Opportunity Information: Apply for WIPA WIP 15 001
Apply for WIPA WIP 15 001
- The Social Security Administration in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SSA Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program (WIPA)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 96.008 Social Security Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 30, 2015 and posted on Jan 30, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 30, 2015 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Special district governments City or township governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments Independent school districts Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The SSA Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program (WIPA) is a Social Security Administration discretionary grant opportunity designed to help people who receive SSA disability benefits make practical, informed decisions about work. The core purpose is to get accurate, up-to-date information into the hands of beneficiaries with disabilities, including youth who are transitioning to adulthood and considering employment. These projects focus on explaining SSA work incentives and related issues in a way that helps beneficiaries understand what happens to their benefits if they start working, increase earnings, or pursue longer-term career goals. A central theme is helping beneficiaries evaluate whether and when to assign their Ticket to Work, and how to use available supports to reduce fear and confusion about losing cash benefits or health coverage.
Functionally, WIPA projects are meant to translate complex program rules into individualized, actionable guidance so beneficiaries can plan a return-to-work path with fewer surprises. SSA work incentives can be complicated, and beneficiaries often face real risk if they misunderstand reporting requirements or how earned income affects eligibility. WIPA addresses that gap by supporting projects that disseminate correct information and planning assistance, so beneficiaries can weigh options like starting part-time work, attempting full-time employment, pursuing education or training, and using available incentives to stabilize the transition into the workforce. The long-term outcome SSA is aiming for is straightforward: more beneficiaries with disabilities successfully pursuing employment and greater economic independence, while staying compliant with SSA rules and making informed choices about benefits.
This funding opportunity was issued as a cooperative agreement, meaning the SSA typically expects substantial involvement in the funded work compared to a standard grant. It falls under the Funding Activity Category of Income Security and Social Services and is associated with CFDA number 96.008 (Social Security Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program). The announcement anticipated around 100 awards, indicating an intent to fund a broad national network of providers capable of reaching beneficiaries across many communities.
Financially, the opportunity listed an estimated total funding level of $20,000,000. Individual awards were expected to range from an award floor of $50,000 to an award ceiling of $300,000. The announcement also specified a cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants needed to be prepared to contribute non-federal resources as part of the project budget and document how that match would be met.
Eligibility was expansive and included many types of organizations and government entities, reflecting SSA’s interest in building capacity through both public and private sector partners. Eligible applicants included state, county, city, township, and special district governments; Native American tribal governments (including federally recognized tribes) and tribal organizations; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. This wide eligibility suggests SSA was focused more on an applicant’s ability to deliver high-quality benefits and work-incentive information and planning support than on organizational type.
In terms of timing, the opportunity was posted and created on January 30, 2015, with an original and current closing date of March 30, 2015, and an archive date of April 29, 2015. For application access or technical issues, the listing directed applicants to the Grants.gov Contact Center (1-800-518-4726, support@grants.gov), which operates continuously except on federal holidays.
SSA Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program Grant - FAQs
1) What is the SSA Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program?
The Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program is a Social Security Administration (SSA) discretionary grant opportunity designed to help people who receive SSA disability benefits make practical, informed decisions about work.
2) What is the main purpose of WIPA funding?
The core purpose is to get accurate, up-to-date information into the hands of SSA disability beneficiaries with disabilities, including youth transitioning to adulthood, so they can understand how work and earnings may affect their benefits and plan employment steps with fewer surprises.
3) Who is the intended audience or population served by WIPA projects?
WIPA projects are intended to serve people who receive SSA disability benefits, including youth who are transitioning to adulthood and considering employment.
4) What kinds of questions do WIPA projects help beneficiaries answer?
WIPA projects focus on explaining what can happen to SSA disability benefits when someone starts working, increases earnings, or pursues longer-term career goals, including practical concerns about cash benefits, health coverage, and compliance with SSA requirements.
5) What are SSA work incentives, and how does WIPA relate to them?
SSA work incentives are program rules and supports that can affect how earned income interacts with eligibility and benefits. Because these incentives can be complicated, WIPA projects help translate those rules into individualized, actionable guidance to reduce confusion and risk.
6) Why does SSA fund WIPA projects instead of relying on general information resources?
The opportunity emphasizes that work incentive rules and reporting requirements can be complex, and misunderstandings can create real risk for beneficiaries. WIPA addresses this gap by supporting projects that disseminate correct information and planning assistance tailored to beneficiaries' situations.
7) How do WIPA projects support beneficiaries who are worried about losing benefits?
A central theme is reducing fear and confusion about losing cash benefits or health coverage by providing accurate, up-to-date explanations of how work and earnings may affect benefits and what steps beneficiaries can take to plan safely.
8) What role does the Ticket to Work program play in WIPA services?
WIPA projects emphasize helping beneficiaries evaluate whether and when to assign their Ticket to Work, and how to use available supports in a way that aligns with their employment goals and benefit considerations.
9) What employment paths or activities does WIPA planning assistance cover?
The opportunity describes beneficiaries weighing options such as starting part-time work, attempting full-time employment, pursuing education or training, and using available work incentives to stabilize the transition into the workforce.
10) What outcomes is SSA aiming for through WIPA funding?
The long-term outcome described is more beneficiaries with disabilities successfully pursuing employment and greater economic independence, while staying compliant with SSA rules and making informed choices about benefits.
11) What type of funding instrument is this opportunity?
This opportunity was issued as a cooperative agreement, which means SSA typically expects substantial involvement in the funded work compared to a standard grant.
12) What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Income Security and Social Services.
13) What CFDA number is associated with this WIPA opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 96.008 (Social Security Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program).
14) How many awards did SSA anticipate making?
The announcement anticipated around 100 awards, reflecting an intent to fund a broad national network of providers.
15) What was the estimated total funding amount available?
The opportunity listed an estimated total funding level of $20,000,000.
16) What were the expected minimum and maximum award sizes?
Individual awards were expected to range from an award floor of $50,000 to an award ceiling of $300,000.
17) Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The announcement specified a cost sharing or matching requirement. Applicants needed to contribute non-federal resources as part of the project budget and document how the match would be met.
18) Who is eligible to apply for this WIPA cooperative agreement?
Eligibility included a wide range of entities: state, county, city, township, and special district governments; Native American tribal governments (including federally recognized tribes) and tribal organizations; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses.
19) Does the opportunity favor one organization type over another?
Based on the description, eligibility was expansive, suggesting SSA was focused more on an applicant's ability to deliver high-quality benefits and work-incentive information and planning support than on organizational type.
20) When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted and created on January 30, 2015. The original and current closing date was March 30, 2015. The archive date was April 29, 2015.
21) Where were applicants directed for application access or technical help?
For application access or technical issues, applicants were directed to the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.
22) What are the Grants.gov Contact Center hours mentioned in the opportunity?
The listing indicated the Grants.gov Contact Center operates continuously except on federal holidays.
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