Plan for Work

Disability Rights Oregon has been notified by the Social Security Administration that funding for Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) programs will end on June 30, 2012.  These programs were authorized under the Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Improvement Act of 1999.  Although, last year, Congress gave WIPA programs a one-year funding extension, it has not reauthorized the programs beyond June 30.  This means that Disability Rights Oregon's WIPA-funded benefits planning program, Plan for Work, must close.  While there is a possibility that Congress may reauthorize WIPA-type programs in the future, DRO must now, like our colleagues across the country, follow the directive from Social Security to close our WIPA program. 

After April 26, 2012, the WIPA program will not be taking new clients for benefits planning.  We will, however, continue to provide services to our ongoing clients through June 30, 2012. 

We will be referring new service referrals after April 26th  to:

1. Ticket To Work Call Center, at 1-866-968-7842
   
2. Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or the local office
   

If a caller has an active case with Vocational Rehabilitation and is in need of benefits planning, the person can call the local Work Incentives Network (WIN) program in your area.   

Plan for Work has provided information and guidance to hundreds of individuals with disabilities about the work incentives available to assist them in transitioning from Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income to work.  DRO will continue to advocate for public funding of benefits planning services so that individuals with disabilities have the tools and information they need to achieve greater inclusion, productivity and economic independence.