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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: John Miller, Vice President, (717) 763-0968, ext.
118 or john.miller@ahedd.org
SOCIAL SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION AWARDS WORK INCENTIVES PLANNNING ASSISTANCE GRANT TO AHEDD
SSA Benefits Counseling
CAMP HILL,
PA (June 8,
2007) – AHEDD has received a continuation grant for Work
Incentives Planning Assistance of $249,999 through March 2008 from the
Social Security Administration. This represents a series of awards
provided to agencies nationally under the Ticket to Work and Work
Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA).
TWWIIA is intended to promote greater participation in the workforce
by providing education to beneficiaries and reducing barriers to work
In Pennsylvania there are over 500,000
working aged adults with disabilities who rely on SSA for their income and
health care support in lieu of employment.
Under the SSA cooperative agreement, AHEDD is responsible for
providing community education and individual work incentive counseling to
beneficiaries in 27 counties in Central and Western Pennsylvania including:
Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron,
Clarion, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon,
Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Somerset, Venango, Warren,
Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
Using a regional network of
Community Work Incentive Coordinators, AHEDD will continue to collaborate
with SSA, Department of Public Welfare, Office of Vocational
Rehabilitation, PA CareerLink centers, and other community-based agencies
to promote and facilitate benefits planning and counseling for
beneficiaries who are considering employment. According to AHEDD’s Project
Director, John Miller, “Historically beneficiaries who were able to
work or return to work have been intimidated by complex and confusing
rules. Individuals need to understand
the mix of SSA cash benefits, health care, and earned income from
employment. Beneficiaries who are
working or interested in work can readily access this service which
features trained staff, one-on-one benefits counseling and
follow-up.”
The Work Incentives Planning
Assistance Program is focused on beneficiaries who want to work. Based on data gathered by AHEDD, 26% of
beneficiaries were employed at time of service, and according to a one year
follow-up, 47% of beneficiaries reported that they were working. As a comparison, national SSA data
indicates that approximately 7% of beneficiaries are working (SSI Workers,
December 2006).
AHEDD is a private, non-profit
company established in 1977. AHEDD
serves the community by partnering with business and people with
disabilities through a field office network throughout Pennsylvania
and Delaware.
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