Innovative, tailored benefits counseling services designed to help individuals understand how working might affect their benefits.
Many individuals who receive Social Security Administration disability payments are afraid to work or are underemployed. Fear and misunderstanding about how working will impact their benefits is a major reason for this. Through RiCHVS, individuals are educated about the incentives and programs available for individuals receiving disability to return to work.
RiCH Vocational Services’ benefits counseling services provide individuals with the information that they need to make an informed decision about returning to work. And, the services offered by RiCH Vocational Services offer many advantages over services offered by other providers. RiCHVS Benefits Counseling Services offer:
- Trained, State Certified Counselors: All benefits counseling reports and meetings are written and conducted by state certified benefits counselors. Additionally, a supervisor reviews every report and works with Social Security to confirm information and correct any mistakes or issues in an individual’s social security record.
- Two Meetings with Every Client at Convenient Locations for the Client: As with all RiCH Vocational Services programs, the benefits program is completely mobile. Counselors can meet with individuals at locations most convenient for each client, whether that is a Company facility, neighborhood coffee shop, or DVR office. All clients are met with twice—once to gather information necessary to write the report and again to go over the report in detail and answer a client’s questions.
- Reports Written for Each Client: Counselors spend substantial time and effort writing and tailoring every report for an individual client’s needs and abilities. Additionally, reports can be generated as paper documents, Braille texts, or even digitally recorded as audio files to better meet a client’s needs.
- The Backing of the RiCH Company: Because of the RiCH Company’s diversity, clients receiving benefits reports can take advantage of other training programs or job development services offered by the company. And, clients can call and speak to a trained specialist at any time with questions regarding their report—no matter how long ago the report was written.
A RiCH Vocational Services Benefits Specialist can:
- Provide accurate information on public and private benefits and programs including SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, Medicare, Housing Programs, and much more.
- Help determine which benefits and programs an individual may be entitled.
- Help an individual fill out applications for benefits, programs and services.
- Talk with an individual about available choices and the program or services that might best meet his or her needs.
For individuals currently utilizing services through the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, benefits counseling services can be provided for $750. Individuals who are receiving disability payments and who are not working with DVR can receive no-cost benefits counseling services through the Pathways to Independence Program. More information is available here.