Work Incentives Benefits Counseling 101

Want to learn more about the nuts and bolts of benefits and work incentives? Please feel free to visit the Paths to Employment Resource Center (PERC) website for a FREE webinar on work incentives http://www.percthinkwork.org/education/courses/work-incentives-benefits-counseling-101

Work Incentive Seminar Events (WISE): Helping Beneficiaries Make Informed Decisions About Work

If you are interested in learning about the Ticket to Work Program or other Work Incentives, you can attend a FREE Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE). WISE are community events held by local organizations for beneficiaries to learn more about available work incentives through accessible, informal, learning opportunities. The information is also available via webinar. Local Work Incentive Planning and Assistance projects will be hosting a series of events in the upcoming months-please click on the link below to find an event near you. 

For more information or to sign up for a WISE event in your area, visit www.chooseworkttw.net.

General Disability-Related Training


The Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute (SVRI) offers online training opportunities with pre-approved CRC credits. Courses currently offered 2-3 times per year include the following:

· Rehabilitation Ethics (fulfills CRC’s entire ethics requirement)



· Physical Disabilities



· Psychiatric Disabilities


· CRC Exam Preparation Workshop

For more information please visit http://www.uwstout.edu/svri/training.cfm for more information on courses and registration. Please check back regularly as courses on work incentives and benefits counseling have been offered in the past and it's highly likely that they will be offered again. 

We send current newsbriefs to our membership & listserve via email, but you're welcome to view the archived versions posted here.  Please consider joining NADBS! You're also welcome to join our listserve by sending us a note via our Contact section if you would like to be include in upcoming e-mailings.

SSA Work Incentive Planning & Assistance (WIPA) http://www.ssa.gov/work/wipafactsheet.html

The Social Security Administration's (SSA) Redbook on Work Incentives

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/redbook

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Home & Community-Based Waivers

States have flexibility in offering and operating Medicaid programs, including Home & Community-Based Waiver options. This site does not provide access to program enrollment, but does present information about the waiver programs available in each state.

https://www.cms.gov/MedicaidStWaivProgDemoPGI

Medicaid Buy-In Programs

Medicaid Buy-In programs allow individuals with significant disabilities who are or will soon be working the option to “buy into” Medicaid, typically by paying a premium. Access to valuable health-related services such as personal assistance is important in supporting employment activity.

www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/wi/buyin.htm

http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/disability/medicaidbuy-in.asp

Vocational Rehabilitation Services

The federal Rehabilitation Services Administration partners with states to provide vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities who want to work. The programs provide a wide range of services designed to help individuals with disabilities prepare for and engage in gainful employment consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice.

http://rsa.ed.gov/programs.cfm?pc=BASIC-VR&sub=purpose

The Wisconsin Disability Benefits Network (WDBN)

http://www.eri-wi.org/WDBN.htm

New Hampshire Work Incentives Resource Center (WIRC)

http://nhwirc.org

Minnesota Work Incentives Connection

http://www.mnworkincentives.com

VCU’s Work Incentive Planning & Assistance National Training Center

http://www.vcu-ntc.org/about_us/index.cfm

California’s Disability Benefits 101 Calculator

http://www.disabilitybenefits101.org

CARF Employment & Community Services Accreditation

http://www.carf.org/Programs/ECS

National Consortium for Health Systems Development (NCHSD)

http://www.nchsd.org