Tennessee Disability Coalition

WIPA Programs Being Shut Down!

The Commissioner of Social Security, Michael Astrue, recently announced his plans to shut down Social Security’s vital employment support counseling services if Congress does not act. 

If We Do Nothing---the services provided by Benefits to Work, the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance program (WIPA) in the state of Tennessee will end on June 30, 2012!

The mission of WIPA is to assist SSA disability beneficiaries with accurate information about work incentives, benefits planning, and making good choices about working. To achieve this, SSA employs highly skilled experts to address real fears that individuals have about working. When misinformation has lessened an individual's resolve to pursue a career, employment is a terrifying undertaking. Understanding this fear, WIPA serves some of our most vulnerable citizens. 

It has literally taken years for beneficiaries to come to trust the professionals in the Ticket to Work program. We fear that if the federal government disbands the WIPA program, the loss of confidence in the employment initiative will be irreparable.  

~ What You Can Do:

“Social Security work rules are complicated!  We request that you extend the current SSA WIPA employment support counseling services for SSA disability beneficiaries for 12 - 18 months, as the Congress deliberates and reauthorizes the WIPA program.”

Tell them your stories
--- Success Stories about how WIPA has impacted your life, the life of a family member or your clients’ lives.

follow these links to email:
Congressman Diane Black
Senator Bob Corker
Senator Lamar Alexander

---Cut, paste and edit the template below to send your personal messages to key decision-makers in Congress:

<Insert Date>

<Member of Congress>

<Insert Address>

<Address Line 1>

<Address Line 2>

<Address Line 3>

Dear <Insert Name>,

Americans with disabilities who want to work need your action now!

I ask you to help continue Social Security’s Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program. Social Security Commissioner Astrue alerted Congress on March 9, 2012 that he will shut down the WIPA program on June 30, 2012 unless Congress acts.  Please work to promote and ensure the program’s congressional extension and ultimate reauthorization.  

The Social Security Administration (SSA) sent a draft bill to the House of Representatives and the Senate early in January, 2012; no bill has been formally introduced to date. 

Social Security work rules are complicated!  Social Security disability beneficiaries need the WIPA programs to pursue employment and economic 

self-sufficiency goals. WIPA Community Work Incentive Coordinators (CWICs) provide beneficiaries with accurate information enabling them to pursue employment, and reduce dependence on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cash benefits.

CWIC counseling can ease a beneficiary’s fears about loss of necessary health care and other case specific issues during transition to self-sufficiency.  Some argue that these programs have not provided the level of assistance that beneficiaries need.  However, my life (the lives of several of my clients have) has been greatly impacted, is that not sufficient enough to continue WIPA?

As an American with a disability or someone who works with individuals with disabilities, <Insert your own story or personal comments here>

Please help stop the shutdown of the WIPA programs. Collaborate with your fellow lawmakers to approve legislation to continue these invaluable programs that add tax payers to our workforce.  

Thank you for your time and sincere consideration of this matter.

Respectfully Submitted,

<Insert Name Here>

<Insert Home Address Here>

<Address Line 2>

<Phone Number (Optional)>

<E-mail address (Optional)> 

Today, Tennessee and 10 other states are holding their primary elections, the event dubbed collectively as "Super Tuesday." Some local races are on the ballot today, including two Democratic primaries for judgeships in Davidson County, but the race making the headlines is for the Republican Presidential Nominee. 

Tuesday, January 31, at 2:30 pm CT at Legislative Plaza Room 31 in Nashville and online, Jim Dickson addressed the impact of Tennessee's Photo ID to vote law on the disability community. 

Join Our Call to Action Day!

Ensure that Governor Bill Haslam's office understands the value of the Family Support Program to your family, and why it deserves funding in the next fiscal year. 

Between 9:00-11:00am Friday, January 13th call (615) 741-2001 to share your concerns and request that the governor do everything necessary to fund the Family Support Program in the next fiscal year.