The Viscardi Center
Social Security Benefits Planning
SSI/SSDI Benefits Planning Services
Caring service professionals can assist individuals with disabilities and their families in making informed decisions about their current and future employment and its impact on Supplemental Security Income (SSI)/Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
What is WIPA?
The goal of WIPA is to enable beneficiaries with disabilities to receive accurate information regarding the relationship between employment and their benefits, so they can make informed choices and successfully transition to work.
How Can WIPA Help Me?
This program for people with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) enhances awareness and understanding of the effect of work on benefits, public health insurance such as Medicare and Medicaid, and any other benefits received (i.e., SNAP, HUD, Unemployment Insurance, Veteran’s Benefits, etc.).
A trained Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) provides in-depth, individualized counseling about benefits and various work incentives available through the Social Security Administration. This empowers beneficiaries to make informed choices regarding potential work activities and understand how employment affects benefits eligibility.
Who is Eligible?
An individual must meet the following requirements to be a candidate for WIPA:
- Already receiving (or approved to receive) Social Security benefits based on disability
- At least 14 years of age but not yet full retirement age
- Currently employed, actively seeking employment, or considering employment
This service is grant based. It serves eligible individuals in Nassau and Suffolk counties and Brooklyn.
Where Can I Find Additional Information?
For general information, or to determine if you qualify for WIPA services, you can contact the Ticket to Work Helpline at 1-866-968-7842, or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). The hours of the Helpline are Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
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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Email: info@viscardicenter.org
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