Do you want to work, work more hours or make more money but fear losing your disability-related benefits, such as SSI or Medicaid? If so, we have good news for you! Federal and state rules related to benefits and work incentives for people with disabilities are not only complex and confusing, but also inadequate.

Many work incentives actually discourage rather than encourage pursuit of such goals as increased employment and earnings. Thanks to the folks at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Social Security Administration, a new product called WorkWORLD has been developed to help people with disabilities who want to work.

WorkWORLD is designed to assist people in their decisions about employment options. It aims to simplify complicated federal and state rules by assisting individuals (people with disabilities, their families, job coaches) to explore options and make knowledge-based, computer-assisted decisions concerning earnings, work incentives, benefits, and net income. The great news is the WorkWORLD product is free and fairly easy to use.

Let's use an example to see how this product works. John is 38 years old and lives at home with his parents. He works at one of the local workshops and earns $200 per month. Both John and his parents are interested in John earning more money and perhaps working outside of the workshop, but are afraid of John losing his monthly SSI check and his Medicaid. After answering questions in WorkWORLD, John and his family learn that John can earn more money without losing his SSI and Medicaid benefits.

If you have a computer at home, or if you have access to one (at your local library), you can learn more about the WorkWORLD product at www.WorkWORLD.org/.

If you do not use a computer, but desire to learn more about the product, you can call Shari Howard, Job Training and Placement Director for Babcock Center, at (803) 532-8141 or (803)799-1970, ext. 179.

Dr. Lacy is the Director of the Office of Policy for the Mental Retardation Division at the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.

Babcock Center is the largest private, nonprofit agency which serves people with lifelong disabilities in South Carolina.

Copyright Babcock Center. Reproduced by permission.