SSA Honors National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Date:
Dear Colleague,
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and to promote inclusion and equity in the workforce. This year’s theme, Access to Good Jobs for All, reflects our commitment to administering programs that support Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries to enter the workforce and maintain employment.
The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act, signed into law on December 17, 1999, was designed to support people with disabilities in their employment journey. Below are a few Social Security programs that help people with disabilities go to work:
- The Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program provides counseling to beneficiaries on how employment impacts benefits.
- The Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) program offers legal support to help to remove barriers to employment.
- Employment Networks (ENs), organizations authorized by Social Security, provide free support services to help adult disability beneficiaries prepare for, find, and maintain employment.
As we continue to work towards increasing inclusivity in the workforce, the Ticket to Work program plays a vital role in supporting Access to Good Jobs for All.
Please share this information with your members, colleagues, affiliates, and other interested parties. Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Dawn Bystry
Associate Commissioner
Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
OEA.Net.Post@ssa.gov