Work Incentives Planning and Assistance
What is the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance
Project?
Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) is a
project that helps Social Security Administration (SSA)
beneficiaries to understand and use work incentives to start
or return to work. A staff person called a Community Work
Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) works individually with people
who are currently working or seeking employment and helps
them plan, through using work incentives, to build a more
secure financial future and a better life. The CWIC works
along with Employments Networks, whose community agencies
that assist the SSA beneficiary to meet their vocational
goals through training and job placement assistance.
*There is no cost to consumers for this service
Can the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance project
help me?
The WIPA project is for people with disabilities, ages
14 - 64, who receive either Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or both. By
understanding the Work Incentives programs of Social
Security, you may be able to go back to work limited risk to
your benefits. If you are already working, you may be able
to earn more money and keep benefits. There is also a
possibility that you may no longer need to rely on Social
Security to live.
We can help you to understand the effect of work on a
variety of benefits:
At times, individuals are afraid to work because they deal
with several benefit programs. We can help analyze the
impact on:
• Medicaid and Medicare
• SSI & SSDI
• Food Stamps
• Housing Subsidies
• Workers Compensation
• Unemployment Insurance
How does this project work?
A trained Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
will sit down with you and gather information that can help
you know what your options are for working. The CWIC will
help you to understand any risk involved, and let you decide
what you want to do. The CWIC will ask about your work
history, disability and other related information.
CWICs can meet with you in a place that is convenient for
you, the consumer. For example:
• Local Michigan Works offices
• MRS Offices
• Schools
• Your home
• Agency Offices
• Libraries
How to contact a Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
1. Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit
1-888-232-4140 (outside the 313 area code) or 313-964-3900
Counties Covered: Wayne
2. UCP of Metropolitan Detroit 1-800-827-4843
Counties Covered: Lapeer, Oakland and Macomb
3. The Arc Michigan 1-800-292-7851
Counties Covered: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Cass,
Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson,
Kalamazoo, Kent, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, Ottawa, St.
Joseph, Van Buren, and Washtenaw
4. UCP of Michigan
*Call 1-800-828-2714
Counties Covered: Arenac, Bay, Clare, Genesee, Gladwin,
Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, St. Clair, Saginaw,
Sanilac, Shiawassee, and Tuscola
*Call 1-800-211-1356
Counties Covered: Alcona, Benzie, Crawford, Grand Traverse,
Iosco, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta,
Missaukee, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw,
Osceola, Oscoda, Roscommon, and Wexford
*In the Upper Peninsula call 1-888-873-8812
Counties Covered: Alger, Alpena, Antrim, Baraga, Charlevoix,
Cheboygan, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Emmet, Gogebic,
Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinaw, Marquette,
Menominee, Montmorency, Ontonagon, Otsego, Presque Isle, and
Schoolcraft
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