A New Ticket Talk Podcast Episode: A Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Projects Working for You!
Do you need to better understand your Social Security disability benefits? Are you uncertain what will happen to those benefits if you start working again? On our newest Ticket Talk episode, we spoke with a Community Work Incentives Coordinator who can help you answer those questions!
This podcast features Angie Hoffman, who provides one-on-one counseling on disability benefits at the Brevard Achievement Center in Rockledge, Florida. Brevard Achievement Center is a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance, or WIPA, project. WIPA projects are community-based organizations that help disability beneficiaries make informed choices about work, and they help working beneficiaries make a successful transition to financial independence. Each WIPA project has a Community Work Incentives Coordinator like Angie, who advises beneficiaries one-on-one about benefits and the effect of work on those benefits. For example, Angie tells us how she helps beneficiaries create a plan that incorporates their current benefits and their work goals.
Angie explains how you can access a WIPA project near you. And she describes how WIPA projects work together with other service providers, such as Employment Networks to support the employment goals of disability beneficiaries who want to work.
If you receive disability benefits and you want to work, listening to Angie’s advice may help you get started on the road to financial independence. Listen to the podcast or read the transcript.
Ticket to Work helps people with disabilities transition from benefits to employment. For more information on Ticket to Work, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/work or call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 1- 866-833-2967 (TTY).
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Posted in Ticket Talk Podcasts | 6 Comments »
6 Comments
I have been in communication with the Brevard Achievement Center for years and they have done NOTHING. I can ONLY work part-time with limited hours, and I will not ever be working toward a full-time independent career. Unless they have a qualifying part-time 10-15 hours per week comparable to my level of experience and education, Brevard Achievement Center has been useless to me.
Hi Elaine, through the Ticket program, you can work directly with an Employment Network (EN) or Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency that can provide you support services so that you can be successful. It is important to note, though, that while many individuals start with part-time work, the goal of the program is that over time you are able to work enough to earn your way off of benefits. Your service provider will be committed to that goal. We encourage you to call our Help Line and speak with one of our representatives, they can answer questions that are specific to your situation. The number to call is 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday from 8:00AM - 8:00PM ET.
Hi my name is Elander i have been in the ticket to work orogram now for 3 years when do u put peaole to work i am wanting to go back to work asap if i can i love to wark have not done work in some time so i want to go back to work as sone as posible
Hi Elander, thanks for your comment! Through the Ticket program, you can work directly with an Employment Network or Vocational Rehabilitation agency that can help identify employment opportunities. Ticket to Work service providers often have relationships with employers and the services and supports that can help you be successful in the workplace. If you’re interested, you can learn more about the program on our website at www.socialsecurity.gov/work. You can also speak with one of our representatives at the Ticket to Work Help Line to learn what options are available to you. The number to call is 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday from 8:00AM - 8:00PM ET.
I'm disability right now,I want to work I have tractor,trailers liscense my problem is that I got hurt while I was learning to shift gears upon getting hurt you automacitly fail the course an had to wait One year months later I went into treatment of my liver disease does ticket to have have vocational networks so that I can improve my vocation to for a co. Thank you
Hi, yes, through the Ticket program, you can work directly with an Employment Network (EN) or Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency that can provide you support services so that you can be successful. We encourage you to call our Help Line and speak with one of our representatives, they can answer questions that are specific to your situation. The number to call is 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday from 8:00AM - 8:00PM ET.