• Information for...

  • - People With Disabilities
  • - Media
  • - Businesses

• Core Services

  • - Information and Referral
  • - Peer Advocacy
    • - Deaf Independence Program
    • - Youth Leadership Program

    • Benefits to Work

  • - Individual & Group Skills Training
  • - Systems Advocacy

• Direct Services

  • - Meals On Wheels
  • - Home Access Program
  • - Sue Williams Freedom Fund

• News

  • - Main News
  • - Press Releases
  • - VCIL Position Papers
  • - Your Voices
  • - The Independent

• About VCIL

  • - Overview
  • - VCIL Staff
  • - Letter From The Director

Benefits to Work

Our Benefits to Work Counselors can help you plan for employment and greater independence. You can learn how to take advantage of work incentives that can give you greater total monthly income or help you to pay for college. We can answer questions about the "Ticket to Work Program" and what it can and can't do for you.

If you are working or thinking about going to work, talk to one of our Benefits to Work Counselors. He or she will explain how much you can work and still keep the benefits you need. The Social Security Administration is now making it easier for you to try out working without jeopardizing your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). People who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can make more money than ever before and still keep Medicaid benefits. Students who receive SSI can earn up to $1,370 per month and not lose any cash benefits.

Depending on your situation, there are a few different ways you can work and keep Medicaid. If you go to work, even one hour per month, you may qualify for Medicaid for Working People with Disabilities. Individuals with disabilities who are meeting expensive "spend-downs" may qualify for Medicaid if they work, without an expensive spend-down.

For more information, contact one of VCIL's "Benefits to Work Counselors" at 1-800-639-1522 (toll-free voice and TTY).

Benefits to Work Links

• Link to Cornell University's training manual on Social Security work incentives:
  http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/ped/ssa_curriculum/index.html
• Social Security's "work site"
  http://www.ssa.gov/work/
• From Social Security's site, link to 2004 Social Security changes:
  http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/factsheets/colafacts2004.htm
• Link to information about recent premium changes to PATH benefits
  http://www.path.state.vt.us/premium/premium.html
• For information about the Ticket to Work
  http://www.yourtickettowork.com/
• For information about a Plan for Achieving Self Support (PASS)
  http://www.passonline.org/