What is Benefits Counseling

Are you receiving Social Security disabilities benefits (SSI/SSDI) but want to work? Are you worried that working would cause you to lose your benefits?

Benefits Counseling

Contacting Community Care Connections about benefits counseling is one way to ensure this will not happen. Benefits Counseling is a service offered by the Ticket to Work Program, a program that assists individuals aged 18 through 64 who want to work but also receive Social Security benefits (SSI/SSDI). The program is free and voluntary. With benefits counseling, individuals work with a certified benefits counselor who will explain how working will affect their state and federal benefits, including but not limited to:

• SSDI and SSI
• Housing assistance
• Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Healthcare benefits – including Medicare and Medicaid.

Additionally, your benefits counselor can help you learn more about additional state and federal programs for which you may be eligible. They will also explain how your work earnings will affect your Social Security benefits and how work incentives can help you to work without losing benefits immediately. Your benefits counselor will also explain and assist with reporting your wages to Social Security so you can avoid overpayments.

How do you find a benefits counselor?

The Ticket to Work program offers several providers to choose from. Some service providers serve people nationwide while others work locally. You must be careful when choosing. Some providers offer benefits counseling along with other employment services. These providers are:

• State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies. The VR agency can offer training, education, medical rehabilitation, career counseling, and job placement assistance.
• Employment Networks (EN). The EN can be private or public organizations that assist with job search assistance, career counseling, and continued support after getting a job.

Another provider that can help is WIPA. WIPA stands for Work Incentives Planning and Assistance. WIPA is a federal program funded by the Social Security Administration that gives you options if you want to work but are either not eligible or on a waitlist. Benefits Counseling is also available through the Office of Developmental Program Consolidated, Community Living, and P/FDS waiver.

Benefits of Using Community Care Connections

The Benefits Counselor at Community Care Connections has credentials through Cornell University. They can assist with:

• Benefits consultation
• Work Incentives Benefits analysis
• Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)
• SSA Overpayment Assistance

All services can be provided either in person or virtually depending on the funding source.

Certain funding sources state you must contact the Social Security Administration and request benefits counseling.

If they are not able to provide the service after 30 calendar days, it can be paid for by the funding source.

Upon approval to receive benefits counseling, the benefits counselor will gather a lot of information so she can prepare an explanation of available work incentives.

An SSA-3288 Consent to Release form will be signed and sent to Social Security to get a copy of the Benefits Planning Query (BPQY). Once the benefits counselor receives the BPQY from Social Security, they can provide the participant with more insight and information regarding going to work and still receiving their benefits.

Are you interested in learning more? Contact us at (724) 283 – 3198 or email Samantha Wills at smead@communitycareconnect.org.