Disability & Long-Term Care · Surprise rank #225
Get Free Benefits Counseling Before Working on SSDI or SSI!
Social Security-funded WIPA counselors provide individualized work-incentive and benefits counseling to eligible disability beneficiaries who are working or preparing to work.
Who
People receiving SSDI or SSI because of a disability who are already working or are about to start work and need individualized benefits planning.
What to do
Start here: Call the Ticket to Work Help Line or use Social Security’s Find Help tool to get referred to the WIPA serving your area.
Eligibility: WIPA serves Social Security disability beneficiaries within its work-focused priority rules; the local WIPA may need releases to verify benefits.
What you get
Work Incentives Planning and Assistance counselors explain how earnings and work incentives can affect Social Security disability benefits and related health insurance.
Benefit: Professional benefits analysis that can help prevent avoidable overpayments, benefit interruptions or missed work incentives.
Possible value: No fixed cash award; the financial value can be substantial when correct planning prevents benefit mistakes or reveals work incentives.
Good to know
Important: WIPA is benefits counseling, not a guarantee that working will leave every benefit unchanged. The point is to calculate the effect before making a work decision.
Availability: Active nationwide through SSA-funded WIPA agencies.
Why people miss it: Fear of losing SSDI, SSI, Medicare or Medicaid can keep people from testing work even when work incentives exist; individualized counseling replaces guesswork with the actual benefit rules.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026