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Youth in Transition Toolkit:

Youth in Transition Toolkit

  1. Minnesota’s Youth in Transition Framework
  2. Educate yourself
  3. Engage families
  4. Support youth
    1. My best life
    2. In(ter)dependent living
    3. Employment
    4. Postsecondary education and training
2

In(ter)dependent living

Money

Income sources

What types of income will the youth have?

Most people depend primarily on income earned from a competitive integrated job. Some receive public benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

  • Awareness: Understand types of income sources.

  • Exploration: Identify strengths, preferences, interests and needs related to income.

  • Preparation: Decide what types of income sources are needed, and apply for public benefits as needed.

  • Implementation: Use established income sources to support independence at home, school and in the community.

Workplace readiness training

Lightbulb LEARN

LEARN: Develop your knowledge

Learn how to support youth in exploring income sources.

The goal is to have a wage that allows youth to cover their own living expenses and have some left over to save and have fun. Other sources of income (like Social Security or Minnesota cash benefits) may supplement earned income as needed. 

Disability benefits can help youth reach their goals. Review Benefits for young people: Why benefits matter from Disability Benefits 101. Then, complete Disability Hub MN's online training to get a basic understanding of income benefits and health care benefits:

Disability Hub MN's benefits planning toolkit offers training options for cash and health care benefits and how they can support a youth's goals. Complete the level 1 training for an overview and then continue to level 2 to go in-depth on various cash benefits.  

Resources DO

DO: Work with youth

Find resources to help youth explore income sources.

Introduce youth to income options by reviewing ways to get more money under Your Options.

Disability Hub MN's Ways to get more money webpage
Ways to get more money

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

What is SSI?

 

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

What is SSDI?

The benefits lookup activity lets youth submit a simple request to verify their benefits, so they know which benefits they receive and how much they're worth. In My Vault, open the Benefits Planning Path and complete the Get a Benefits Lookup activity.  

This activity sends a request to the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). When DHS receives the request, the benefits details are filled in and then returned to the youth's My Vault account within two business days.

Use this activity if youth aren't sure or have concerns about their benefits, when they're thinking about going to work, or if they need to know what would happen to their benefits if they take a specific job. Details from the benefits lookup automatically populate the DB101 estimator session: See how work and benefits work together.

Disability Hub MN's Hub tools, My Vault Planning for benefits webpage
My Vault: Planning for benefits
Next: Money management »