Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Projects

WIPA Services

Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) projects

Essential Employment Supports

The WIPA projects have Benefits Specialists/Community Work Incentive Coordinators (CWICs) to provide all SSA disability beneficiaries (including transition-to-work aged youth) with access to benefits planning and assistance services. The ultimate goal of the WIPA projects is to assist SSA's beneficiaries with disabilities in meeting their employment goals.
You may be interested in the services of a WIPA Benefits Specialist/CWIC if you are an SSI or SSDI beneficiary and you:

·  Plan to start or return to work or plan to start your own business,

·  Plan to accept or seek a higher paying job,

·  Are concerned about stopping work,

·  Have questions about the Ticket to Work or need a referral to an Employment Network, or

·  Have other questions about how work will impact your disability benefits.

Cost of Benefit Specialist Services:

FREE - there is no charge for Benefit Specialist services to SSDI/SSI beneficiaries.

Specific Services Offered to SSDI/SSI Beneficiaries:

·  Information and referral

·  Problem solving and advocacy

·  Benefits planning

·  analysis

·  advisement

·  Benefits assistance

·  Support planning

·  Management

Background:

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) were designed to provide income and support to individuals who are not capable of self-sufficiency due to disability. Fear of losing cash benefits, as well as medical coverage under Medicaid or Medicare, often persuades beneficiaries to severely limit their employment participation and earnings or, more commonly, not enter the labor force at all.
The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (PL 106-170) attempts to remove many of these barriers to employment by enhancing work incentives and by making information about incentives more readily available to beneficiaries.
As a result of this law, the Social Security Administration (SSA) established a community-based benefits planning and assistance program to provide accurate information on work incentives to SSA beneficiaries. SSA has established a program of cooperative agreements to entities across the nation.
The vaACCSES WIPA Project is one of these community-based programs in Virginia that provides benefits counseling and assistance, and conducts ongoing outreach efforts to inform beneficiaries of available work incentives.

CWIC Roles / Responsibilities:

·  Deliver benefits and work incentives planning and assistance

·  Conduct outreach to disabled beneficiaries regarding available programs and incentives

·  Prepare and disseminate information explaining such programs

·  Work collaboratively with other federal, State, and private agencies and nonprofit organizations that serve beneficiaries with disabilities

CWIC Customer Base:

·  SSI and/or SSDI beneficiaries

·  Aged 14 to 64

·  For more intensive services, willing to talk about work as an option.

·  Reside within particular WIPA project’s geographic catchment area

·  Northern Virginia
Marilyn Morrison - (571) 339-1305
E-mail:
Independent cities – Alexandria, Fairfax City, Falls Church
Counties – Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William (Northern Part), Loudoun

· 

·  OR CALL ANY OF THE NUMBERS LISTED BELOW FOR WORK INCENTIVE PLANNING AND ASSISTANCE PROJECTS IN VIRGINIA

·  Virginia Association of Community Rehabilitation Programs/vaACCSES

·  Information Central: 571-339-1305
Toll Free outside of Northern Virginia Area: 1-877-822-2777
By E-Mail:

Resources and Links - WIPA

·  Social Security Administration
www.socialsecurity.gov

·  Ticket to Work
www.yourtickettowork.com
www.socialsecurity.gov/work/Ticket/ticket_info.html
Self-Employment and Disabilities
www.griffinhammis.com
www.dol.gov/odep

·  Medicaid WORKS (Virginia Medicaid Buy-In Program)
www.dmas.virginia.gov/mb-home.htm

·  Virginia Office of Protection and Advocacy
www.vopa.state.va.us
Partnership for People with Disabilities
www.vcu.edu/partnership
Workforce Investment Boards (One Stop Centers)
www.vec.state.va.us/vecportal/wia/index.cfm
www.nawb.org

·  Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services
www.vadrs.org
A Guide To Medicare Part D Prescription Drug
www.theDesk.info/Part D