$178,808,000 (That's $178 Million!) Available Yearly For WV Economic Development

In December 2008, there were 25,544 individuals in West Virginia receiving both SSI and SSDI benefits. These individuals have "Perfect Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) Potential", meaning that they could write a PASS today. The average PASS is $7000/year, which equals approximately $179 Million a year that, once approved by the Social Security Administration, goes directly to job seekers for use towards a work goal.

PASSes allow individuals to set aside resources--resources usually means money and this money can be used to buy things that will help individuals work, things like equipment and tools, transportation, clothing, employment supports, or supplies needed to start a business. Click here to see how the Social Security Administration describes the PASS. Click here to listen to Molly Sullivan, of Griffin-Hammis Associates, talk about the PASS.

PASSes have also been discussed as one indicator of self-determination for individuals using service systems.

PASS is a very powerful tool : it is controlled by the job seeker and can be used as a targeted and localized form of economic development, used in much the same manner as a microloan.