Oregon has two programs whose sole purpose is to provide benefits and work incentives counseling services. Their services are free to the participant and are provided by certified benefits and work incentives coordinators.
Work Incentives Network
The Work Incentives Network (WIN) is a free benefits and work incentives counseling program provided by the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) with administration and technical assistance housed within the Vocational Rehabilitation program.
Services are provided by 11 Certified Work Incentive Coordinators (WICs) who are located in Centers for Independent Living (CILs) around the state.
Eligibility
Oregonians with disabilities who are receiving a public benefit such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), SNAP, HUD, Medicare, or Medicaid and are working or interested in working and have questions about how employment may impact their benefits.
Referral process
Participants may self-refer or be referred by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Job Developer, Community Developmental Disability Program Service Coordinator, Support Services Brokerage Personal Agent, Mental Health Supported Employment Specialist, or others who are helping the participant toward employment.
The WIN Referral form contains the basic information WIN needs to get started. Please provide as much information as you can on the form, but not all of it needs fill out a referral form and fax it to 1-888-503-8263 or securely email it to win.refer@odhsoha.oregon.gov. A Work Incentive Coordinator will contact the referral source within three days of receiving the referral.
You may submit a referral online using the WIN online referral.
It is also helpful if a Release of Information that is signed by the one who is being referred accompanies the Referral form, but it is not necessary.
- Referral form - English
- Referral form - Spanish
- It is helpful if a Release of Information (ROI) form accompanies the referral form, but is not necessary for referral
Please securely email one or both forms to win.refer@odhsoha.oregon.gov or fax to 1-888-503-8263. If using the above online referral form, then the Word document version of the referral form is not needed, although attaching the signed ROI will be helpful. You should be notified that the referral was received within three to five days of WIN receiving the referral.
Contact the WIN Help Desk at 800-661-2571 or the WIN program managers if you need assistance or have questions about the referral process.
WIN Help Desk
Contact the WIN Help Desk by calling 800-661-2571 or emailing win.refer@odhsoha.oregon.gov for answers to your questions and concerns about how work will impact your state or federal benefits.
WIN Program Managers
Katie Mijares Thompson
971-701-5751
Josh Goller
503-871-2703
ODDS-Approved Benefits Counselors
The following link leads to a current listing of ODDS-Approved Benefits Counselors working with community partner agencies, many of whom were trained and receive ongoing technical assistance and support through WIN's rigorous benefits counseling certification process.
This list includes direct contact information, as well as a breakdown of which counties each benefits counselor serves.
Plan for Work
Plan for Work is one of 95 Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) programs in the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia, authorized through the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 to provide no-cost community-based work incentives expertise to beneficiaries of Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits based on disability, including transition-to-work aged youth.
Plan for Work is housed at Disability Rights Oregon. The goal of the WIPA program is to enable beneficiaries with disabilities to make informed decisions about work, and to support working beneficiaries to make a successful transition to financial independence.
Benefits planning and assistance are provided by four certified Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs) to consumers in Oregon and Southern Washington.
Eligibility
People with disabilities who are receiving a Social Security disability-based benefit (SSI and/or SSDI) who are working or contemplating work, age 14 years old to retirement age, and residing in Oregon and Southern Washington state.
Referral process
Referrals can be made through the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842.
Contact
Please email pfw@DROregon.org