DRAIL Services Work Incentives
Planning & Assistance (WIPA)

The Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) projects are community-based organizations authorized by the Social Security Administration to help people understand Social Security work incentives.

Your Success Is Our Success!

What is WIPA?

Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) projects provide free, in-depth benefits counseling to eligible Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries who have a disability to help them make informed choices about work. WIPA is a long-term support that helps provide the individualized benefits advisement needed to make that successful transition to employment!

WIPA analyzes how work and earnings may impact your Social Security benefits, healthcare, and other public benefits (after verification of benefits). WIPA helps beneficiaries understand specific work incentives available to support return-to-work efforts and how these work incentives may apply.

WIPA staff may also help identify and connect individuals with additional services or supports needed to overcome many of the barriers to employment.

Photo of a young woman coding on a computer.

WIPA Can Help You…

  • Understand the potential benefits of employment as a person who receives disability benefits from Social Security and dispel the myths about working.
  • Analyze how work earnings may impact your Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), healthcare, and other public benefits (after verification of benefits).
  • Understand the work incentives available to support you and how they may apply to your specific situation.
  • Decide whether the Ticket to Work program is right for you.
  • Identify employment services or supports you might need through the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) or an Employment Network (EN).

WIPA Support Once
You Start Work…

  • Learn how to report wage information to Social Security and successfully manage your benefits over time.
  • Identify and connect with services or supports needed to overcome barriers to employment.
  • Understand problems related to your benefits and identify strategies for resolving or minimizing these problems.
  • Discuss work incentives that may help you keep your Medi-Cal and/or Medicare health insurance benefits while working.
  • Assist with the development of Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS).
Photo of a young man showing a digital tablet to his grandmother.

Who is eligible for WIPA?

Beneficiaries age 14 or over, but not yet full retirement age, who are those receiving Social Security benefits based on disability (SSI or SSDI); or who would be getting Social Security or SSI benefits based on disability but are in non-pay status and only receiving healthcare benefits because of work.

Examples include those who:

  • Are working;
  • Have a job offer pending; Are actively interviewing for jobs;
  • Had a job interview in the past 30 days;
  • Have a job interview scheduled in the next 2 weeks;
  • Are a veteran; or
  • Are age 14–25, (even if you are not actively pursuing work)

How to Get Started with WIPA!

Call the Ticket to Work help line to begin the enrollment process
or contact a DRAIL specialist by email:

(866) 968-7842 Logo of SSA Ticket to Work.

* DRAIL WIPA serves beneficiaries in: Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, San Benito, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne Counties. Beneficiaries in other Counties can contact Ticket to Work to find their local WIPA project.