Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA)
The Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program provides benefits counseling support to people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
The counseling support is provided by Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs) who have received approved training from the Social Security Administration and a certification through Virginia Commonwealth University. WIPA participants are paired with a CWIC who will help them understand how work will impact their income and health care benefits. They will also teach participants how to use work incentives to return to work to increase their financial self-sufficiency.
Who is eligible for WIPA?
- Anyone between 14 years old and full retirement age
- Beneficiaries who have a disability and receive SSI and/or SSDI
- Those working, interested in returning to work or increasing employment
Services provided:
- Individualized short- and long-term benefits planning and management services, so beneficiaries know what they need to report to the Social Security Administration when they work, including how to report wage and other information to the Social Security Administration and how to access and use the Social Security Administration and other federal, state and local work incentives programs.
- Referral to employment-support services and troubleshooting benefits issues related to working and the return-to-work process.
- Presentations to beneficiaries, their supports and providers about the Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance programs and work incentives.
- Outreach to beneficiaries and their supports about WIPA services and how to access us.
What do we need from participants?
WIPA provides beneficiaries and their supports with benefits analysis and work incentives information specific to their situation and employment goals. Participants will be asked to provide verification of current benefits, including type of benefit received, related health care coverage and verification of other public benefits received (i.e. food stamps, Section 8 Housing or other rental assistance).
Verification of benefits is critical to the services WIPA provides. We cannot give you and your supports accurate, individualized information without knowing what you receive, whether you’ve used work incentives in the past and whether additional factors could impact work-related decisions as they relate to your benefits.
Kentucky counties served:
Counties in Kentucky: Adair, Allen, Anderson, Barren, Bath, Bell, Boone, Bourbon, Boyd, Boyle, Bracken, Breathitt, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Casey, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Floyd, Franklin, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Green, Greenup, Harlan, Harrison, Hart, Henry, Jackson, Jessamine, Johnson, Kenton, Knott, Knox, Larue, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Magoffin, Marion, Martin, Mason, McCreary, Menifee, Mercer, Metcalfe, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Nelson, Nicholas, Oldham, Owen, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Taylor, Trimble, Warran, Washington, Wayne, Whitley, Wolfe, Woodford
For more information:
Goodwill’s WIPA line: (866) 336-3316
Ticket to Work helpline: (866) 968-7842
TTY (hearing impaired): (866) 833-2967
Email: workincentives@goodwillky.org
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.
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