WIPA helps beneficiary access work incentive for students and attend school

WIPA staff recently assisted a beneficiary who is working in a part-time paid internship program in a state office while attending school seeking a degree in public policy with a focus on disability issues. The beneficiary was facing a reduction in their SSI benefits which would have impacted their ability to pay for transportation to and from school. DRLA’s WIPA was able to successfully assist the beneficiary in requesting an exception to SSA policy making them eligible for a work incentive specific to students. This allowed the beneficiary to keep more of their SSI cash payments while attending school, which would ultimately lead to the beneficiary “working off” benefits in the future.