Benefits Planning

To help people make informed choices about employment and benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) established a program called Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach (BPAO). BPAO Projects provide all SSA beneficiaries with disabilities access to work incentives planning and assistance services. Benefits Specialists provide information and direct assistance around the benefit programs and work incentives and how they interface with employment, so that each beneficiary is better able to make an informed choice about work. The BPAO for the Thomas Jefferson Planning District is:

vaACCSES

Mr. Steve Waldron
6295 Edsall Road - Suite 175
Alexandria, VA 22312
Phone: (804) 328-0833
Toll Free: (866) 200-5970
Email: skwjcs@hotmail.com
Web Site: www.vaaccses.org

The Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy also provides information on employee benefits planning. Their toll free telephone number is 800-552-3962 (Voice/TTY) or e-mail address is general.vopa@vopa.virginia.gov.

WorkWORLD Software

WorkWORLD is a free, on-line benefits advisor/decision support software for personal computers that is designed to be used by people with disabilities, advocates, benefit counselors, and others. The software helps people find employment-based paths to higher net income through the best use of Federal and State work incentives and benefits. WorkWORLD takes into account the complex interaction of earnings, benefit programs, and work incentives to provide individualized recommendations for safe options as well as alerts to possible problems. For additional information email workworld@vcu.edu or call: (804) 828-2665.