“Dream Job - Here at Last”…

...were Joe’s words.

Joe has been part of our Mississippi Model Youth Transition Innovation (MYTI) family since shortly before leaving high school. One piece of the MYTI process is to “Discover” the best of a person, to determine their contributions, preferences, and conditions for employment and then use this information to customize a job that will be a match for success. Then next, during the employment planning phase, Joe and his family decide which employers MYTI will target in order of preference. Joe’s dream job of being employed at “Winn Dixie” was top of the list. At the time of job development, Winn Dixie had no unmet needs matching Joe’s skills. MYTI continued down the list of possible employers. In May 2005, Joe was offered employment with Ryan’s Steakhouse. Even though it was not his dream job, Joe loved it, especially making money and meeting new friends. He learned how to report his earnings to SSA and be a responsible young adult. The Benefits Specialist helped Joe and his family understand the $3 for $4 earned income exclusion waiver and helped Joe get SSA’s approval for a transportation IRWE (Impairment Related Work Expense).

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina turned Joe’s life up side down. His home sustained damage and Ryan’s Steakhouse was destroyed with nothing left but a slab. Now what? With the help of the MYTI Benefits Specialist, Joe learned how to access disaster unemployment benefits. However, in the confusion, Joe was awarded general unemployment benefits which would affect his SSI benefit as unearned income. Upon receiving a substantial back payment check for unemployment, suddenly Joe was in overpayment status. Joe, his family, and the MYTI staff are working diligently with the local SSA field office and the One Stop Career Center to clarify the difference in the effects of general unemployment benefits and disaster unemployment benefits.

Naturally, the MYTI staff started the employment planning phase once again. Of course, Winn Dixie is top of the list in round two. Due to the number of people leaving the Coastal area after Katrina and not returning, Joe’s contributions are now needed. Joe started to work at Winn Dixie in May 2006, as a full time employee, working 35 hours a week at $6.75 per hour. “Here at last” … were Joe’s words. Because of Joe’s dependability, Winn Dixie increased his number of work hours per week. Sometimes, Joe works 50 plus hours a week. His SSI benefits are decreasing as his earnings increase, but that is okay by Joe.

Joe is now ready to pursue the dream of owning his own home. He would like to participate in the Individual Development Account program to help make this happen.