What is WIPA?
The Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program helps you understand how working will affect Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
If you receive Social Security benefits due to a disability, you can talk to a Community Work Incentive Counselor (CWIC) through WIPA. They will explain work incentives and provide planning assistance for a smooth transition into work.
WIPA is offered through the Social Security Administration to provide community-based work incentives expertise to SSI beneficiaries.
The WIPA program supports individuals who are already working or preparing to start a job by helping them understand how employment affects their benefits.
What is the benefit?
As a WIPA program participant, you have access to guidance on how work impacts your benefit status. CWICs will develop plans that demonstrate the impact of work, and will review federal and state-level work incentive programs. They will also provide connections to state, private, and non-profit agencies dedicated to serving Social Security beneficiaries.
Getting started is easy! There are three WIPA providers in Georgia. Contact the Ticket to Work helpline at 866-968-7842 to ensure your eligibility and to attain a referral to the correct provider.
Essentials of Transition Planning Series
Transitioning into adulthood is a significant milestone. When individuals with disabilities turn 18, they face the reality of adulthood. We have created a comprehensive video guide for families to help you navigate the transition process and secure the necessary support for your loved ones.
Begin transcript:
[Music playing]
Anna Maki >>
So you have a 17 year
old in high school, and you’re concerned
about them turning 18.
What are all the things that you need
to do
to prepare for this,
other than a really nice birthday party?
Well, you want to look
at Social Security benefits,
but we also need to look at services.
So every individual is going to need
income and health insurance.
But they’re also going to need services
depending on if they’re wanting to work
or just services to live independently
in the home and community.
So we want to talk about Social Security
benefits, Medicaid waivers,
other services like vocational
rehabilitation support, pre-employment
training, job readiness, supported
employment, services like that.
We also want to talk about things like
decision making, guardianship,
maybe power of attorney.
What’s going to be
the most appropriate option?
We need to think about the long term.
We need to talk about what happens
when you retire.
We need to to talk about what happens
when you as a parent, when you pass away.
And what are we doing in
terms of a supplemental needs trust
ABLE accounts, things like that.
So there’s a lot to think about
and a lot to do.
But join us for this series
and we’re going to walk through
all of these issues one by one.
[Music Playing]
Funding for this project is provided by:
Frequently Asked Questions
WIPA services are for Social Security beneficiaries who have received a medical determination of disability. You must be at least 14 years of age to be eligible for WIPA services.
Each WIPA project has Community Work Incentive Counselors (CWIC) who will:
- provide in-depth counseling about benefits and the effect of work on those benefits;
- conduct outreach efforts to beneficiaries of SSI and SSDI (and their families) who are potentially eligible to participate in federal or state Work Incentives programs; and
- work in cooperation with federal, state and private agencies and nonprofit organizations that serve SSI and SSDI beneficiaries with disabilities.
Your counselor will complete an intake to learn more about your work/earnings goals and will work with you to help verify your benefits. The counseling process includes a Benefits Summary Analysis that provides important detailed information specific to you to help you understand and manage your benefits.
Social Security Administration provides a Red Book to beneficiaries to help them understand how work/earned income can impact their benefits. To download the Red Book, go to Social Security Online – The Red Book – A Guide to Work Incentives (ssa.gov).
Effective July 1, 2021, there are three WIPA providers in the state of Georgia. Each WIPA provider is assigned select counties within the state. BDI is a WIPA provider serving 54 counties in Georgia.
Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities who are interested in learning more about work incentives and would like the assistance of a CWIC should contact the Ticket to Work helpline. The helpline provides basic information about programs including Ticket to Work and refers individuals to the appropriate WIPA program for services.
The Ticket to Work helpline is available at 1-866-968-7842.
Yes, BDI may be able to schedule a presentation to help your group or organization learn more about Social Security benefits, work incentives, and planning assistance. Please email Anna.Maki@bobbydodd.org to request a presentation.
Disclaimer: This document is funded through a Social Security cooperative agreement. Although Social Security reviewed this document for accuracy, it does not constitute an Official Social Security communication.
We published this brochure at U.S. taxpayer expense.