[Rehab] SSA Work Incentives Programs

Fri Mar 22 19:30:30 UTC 2019

I used to work for SSA and I can tell you first-hand that most of the representatives, especially those at the teleservice -centers are clueless about anything beyond the basics.  Sadly, we used to joke in the local offices that it seemed like they just pulled people in off the street and told them to answer the phone.  Unfortunately, it continues to get worse because new employee's get very little training or mentoring once they come out of training.  Not to mention the tremendous backlog resulting from agency cutbacks and also because of the ever increasing number of people applying for disability for everything from a headache to a hang nail. 
I was blessed to have a blind friend who worked in my office, who had been there forever and knew the programs inside and out.  He was a fantastic mentor and a wealth of knowledge.  He has unfortunately since retired and passed away.      
One other advantage I had when I was hired was that I had a lot of down time for the first couple of months while waiting to go in to training and also waiting for my AT equipment to be ordered.  I wisely took advantage of that time to read the POMS, which is essentially the SS manual containing all of the regulations for their various programs.  This was in the late 90's.  I used an old standalone Kurzweil machine to scan in literally thousands of pages of regs; which I read and reread and took tons of notes on.  Then, my BrailleLite crashed right before I went into formal training and I lost all those notes I had worked so hard to compile.  Thank goodness, I had an excellent memory back then.  Smiles!    

Seriously though, I strongly encourage anyone receiving SS benefits of any kind to empower yourselves by taking the time and making the effort to read, study and understand the regs that pertain to you and your benefits.  The Red Book that Dick mentioned as well as all of the other sSA information pamphlets are available in several different formats; including braille, audio, electronic and of course on their website.  Knowledge is power.  So, empower yourself by learning all about entitlement and eligibility requirements, SGA, work incentives, blindness and/or impairment related work expenses, and most importantly make sure you know exactly what type of benefits you are receiving; because the regs for SSI and SSDI are very different.  There's way too much misinformation floating around due to people not knowing if they're getting SSI or SSDI, friends telling them one thing and poorly trained SSA reps telling them another .  I know it's all very complicated and confusing.  However, this is your life, your benefits, your livelihood and your future.  If you want to make an informed decision about whether or not to go to work, get married or whatever; then you need to have a thorough knowledge of the regs and the factors that might effect your benefits.  Arm yourself with a hard copy or a link to relevant regs when you meet with an SSA rep; so that you can educate them when needed.  All the dry and boring reading may end up paying off one day when you're able to avoid an unnecessary overpayment, reduction in the amount of your check or when you're able to prove that your actually entitled to backpay or a larger benefit amount.

I left SSA many years ago to accept a position in the voc rehab profession.  I sometimes wonder if that was a wise decision.  Financially, it doesn’t seem like it because I’m now having to work a full-time and a part-time job, and still not making nearly as much as I would be if I'd stayed with SSA.  Plus, it doesn't help that I'm currently burned out and terribly frustrated and disillusioned with the rehab field.  Although, based on what I hear from friends who still work for SSA, the situation is much worse there.  I Probably should have just stuck with one of my original goals and have become a massage therapist.  Instead, I'm seriously considering it as a second/new career.

Sorry for the long rambling post!  I certainly didn't plan on writing this much.  I truly wish I had more time and energy to help some of you better understand the confusing rules and regs.  I unfortunately don't though.  In addition, it's been a long time since I worked for SSA or studied the regs myself.  My memory for details definitely isn't what it used to be either; and I'd hate to give anyone inaccurate information.  Regardless, I'd rather you read the regs yourself anyway, and learn about all the factors that may affect your benefits.

Have a great weekend and happy reading!

Tonia 

-----Original Message-----
From: Rehab <rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Dick Davis via Rehab
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2019 1:43 PM
To: Jobs for the Blind <jobs at nfbnet.org>; Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List <rehab at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Dick Davis <ddavis at blindinc.org>; Private List for Employment Committee <employment-committee at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [Rehab] SSA Work Incentives Programs

Dear Listers:

Of late, I have seen a lot of discussion on the Jobs Listserv about Social Security earnings limits and whether or not it is worth risking one’s SSI and SSDI benefits in order to go to work.  Lots of people have been burned with bad advice, including one of our listers who may have turned down a job offer because of false advice from a claims representative.

Since false advice seems to be a hallmark of SSA claims reps, they developed local work incentive programs around 20 years ago.  And of course, they do a poor job of advertising the availability of this valuable service that everyone wants and needs.

Basically, these people are trained and licensed by SSA to advise people with disabilities about the implications of returning to work on their disability benefits.  After much digging, I found a site that has a link to SSA work incentives contractors in your location.  It doesn’t look like all that much, but here it is:

https://choosework.ssa.gov/findhelp/result?option=directSearch

You want to check the box for “Benefits Counseling WIPA” and put in your zip code.  That will give you a list of private sector providers under the Ticket to Work plan, some of which will have the boxes for “Benefits Counseling” checked.  I would appreciate if some of you who have a bit more time on your hands would explore this option and get back to me with suggestions about how we can make it more user friendly for blind people.
Use my email: ddavis at blindinc.org

Thanks,

Dick Davis, Chair

NFB Employment Committee
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