If you have a disability and want to work, there are programs that can help.

Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program
The South Dakota Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program (SDWIPA) can help you learn about your disability benefits if you’re already working or if you are ready to enter the workforce. SDWIPA will connect you with a Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC).

A CWIC can help you with information about benefits for you and your dependents, Medicare, Medicaid, reporting your income, and anything else related to working and managing your benefits. Call 1-800-224-5336 to get more information about this assistance.

CWICs are located throughout South Dakota. They provide information to help you make decisions about working and your benefits such as:

• The Ticket to Work Program Social Security benefits and work incentives
• Medicare, Medicaid, and the Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) Program
• Any other benefits you or your family receive

Social Security Work Incentives
Work Incentives make it possible for you to work if you get Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. You may get SSDI, SSI, or both. The work incentives may be different depending on which benefits you get. If you are not sure which payment you receive, a CWIC can help you.

Some important work incentives you should know are:

• Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) are costs that you pay for items or services related to your disability that you need to work. Examples include assistive technology, job coaching, attendant services, transportation, medications, and medical supplies. These costs can reduce the amount of earnings counted by Social Security against your SSDI or SSI benefits.
• Expedited Reinstatement can let you get your SSDI or SSI check if you can no longer work. You may be able to get your SSDI or SSI check for up to six months while Social Security decides if you should get your check back beyond the six months.
• Continued Medicaid Coverage - 1619(b) lets you keep Medicaid even if you no longer get an SSI check because of your earnings from work.
• Trial Work Period (TWP) allows you to try work without losing your Social Security Disability benefits.
• Extended Medicare Coverage allows you to keep Medicare for at least 8 ½ years after you go to work.
• Special rules for workers who are blind or have a vision impairment let you earn more money before benefits are affected. Ask Social Security for the pamphlet regarding these special rules, “If You Are Blind or Have Low Vision”.

The work incentives listed above are only some of the tools that can help you if you want to work. To make sure you are successful in your work effort, contact a Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC). For more information on work incentives, visit The Work Site at www.ssa.gov/work.

Resources

Medicare www.medicare.gov	Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC) 1-800-224-5336 or www.bhssc/content/services/wipa.htm

Social Security Administration
1-800-772-1213, 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) or www.ssa.gov/

MAWD - local Department of Social Services office
1-877-999-5612 or http://dss.sd.gov/offices

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A publication of the Freedom To Work Project, affiliated with the Black Hills Special Services Cooperative and South Dakota Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities. Freedom To Work is a program of the State of South Dakota through the Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services. Funding is provided through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Grant # P-91485/8