Job coach services are an example of an Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE). An IRWE is a cost for an item or service that a person with a disability needs in order to work because of their impairment1. Social Security will deduct the costs of an IRWE from the person’s countable income when determining their eligibility for Social Security disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)1. Job coach services are a type of assistance that a person with a disability may require in order to perform their job duties, learn new skills, or adjust to the work environment2. Job coach services are not reimbursed by another source, such as the employer or a vocational rehabilitation agency, and the cost is reasonable, meaning that it represents the standard charge for the service in the community1. Therefore, job coach services meet the criteria for an IRWE and can be deducted from the person’s earnings.

The other options are not examples of an IRWE. Accommodations are changes or modifications that an employer makes to the work environment, equipment, or schedule to enable a person with a disability to perform their job3. Accommodations are not an IRWE because they are not paid by the person with a disability, but by the employer as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)3. An individualized plan for employment (IPE) is a document that outlines the goals, services, and supports that a person with a disability needs to achieve their desired employment outcome4. An IPE is not an IRWE because it is not a cost for an item or service, but a plan that guides the person’s vocational rehabilitation process4. Transportation is a cost for getting to andfrom work, such as bus fare, taxi, or car expenses5. Transportation is not an IRWE unless the person with a disability needs a special transportation service because of their impairment, such as a wheelchair-accessible van or a personal driver5. If the person usesthe same transportation service as the general public, the cost is not deductible as an IRWE5.

References: 1: Impairment-Related Work Expenses - Social Security 2: Job Coach Services - CareerOneStop 3: Reasonable Accommodations - U.S. Department of Labor 4: Individualized Plan for Employment - Social Security 5: DI 10520.001 Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) - Social Security