Social Security State Grants for Work Incentives Assistance to Disabled Beneficiaries
Active
- Assistance listing
- 96.009
- Grant awards
- 584 $409,089,841 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS)
- Assistance type
-
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 28-8704-0-7-999
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Social Security Administration (SSA) funds legal advocacy and information services for disabled Social Security beneficiaries pursuing employment and resolving work-related barriers through its state-designated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) systems under Assistance Listing 96.009, with the most recent grant awards made on October 1, 2023.
The program supports P&A agencies in providing legal representation, advocacy, and information to beneficiaries of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) on employment barriers, Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations, transportation rights, housing assistance access, vocational rehabilitation referrals, and work incentives issues. Recent awards show the program funds two distinct activity streams: Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) work-incentives assistance, and representative payee oversight and review programs under the Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act. The PABSS stream addresses employment barriers and work incentives; the representative payee stream conducts onsite reviews of payee recordkeeping and beneficiary interviews to verify proper use of benefits.
Awards are made exclusively as Project Grants. The Social Security Administration is the sole funding source, obligating $409.1 million in federal dollars across 584 awards in the portfolio. Awards in the recent October 2023 cohort ranged from approximately $191 thousand to $2.1 million. Representative awards include a Missouri representative payee review program ($1.8 million), a Georgia representative payee oversight program ($3.5 million), and multiple state PABSS programs ranging from $371 thousand to $2.1 million. The program shows active award cadence: 115 awards in 2023 following a spike of 178 in 2018, with awards consistently made in recent fiscal years.
Only state-designated P&A systems are eligible to apply. Continuation applications are required annually when funding exceeds one budget period. The most recent grant opportunity (PABSS-PAB-24-001) posted July 12, 2023, with a due date of August 25, 2023, for non-competing continuations. SSA uses directed announcements to identified P&A entities with embedded due dates published in the Federal Register.
Objective and description
- Objective
Support State designated Protection and Advocacy (P & A) systems. The Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) provides legal support, advocacy and information to help you resolve barriers to work for Social Security benefic
- Description
PABSS support may be able to help members of the public who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): remove unfair barriers to employment; protect employment rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, such as those for reasonable accommodations; protect rights to transportation; protect access to housing assistance; obtain vocational rehabilitation and employment related services and supports; secure job support from community agencies, including Employment Networks providing services under the Ticket to Work program; and understand Work Incentives and issues with their disability benefits.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Applicants applying for grant funds are limited to State protection and advocacy systems established pursuant to Part C of Title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act.
- Beneficiary eligibility
All individuals within the State who are entitled to SSDI or eligible for SSI benefits based on disability or blindness.
- Uses of assistance
Grants are awarded to organizations to provide: (1) information and advice about obtaining vocational rehabilitation and employment services; and(2) advocacy or other services that a disabled beneficiary may need to secure, maintain, or regain gainful employment.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Funds are usually granted for a period of 12 to 17 months. Funds, however, can be granted for a minimum of 3 months, and up to a maximum of 60 months.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Generally, applications are evaluated on the following criteria: (1) capability; (2) relevance and adequacy of project design; (3) resources and management; and (4) quality assurance. However, only state designated P & A agencies are eligible.
- Award procedure
OAG provides a Notice of Grant Award as official notice for approved applications. The notice indicates award amount, the purpose of the award, award terms and conditions, the budget period, the anticipated project period, and the awardee's cost-sharing requirement.
- Deadlines
SSA uses a directed announcement for the designated entities and due dates are included in that announcement.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Generally, 3 to 6 months after the closing date established in the Federal Register announcement.
- Renewals
Grants can be continued via formal application, which is subject to approval. If an application is recommended for approval for 2 or more budget periods, the awardee must submit a formal request for funding continuation each year. Continuation applications are evaluated prior to a recommendation of additional funding.
- Appeals
There are no formal appeal procedures. If an application is not approved, the reasons will be stipulated in the denial notice.
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 PABSS Non-Competing Continuation | Closed |
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 584 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Disability Rights California | $33,664,305 | 8% |
| 2 | Disability Rights Texas | $26,413,609 | 6% |
| 3 | Disability Rights Florida Inc. | $22,140,428 | 5% |
| 4 | Disability Advocates Inc. | $20,179,466 | 5% |
| 5 | Disability Rights Pennsylvania | $17,255,226 | 4% |
| 6 | Disability Rights Ohio | $12,958,175 | 3% |
| 7 | Disability Rights Michigan | $12,348,015 | 3% |
| 8 | Georgia Advocacy Office, Inc. | $12,222,060 | 3% |
| 9 | Equip For Equality, Inc. | $12,149,023 | 3% |
| 10 | Disability Rights North Carolina | $12,027,956 | 3% |
10 of 68 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $9,267,805 |
| FY2025 | $41,666,327 |
| FY2024 | $43,360,461 |
| FY2023 | $49,523,282 |
| FY2022 | $70,758,468 |
| FY2021 | $33,701,997 |
| FY2020 | $33,501,406 |
| FY2019 | $33,199,329 |
| FY2018 | $24,674,884 |
| FY2017 | $6,331,768 |
| FY2016 | $6,686,016 |
| FY2015 | $6,725,001 |
| FY2014 | $6,407,405 |
| FY2013 | $6,209,240 |
| FY2012 | -$175,989 |
| FY2011 | $13,181,251 |
| FY2010 | $3,468,923 |
| FY2009 | $13,522,575 |
| FY2008 | $3,752,075 |
| FY2007 | $3,327,617 |
Show all 20
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 96.009?
Assistance Listing 96.009 is Social Security State Grants for Work Incentives Assistance to Disabled Beneficiaries, a federal grant program run by Social Security Administration.
What is the CFDA number for Social Security State Grants for Work Incentives Assistance to Disabled Beneficiaries?
Its CFDA number is 96.009: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 96.009 awarded?
584 grant awards under 96.009 have obligated $409,089,841 in federal funds to 68 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 96.009?
The recipients obligated the most under Social Security State Grants for Work Incentives Assistance to Disabled Beneficiaries are Disability Rights California ($33,664,305), Disability Rights Texas ($26,413,609) and Disability Rights Florida Inc. ($22,140,428).
How much did 96.009 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 96.009 obligated $41,666,327 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 96.009?
No opportunity listed under 96.009 is open now. The latest, 2024 PABSS Non-Competing Continuation, was posted on July 12, 2023.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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