Social Security - Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program (96.008)
Social Security - Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program (Assistance Listing 96.008) is run by the Social Security Administration. It awarded $98.8 million in 75 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $1.3 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $1.4 million. Half of the 75 awards fell between $1.3 million and $1.5 million, and they ranged from $600,000 to $1.5 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$98.8 million
- Grant awards75
- Typical award$1.4 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$20.0 million
- Size rank818 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $18.9 million in fiscal 2021 to $20.0 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 818th largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 30% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 42 states and territories.
What the program funds
To comply with the Ticket-to-Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA) which was passed in December 1999, and reauthorized by the Social Security Protection Act of 2004, which requires the SSA to establish a community-based work incentives planning and assistance program. The purpose of the program is to support beneficiaries who want to return to work to make a successful and profitable transition to the workforce. Beneficiaries that continue to work improve their economic independence and financial security. WIPA projects help beneficiaries take advantage of our work incentives programs, which may delay or reduce the effect of work on monetary benefits and health insurance. Additionally, WIPA projects act as repositories for information about other work incentives, benefits counseling services, and other resources that may help beneficiaries succeed in their work attempts, or may assist beneficiaries to improve financial stability as they return to work.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Applicants applying for cooperative agreement funds may include State or local governments (excluding any State administering the State Medicaid program), public or private organizations, or nonprofit or for-profit organizations (for-profit organizations may apply with the understanding that no cooperative agreement funds may be paid as profit to any awardee), as well as Native American tribal organizations that the Commissioner determines is qualified to provide work incentives planning and assistance to all SSDI and SSI beneficiaries with disabilities, within the targeted geographic area. These may include Centers for Independent Living established under Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, protection and advocacy organizations, Native American tribal entities, client assistance programs established in accordance with Section 112 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, State Developmental Disabilities Councils established in accordance with Section 124 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, and State agencies administering the State program funded under Part A of Title IV of the Act. The Commissioner may also award a cooperative agreement to a State or local Workforce Investment Board, a Department of Labor (DOL) One-Stop Career Center System established under the Workforce Improvement Act of 1998, or a State Vocational Rehabilitation agency.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Cooperative agreements are awarded to organizations to: (1) Provide statewide work incentives planning and assistance, including information on the availability of protection and advocacy services, to all Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries with disabilities, and to conduct ongoing outreach to those beneficiaries with disabilities and to their families that are potentially eligible to participate in State or Federal work incentives programs. (2) Disseminate accurate information to beneficiaries with disabilities (including transition-to-work aged youth) about work incentives programs and issues related to such programs, to enable them to make informed choices about working and whether or when to assign their Ticket to Work, as well as how available work incentives can facilitate their transition into the workforce. Cooperative agreement funds may not be used for construction or major renovation of buildings.
Matching requirements
Statutory Formula: Title 1, Part C, Subpart Sec. 1149. [42 U.S.C. 1320b–20],Public Law 106-170.Sec. 1149. [42 U.S.C. 1320b–20] (a) Establishment.— (1) In General.—The Commissioner, in consultation with the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel established under section 101(f) of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999[139], shall establish a community-based work incentives planning and assistance program for the purpose of disseminating accurate information to disabled beneficiaries on work incentives programs and issues related to such programs. (2) Grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and outreach.—Under the program established under this section, the Commissioner shall— (A) establish a competitive program of grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to provide benefits planning and assistance, including information on the availability of protection and advocacy services, to disabled beneficiaries, including individuals participating in the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program established under section 1148, the program established under section 1619, and other programs that are designed to encourage disabled beneficiaries to work.Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Range $145,250 to $300,000, average $270,270
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Social Security - Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program (96.008) awarded$98.8 million across 75 grant awards, an average of $1.3 million per award.
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 80% of the money, colleges and universities 8.9% and state and local governments 5.9%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 59 | $79.2 million | 80% |
| Colleges and universities | 7 | $8.9 million | 8.9% |
| State and local governments | 5 | $5.8 million | 5.9% |
| Businesses | 3 | $4.1 million | 4.1% |
| Small businesses | 1 | $1.1 million | 1.1% |
By state
39 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 7 | $9.6 million |
| Florida | 5 | $6.3 million |
| New York | 4 | $5.7 million |
| Maryland | 4 | $4.5 million |
| Texas | 3 | $4.4 million |
| Louisiana | 3 | $4.1 million |
| Ohio | 3 | $3.8 million |
| Michigan | 3 | $3.8 million |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | $3.0 million |
| Georgia | 2 | $3.0 million |
| Illinois | 2 | $2.9 million |
| Kentucky | 2 | $2.9 million |
| North Carolina | 2 | $2.8 million |
| Massachusetts | 2 | $2.7 million |
| Tennessee | 2 | $2.6 million |
| Alabama | 2 | $2.5 million |
| Missouri | 2 | $2.3 million |
| Colorado | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Oregon | 1 | $1.5 million |
| South Carolina | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Washington | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Arizona | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Wisconsin | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Indiana | 1 | $1.5 million |
| New Jersey | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Mississippi | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Nevada | 1 | $1.4 million |
| Maine | 1 | $1.4 million |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $1.4 million |
| Iowa | 1 | $1.4 million |
| Arkansas | 1 | $1.4 million |
| Oklahoma | 1 | $1.3 million |
| Montana | 1 | $1.3 million |
| Minnesota | 1 | $1.3 million |
| Nebraska | 1 | $1.3 million |
| Virginia | 1 | $1.2 million |
| West Virginia | 1 | $1.1 million |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | $1.0 million |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $1.0 million |
| Hawaii | 1 | $753,164 |
| Utah | 1 | $726,250 |
| Alaska | 1 | $648,951 |