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Maine's CHOICES CEO Project

Expanding Opportunities for Workers with Disabilities

Priority #5: Expand Work Incentives Planning and Assistance

Work Incentives Planning and Assistance, also referred to as "benefits counseling," is a relatively new and under-supported resource. Those providing this service work with people receiving public cash benefits (usually Social Security). The goal of the service is to help benefits recipients make informed decisions — with an emphasis on increased work — in light of ever-changing policies.

This is a particularly important service for people with disabilities who want to work because earned wages can dramatically affect the amount and type of benefits received.

Without an accurate understanding of the work world and how employment affects public benefits, many potential workers might avoid work, or turn down increases in wages and hours, because they think these changes could be financially disadvantageous.

A significant portion of our budget (10 percent, the maximum allowed by our funder) is allotted for benefits counseling services and system development.

Accomplishments

One of our key goals is to increase the number of benefits counselors available to Mainers with disabilities. Great strides have been made already.

The Maine Medical Center's (MMC) Department of Vocational Services receives funding from the Social Security Administration for its Community Work Incentive Coordinators — also known as benefits counselors (see the January 2007 newsletter for more information on this). MMC receives additional funds to support benefits counseling from the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, the CHOICES CEO project, and the Department of Health and Human Services (Office of Adult Mental Health Services). With these combined funds, six benefits counselors were providing services in 2008.

A new Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) web site was launched in 2009 through a collaborative effort between the CHOICES CEO project and Maine's WIPA project. See more information in the "Highlight" box in the column to the right.

Goals

  • Additional benefits counselors are hired.
  • There is a significant increase in the number of people who receive benefits counseling and the number of formal benefit plans prepared.
  • People with disabilities receive in-depth benefits counseling in a timely manner so that quick and informed action can be taken on job and advancement offers.

Long-term Results

  • More people with disabilities are hired and sustain employment.
  • More hours are worked by, and wages paid to, workers with disabilities.

National Resource

The National Coalition of Health Systems Development Library has helpful resource materials, including many on benefits counseling. To find information on benefits counseling, click the select button next to "Keywords," type "Benefits" into the search box and click the "Run Search" button.

Recent News

  • A new Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) web site was launched in 2009 through a collaborative effort between the CHOICES CEO project and Maine's WIPA project.
  • 63 individuals with disabilities were taken into Maine Medical Center's benefits counseling program in 2008. This compares with 704 individuals with disabilities served by the same benefits counseling programs in 2007, and 396 individuals with disabilities served in 2006, for an overall increase of 118%.
  • Maine Adds New Benefits Counselors (January 2007 newsletter)
 

Highlights

New Maine Benefits Counseling Web Resource

A new Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) web site was launched in 2009 through a collaborative effort between the CHOICES CEO project and Maine's WIPA project. Highlights on the new on-line resource include:

  • A page to Get Started on free Work Incentives Planning and Assistance services, provided that you are receiving Social Security disability cash benefits or Supplemental Security Income based on disability and are working or have plans to start working.
  • A Provider Portal to allow service providers to make direct referrals for Work Incentives Planning and Assistance services.
  • A map of Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs) by county so that you can find the CWIC closest to you.

 

Resources

Logic Model of Maine Benefits Counseling System

A logic model is a visual depiction of how a complex system works, as well as how specific activities to improve the system are expected to results in certain outputs (such as a new website and other outreach efforts to promote benefits counseling services), and that these activities and outcomes will lead to short, intermediate and long-term outcomes. The primary outcomes that are sought related to increased employment, and increased job earnings, among workers with disabilities. Click here to view a logic model for Maine's benefits counseling system.

Public Meeting

On May 22, 2006, a public meeting was held to discuss benefits counseling. The conversation focused on Social Security Administration beneficiaries with disabilities who are exploring work options. Videoconferencing was used so that people in Portland, Bangor and Augusta could all participate.

The information gathered from the discussions was used by the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and other partners to guide continued development of Maine's benefits counseling system. View a compilation of comments from the meeting.