To help people make informed choices about employment and benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) established a program called Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) projects. The WIPA projects have Benefits Specialists/Community Work Incentive Coordinators (CWICs) to provide all SSA disability beneficiaries (including transition-to-work aged youth) with access to benefits planning and assistance services. The ultimate goal of the WIPA projects is to assist SSA's beneficiaries with disabilities in meeting their employment goals. Projects provide all SSA beneficiaries with disabilities access to work incentives planning and assistance services. Benefits Specialists provide information and direct assistance around the benefit programs and work incentives and how they interface with employment, so that each beneficiary is better able to make an informed choice about work. The WIPA for the Thomas Jefferson Planning District is:

vaACCSES
7420 Fullerton Road, Suite 110
Springfield, VA 22153-2836
Information Central: 571-339-1305
Toll Free outside of Northern Virginia Area: 1 -877-822-2777
Web Site: www.vaaccses.org

The Arc's Information and Benefit Assistance Services may involve:

• Phone consultation for information on benefits
• Individual assistance in applying for and appealing decisions regarding Mental Retardation Medicaid Waiver, Medicaid Health Insurance, Social Security and other government benefits.
• Technical assistance and information in terms of advocacy regarding mental retardation and developmental disability issues including equal access, cranial justice, housing and Medicaid Waivers.

509 Park Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 977-4002
Phone: (800) 732-9507
Fax: (434) 984-0577
Email: thearc@cstone.net