Work Incentives Planning and
Assistance is a project funded by Social Security
Administration. Purpose: To help individuals with
disabilities who are receiving SSI or SSDI to learn about
the work incentives and understand what will happen to their
Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare benefits if they
return to work. We will also tell young people who have
disabilities and are leaving school about working and
keeping benefits.
1. Who will this project serve?
People with disabilities who are collecting SSI or SSDI and
want to return to work or earn more at the jobs they already
have.
2. How will this be done?
Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWIC's) will meet
with beneficiaries and learn as much as they can about their
situations. They will ask questions about disability, work
history, and day-to-day life. They will ask about goals and
desires, fears and concerns. They may need to meet with the
beneficiary several times to do this.
3. How will people be referred?
People do not need a referral to use this service. We expect
that we will receive referrals from MRS counselors, Work
First counselors, C.M.H. staff, Centers for Independent
Living, local Arc’s, Social Security staff, and individuals
with disabilities. Formal referrals are not needed to be
served by this project.
4. Will you help people who have
disabilities find a job too?
No. That is the job of vocational agencies. Our role is to
assist individuals and their circles of support to
understand the effect work has on their benefits, so that
they make informed choices about work.
5. Will you help people apply for
Social Security too?
No, we will refer them to local advocacy agencies for this.
Our project is to help people who are already receiving SSI
or SSDI and have disabilities return to work if they so
choose.
6. What if people decide not to
work and jeopardize their benefits?
That is a personal decision that each person must make. We
will demonstrate for the individual the benefits and
consequences of work for each person’s specific situation.
There is no penalty from the Social Security Administration
for deciding not to use work incentives.
7. Don’t Michigan Rehabilitation
Services counselors do this already?
Many counselors do much of this. However, they are busy with
other parts of vocational planning and support. They may not
have time to keep up with the changing laws and many rules
of Social Security and how they affect people who want to
return to work. We hope to work with Michigan Rehabilitation
Services Counselors as a team.
8. Where will you meet with people?
We can meet with people in their communities at local
Michigan Works offices, MRS offices, schools or other places
of their choosing.
9. What is the cost for this?
There is no charge for this service.
10. What will you do with the
information you get about the people you see?
Social Security is requesting some basic information. We
will release this only with the written permission of the
people we counsel.
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