The Hostos CUNY Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program (WIPA) at Hostos Community College is a Social Security Administration (SSA) funded program designed to provide accurate information and guidance to SSA beneficiaries with a disability, who want to work and need to know how employment will affect their Social Security and health benefits.

WHO DOES THIS PROGRAM AIM TO SERVE? The objective of the program is to provide in-depth counseling to individuals that:

• Receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) between the ages of 14 and full retirement age

• Live in the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx

• Work or are actively seeking employment or attending an educational/vocational program on how to effectively use SSA work incentives to begin or return work

WHAT IS THE TICKET TO WORK PROGRAM? Social Security Administration (SSA) offers beneficiaries with disabilities various employment services such as the Ticket to Work Program. Ticket to Work can connect individuals with the right mix of free employment support services from approved service providers that best fit individual needs. To learn more about Ticket to Work, please visit https://choosework.ssa.gov or call the Ticket to Work hotline at (866) 968-7842.

HAS THIS PROGRAM BEEN SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID-19? Due to COVID-19, in-person classes, meetings and appointments have been suspended or moved online. For updates to Hostos' response to COVID-19, please visit www.hostos.cuny.edu/Ready. For updates on CUNY's response to COVID-19, please visit www.cuny.edu/coronavirus. For resources to support students impacted by COVID-19, CUNY has provided "CUNY Continuity for Students."