Union Station Clubhouse

SSA Benefits and Working!

WIPA projects are community-based organizations that receive grants from Social Security to provide Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability beneficiaries, including youth in transition, free access to work incentives planning and assistance. If you are working, or interested in working, our WIPA projects can give you accurate information about Social Security work incentives and other programs. Each WIPA project has counselors called Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWIC) that provide all of the below services: work with you to help you understand your benefits, teach you when, how, and what to report to Social Security and other providers, provide in-depth, individualized counseling about your benefits and the effect of work on those benefits, provide ongoing support and information as you transition to work.

Ms. Joy Smith serves as the WIPA Project Director/Area Manager/CWIC. Ms. Smith has been a CWIC with AHEDD since program’s inception in 2001. Ms. Smith received a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Her previous experience includes: Supports Coordinator for Westmoreland County Office of Intellectual Disabilities, and Employment Specialist for AHEDD. Ms. Smith has served on a Transition Task Force coordinated by the PA Department of Health developing best practices for youth with disabilities. Ms. Smith also serves on the Employment Coalition in Westmoreland County. Ms. Smith has presented on the topic of WIPA services at numerous statewide events, including a yearly presentation at the Pennsylvania Transition Conference and has conducted numerous trainings on WIPA services to various stakeholders.