Social Security Work Incentives Introduction

Unemployment and underemployment among working-age Americans with disabilities continues to be a difficult problem.  Less than one-fifth of people with disabilities are considered participating in workforce.  Even sadder is the fact that less than 10 percent of those counted are currently working and that doesn’t count job seekers with disabilities who have never been employed (ODEP).  Clearly, there is still much work to be done to improve competitive employment opportunities for people with disabilities. 

Although there are many reasons for this, one of the most significant barriers to employment is the fear of losing public benefits, both Federal and State, especially medical coverage, when individuals begin to earn income.  Within the Social Security program, incentives to work do exist.  However, they are complicated and difficult to understand, limiting their use by professionals, people with disabilities, and their families.

This course is intended to increase access to accurate information about federal and state benefits and work incentives for people with disabilities, their families and professionals. The course will: 

• Provide training on federal and state eligibility programs, advantages to earning wages, work incentives, community resources to professionals, and a network of support; 
• Demonstrate innovative ways of using the systems offered and understanding the use and value of work incentives to increase individuals’ income, assets, etc.

The link below is SSA’s web site on disability benefits. We will cover this information in more depth in this course.
SSA’s Introduction to Benefits for People with Disabilities