People who are Blind or contact the MN Work Incentives Connection.
