Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program (WIPA) is a Social Security-funded program that provides benefits counseling to Social Security Disability beneficiaries who are interested in work.
Each WIPA project has a Community Work Incentives Coordinator who can provide in-depth counseling regarding your benefits and the effects of work on those benefits.
What Your Community Work Incentives Coordinator Does
- Conducts outreach efforts to beneficiaries of SSI and SSDI.
- Understands Social Security Disability benefits programs as well as other federal, state, and local programs for which you might be eligible.
- Provides healthcare planning and counseling.
Eligibility for WIPA
Social Security beneficiaries, age 14 to full retirement age, who receive any of the following: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB).
If you are currently receiving SSI or SSDI benefits and want to work, you may have questions in regards to how returning to work would affect your benefits. The trained coordinators at RISE Services, Inc. can help you understand your options and provide the support you need when making a decision about returning to work.
The goal of the WIPA program is to assist Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities in making informed choices about their employment. We aim to support working beneficiaries and help them make a successful transition to self-sufficiency.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program is a specialized service at RISE Services, Inc. designed to help individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) understand how earned income will affect their benefits. Our certified Work Incentive Liaisons provide personalized counseling to help you navigate Social Security’s “Work Incentives,” allowing you to explore employment while maintaining necessary supports.
One of the biggest concerns for job seekers is the loss of healthcare. Through WIPA, we explain specific safety nets like Section 1619(b) for Medicaid and Extended Medicare Coverage. In many cases, you can continue to receive healthcare coverage even after you begin earning a paycheck. We provide a detailed “Benefits Summary and Analysis” so you can see exactly how your specific health coverage will be impacted before you accept a job offer.
Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are costs for items or services you need to work because of your disability. Examples can include specialized transportation, job coaching, or certain medical devices. When Social Security calculates your countable income, the cost of these IRWEs can often be deducted. RISE liaisons help you identify potential IRWEs and document them correctly, which may help you maintain a higher level of monthly benefit payments while you work.
