What is benefits planning?
Benefits planning helps you be more prepared and better informed about how work may impact your benefits such as Social Security, medical, housing, personal care services and food benefits. A Certified DVR Benefits Planner can help you understand and explore work incentives to help you navigate the world of work.
Why is benefits planning important?
Benefits planning:
- Educates you about how work can impact benefits.
- Reduces your uncertainty.
- Empowers you to work to your potential instead of limiting your earnings in order to keep benefits.
- Informs you about Social Security work incentives, and other state and federal programs, that can help you pay for items and services you need to maintain employment.
- Helps you explore healthcare options.
How do I connect with a Certified DVR Benefits Planner?
As a customer of DSHS’ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, one of the services you will receive is benefits planning. You will have the opportunity to start working with a benefits planner early in the vocational rehabilitation process, as well as throughout the VR process, as needed, until your case is closed.
Whenever you need benefits planning, you can contact the benefits planner you have been working with or your Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.
Additional benefits planning resources:
- Department of Social and Health Services Office Locator: Locate your nearest DSHS office.
- Disability Rights Washington: A private nonprofit organization protecting the rights of people with disabilities in Washington.
- Medicare: The official federal government website for Medicare information.
- Plan for Work: Benefits planning services for non-DVR customers located in the Washington southern counties: Pacific, Lewis, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania, Klickitat, Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla and the state of Oregon.
- Plan to Work: Benefits planning services for non-DVR customers located in Washington except the southern counties: Pacific, Lewis, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania, Klickitat, Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla.
- Social Security: The official website for the United States Social Security Administration.
- Social Security Office Locator: Locate your nearest Social Security office.
- Ticket to Work: Information about Social Security’s Ticket to Work program and work incentives for beneficiaries.
- Washington Connection: A fast and easy way to apply for state services such as food, cash, childcare, long term care and Medicare Savings Plans.
- Washington Law Help: Fact sheets with self-help information and legal aid providers.
- Washington State Health Care Authority: A state sponsored program providing low-cost health care coverage plans.