Work Incentive Benefits Specialists
Work Incentive Benefit Specialists summarize an individual's disability benefits, and analyze how earned income can affect the benefits. Particular emphasis is given to available work incentives. The goal is to provide timely, accurate information to a person with a disability to better inform work choices.
Types of Work Incentive Benefits Counseling:
Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA)
The Social Security Administration (SSA) designed the WIPA project to provide knowledge and support to beneficiaries who want to work and are unsure of how employment will affect their Social Security Benefits.
The WIPA project is a free service for people with disabilities who receive either Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and are interested in working.
Community Work Incentive Coordinators (CWICs) can provide a range of benefit counseling services, from problem solving specific questions or concerns to writing a complete benefits analysis.
Click to find the CWIC in your area.
POS (Purchase of Service) Benefits Counseling
The POS benefits counseling service provides a comprehensive written summary of Social Security benefits, the effects of earning income, and relevant work incentives.
The benefits analysis includes:
- Identification of benefits, entitlements, subsidies, and services for each consumer.
- Verification of the amounts, dates of entitlement, premiums, cost-shares, etc.
- An analysis of differing work scenarios as appropriate.
- Contact information for all agencies and people who are involved with the consumer.
- Recommendations and referral information for benefits programs a consumer may not be currently participating in, but may be eligible.
- A face-to-face meeting to review the benefits analysis with the consumer.
POS benefits counseling services are primarily funded by DVR and Department of Health Services benefits counseling initiatives.
Find a POS Benefits Counselor in your area or contact John Fuller of Employment Resources, Inc. at 246-3444 (ext. 223) or fuller@eri-wi.org.