What are Work Incentives?
Special rules make it possible for people with disabilities receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to work and still receive monthly payments and Medicare or Medicaid. Social Security calls these rules “work incentives.” In addition to the Social Security programs there are also work incentives or special rules for other entitlement programs; such as Housing Programs (HUD), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Telephonic Assistance, Student Loan Discharge Programs, etc. Work Incentives Planning (aka benefits counseling) is a critical element of IPS Supported Employment service delivery and is one of the eight principles of IPS. It is recommended that people receive benefits counseling from a certified work incentives counselor prior to starting work, and again after beginning a job, in order to understand how work will impact their benefits and assist with decisions around increasing hours or pursuing promotional/career advancement opportunities. The intention of work incentives planning is to assist people in achieving financial goals and independence. Everyone receiving IPS services should be offered assistance with work incentives planning for good fidelity to this item. Depending on their level of training, IPS Employment Specialists may also assist people themselves by providing basic benefits planning assistance, and assistance with accessing work incentives, while a person waits to receive services from a certified work incentives counselor.
Refer to a Certified Benefits Counselor
Additional resources:
Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE)
Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)
Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS)
SSDI & SSI Work Incentives
HUD Work Incentives (Earned Income Disregard and Family Self-Sufficiency)
Total and Permanent Disability Discharge (Student Loan Discharge)
In addition to benefits counseling, there are a few agencies who also provide free financial wellness counseling (this should augment, rather than replace, benefits counseling). The National Disability Institute is one such agency with AFCPE®Accredited Financial Counselors® and Financial Fitness Coaches.
Technical Assistance Webinars & Conference Call Recordings
August 2023
TOPIC: Work Opportunity Tax Credit & Federal Bonding Program
Presenter: Celina Kirnberger, Oregon Employment Department
Links:
Work Opportunity Tax Credit
WOTC flyer
Federal Bonding Program
April 2023
TOPIC: Oregon ABLE Savings Accounts
Presenter: Kaellen Hessel, Oregon Treasury Savings Network
July 2021
TOPIC: HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program
Presenters: Paula Garcia, Colleen Spencer, Fawn Reed of Salem Housing Authority
Resources: Presentation, Program Brochure, Program Fact Sheet- Eng, Program Fact Sheet- Span, Housing Authorities in Oregon with Family Self Sufficiency Programs
May 2021
TOPIC: Work Opportunity Tax Credit
Presenters: Loren Petersen and Alan Beeler, OED
Materials:
WOTC Program Brochure
WOTC Presentation
WOTC Tax Credit Calculation Chart
Form 8850
Form_9061
March 2021
TOPIC: Individual Development Accounts and Oregon ABLE Program
Presenters: Sarah Brooks, DevNW and Kaelynn Hessel, Oregon ABLE
Materials: Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), ABLEOSECE2021
October 2020
TOPIC: Ticket To Work
Presenter: Eugenia Cox, Vocational Rehabilitation
Materials: OSECE TTW Presentation 2020, TTWbrochure2020
Ticket to Work
February 2020
TOPIC: Employed Persons with Disabilities Program
Presenter: Janell White, Aging & People with Disabilities
Materials: EPD PPT
January 2020
TOPIC: ABLE Accounts in Oregon
Presenter: Kaellen Hessel, Oregon Savings Network
June 2019
TOPIC: General Assistance Program
Presenter: Marcy Mee, Collaborative Disability Determination Unit, DHS
Materials: GA Flyer- One page Community Partner Referral, ROI-me3010
General Assistance Program
January 2019
TOPIC: Criminal Justice Involvement and the Federal Bonding Program
Presenter: Tammy Guest, OSECE
Materials: The Federal Bonding Program, federal-bonding-summary
Justice System Involvement & Federal Bonding Program
August 2018
TOPIC: HUD’s Family Self Sufficiency Program
Presenter: Tammy Guest from OSECE with Angela Parada, Colleen Spencer, and Kellie Battaglia from the City of Salem Housing Authority
Materials:
FSS Brochure App Combo 2018 English
FSS Brochure App Combo 2018 Spanish
FSS Brochure App Combo 2018 Russian
NEW FSS Handbook & Fair Housing Add 6-2018