WORK INCENTIVE PLANNING AND ASSISTANCE (WIPA)/BENEFITS COUNSELING
Granite State Independent Living (GSIL) provides services for beneficiaries receiving Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits through our Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program, for the entire state of NH and 25 counties in NY.
What is WIPA?
WIPA is designed to enable beneficiaries with disabilities to receive accurate information regarding their benefits and work incentives so they can make appropriate decisions about returning to work.
How do I become involved?
A beneficiary receives services by calling the Ticket-To-Work Helpline. Calling this number will generate a referral through the helpline and it will go directly to the Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC).
A beneficiary can receive services through WIPA if they are enrolled with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). VR counselors can refer their clients to GSIL directly for a Benefits Summary and Analysis (BS&A) or for basic Benefits Counseling. A beneficiary can also access services by contacting GSIL directly at 603-228-9680.
How do I contact you about receiving WIPA Services?
No matter how a beneficiary comes to the WIPA program they will be provided with in-depth counseling about benefits and the effects of earned income on those benefits. They can also receive continued support throughout their employment regarding their SSA and other federal benefits.
For more information, please call 1-866-968-7842 or, if you use TTY services, 1-866-833-2967. You may also email [email protected].
Some of our specialty areas include, but are not limited to:
- Social Security (SSI & SSDI)
- PASS (Social Security Plan to Achieve Self-Support)
- IRWE’s (Income Related Work Expenses)
- Student Earned Income Exclusions
- Medicaid & MEAD (Medicaid for Employed Adults with Disabilities)
- Spend-Downs
- Medicare
- TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
- APTD (Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled)