WIPA
Thank you so much for spending time with me going over the Social Security puzzle! It is a relief to me for you to put information into terms that I can understand.”-Pam S.
Understanding the impact of earnings on your benefits can help you make informed choices on employment. Granite State Independent Living Community Work Incentives Coordinators (formerly known as Benefits Specialists) in the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program work one-on-one with individuals to outline available options. Our Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWIC) also make group presentations to professionals and individuals with disabilities.
New Hampshire's program is known as NH BEST--New Hampshire Benefits and Employment for Self-Sufficiency Transition.
Who is eligible for the NH BEST Program?
The program assists people who:
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Are age 16 to 64 who are working, ready to work or considering working and,
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Receive federal benefits, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or,
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Receive state benefits, such as Medicaid, Medicaid for Employed Adults with Disabilities, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and housing subsidies
Being employed and maintaining benefits
If you have a disability and receive SSDI and/or SSI benefits, working
will not immediately eliminate these benefits, housing subsides or medical coverage. Our staff can provide information on work incentives and health care options, including Medicaid for Employed Adults with Disabilities (MEAD) and keeping Medicare benefits while working. We also can help you develop a clearly defined path to achieve your employment goals while maintaining your benefits.
How to access NH BEST services
To learn more about benefits options, contact GSIL to make an appointment with a CWIC in your area.* Or call GSIL at 1-800-826-3700 and ask for the WIPA Program Manager. During the meeting, the CWIC will review your current benefits, explain your options in easy-to-understand terms and provide easy-to-read support materials. After, a Work Incentives and Benefits Summary will be mailed to you and to the members of the support team, identifying short-term and long-term support and services needed.
*If you are a consumer of NH Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and would like to meet with a CWIC, please discuss it with your VR counselor