Programs that turn next steps into action.
Helping people navigate systems that affect work, housing, and long-term stability.
How We Can Help
Supportive Employment & Housing
Providing ongoing, individualized support to help people secure housing and pursue employment.
SSI & SSDI Benefit Navigation
Supporting people to plan next steps toward work or education while managing SSI and SSDI benefits.
Continuing Education
Helping people pursue education, training, and employment through individualized support.
Support for the Systems That Shape Stability
You have goals: secure housing, steady work, and clarity on how employment may affect your benefits. Whether you are looking for a steady place to live, preparing to return to work, or building toward a job that pays the bills, CME can help line up clear next steps. You lead the way; we walk with you, offering guidance, connections, and support that makes each move forward feel doable.
Foundational Community Supports
Connecting You to Health, Housing, & Employment
Stable housing and meaningful work are foundational to long-term recovery and overall well-being. When either feels out of reach, it can affect every other area of life. Foundational Community Supports is a Medicaid-funded service for adults with behavioral health needs who need assistance finding or keeping employment and stable housing.
When you enroll in Supportive FCS, you are paired with a Community Support Specialist. Your specialist works with you to identify goals, navigate systems, and address barriers related to housing or employment. Community Support Specialists meet with you in community settings when appropriate, coordinate with other providers if needed, and adjust support based on what is happening in your life.
Reach out to learn more about eligibility, referrals, and next steps.
How We Can Help With Employment
- Assistance with resume development and job applications
- Interview preparation
- Employer outreach and communication
- Workplace problem-solving skills
- Navigating disclosure decisions related to behavioral health
How We Can Help with Housing
- Identifying rental opportunities
- Completing applications and gathering documentation
- Addressing barriers such as credit, rental history, or prior evictions
- Communicating with landlords
- Developing plans to maintain tenancy
Understanding Scope
FCS does not provide direct financial assistance such as rent payments, utility payments, or cash support. Instead, this service focuses on helping you secure and maintain housing and employment through ongoing, personal support.
Eligibility
FCS is a Medicaid-funded service for people who meet Apple Health eligibility and specific risk factors, such as behavioral health needs or housing instability. It is voluntary and individual goals drive what support you receive.
Plan To Work Program
Help Navigating SSI & SSDI Benefits While Returning to Work
Plan to Work is your free and confidential resource for navigating employment and benefits if you’re receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Whether you’re currently employed, contemplating a job, encountering challenges with reporting your earnings, or experiencing changes in your benefits due to employment, our dedicated team of Community Work Incentive Coordinators are here to offer guidance and support.
Plan to Work assists disabled individuals receiving Social Security or SSI who are:
- Employed
- Seeking employment
- Exploring additional work opportunities
- Self-employed or aspiring to be
- Inquiring about the impact of work on benefits
- Responding to Social Security inquiries about work and earnings
- Transitioning into adulthood and pursuing employment.
About Ticket to Work
The Ticket to Work program, managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA), assists individuals with disabilities who receive SSDI or SSI benefits in finding employment. Participants receive a “Ticket” granting access to Employment Networks (ENs) offering job support services like vocational training and career counseling. The program aims to empower individuals to achieve employment goals and financial independence.
The Ticket to Work Program and Plan to Work collaborate to provide comprehensive support to individuals with disabilities seeking employment. Here’s how they work together:
Referral and Access to Services:
Individuals who receive a Ticket to Work through the Ticket to Work Program can access a range of employment support services offered by approved Employment Networks (ENs). Plan to Work may serve as one of these ENs or work closely with ENs to provide additional state-specific services and resources. Individuals referred to Plan to Work through the Ticket to Work Program can benefit from both the national resources available through the Ticket to Work Program and the state-specific expertise and assistance offered by Plan to Work.
Coordination of Services:
Plan to Work and the Ticket to Work Program may coordinate their efforts to ensure seamless service delivery for individuals with disabilities. This coordination may involve sharing information about available services, collaborating on the development of individualized employment plans, and facilitating access to resources that support the employment goals of beneficiaries.
Comprehensive Support:
By working together, Plan to Work and the Ticket to Work Program provide individuals with disabilities access to a comprehensive array of services and supports to help them navigate the transition to work successfully. This collaborative approach ensures that beneficiaries receive the assistance they need to overcome barriers to employment, understand their rights and responsibilities, and achieve greater financial independence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: If I return to work, will I lose my disability benefits automatically?
A: No, the Social Security Administration provides work incentives to support individuals returning to work while maintaining benefits.
Q: What is the Ticket to Work Program?
A: The Ticket to Work Program offers choices in rehabilitation and vocational services, removes barriers between healthcare coverage and work, and promotes workforce participation for Americans with disabilities.
Q: Where do I take my Ticket to Work for services?
A: Take your Ticket to an employment network, such as private organizations or public agencies partnering with Social Security for the Ticket to Work program. You can find information on available networks through Ticket to Work Help Line, or by visiting their website. Also, some employment networks may contact you to offer their services. You can get information from the Ticket to Work Help Line by calling them at their toll-free numbers, 1-866-968-7842 (1-866-yourticket) or 1-866-833-2967 TTY (1-866-TDD2work).
Q: What are Work Incentives?
A: Work Incentives are rules that allow you to reduce countable income while exploring work options. They include extending Medicare/Medicaid coverage, deducting work-related expenses, and facilitating easy return to benefits if needed.
Q: Is there help available to understand disability program rules and Work Incentives?
A: Yes, Community Work Incentives Coordinators offer free information and planning services to individuals eligible for SSDI and/or SSI benefits. They can assist with understanding how work may affect benefits and overcoming barriers to employment.
Q: Who can I ask about my rights under the Ticket and other Social Security programs?
A: You can seek guidance from the Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) program, which provides free assistance in obtaining vocational rehabilitation and employment services. Disability Rights Washington serves as the PABSS entity in Washington State.
Resources
You do not need an assigned ticket to qualify for Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA).
Plan to Work is funded by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and operates under the guidelines set forth by the SSA’s Ticket to Work program.
All services provided through this program are funded by SSA and offered in accordance with SSA regulations. Participation in the Plan to Work does not guarantee eligibility for or receipt of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. For more information about SSA and the Ticket to Work program, please visit the Social Security Administration website.
CME Plan to Work serves counties north of the Oregon-Washington border, while Disability Rights Oregon and Plan for Work serve counties along the Columbia River (shown in grey).
Understanding Benefits Impact
Get clarity on how employment will affect your SSI/SSDI and medical benefits, along with other state-specific benefits.
Informed Decision-Making
Make confident decisions regarding the financial implications of employment, ensuring your overall well-being.
Navigating Support Services
Access guidance in navigating the multitude of programs and services offered by federal, state, and local agencies and organizations.
Individualized Work Incentive Plans
Receive a customized plan that empowers you to navigate your journey toward self-sufficiency with clarity and confidence.
Want to know more?
Our Plan to Work program is here to help you take the next step towards employment while maintaining your disability benefits.
To be referred to our Program call 1 (866) 968-7842 Toll Free.
Although SSA reviewed this website for accuracy, it does not constitute an Official Social Security communication.
How We Can Support You
- Assistance with enrolling in a class or training program
- Help covering short-term training or certification costs
- Assistance with tools, books, materials, and other education-related expenses
- Ongoing support from staff as you navigate school or training
How PREE Works
Instead of requiring readiness classes before you begin, support is structured so that you can start pursuing work and training at the pace that feels right for you. Your team works with you to:
- Identify your education or career goals
- Remove basic barriers that slow progress
- Support you through training or school requirements
- Help connect you to other needed resources
Who Qualifies
You might qualify for PREE if you are one of the following:
- Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
- LGBTQ+
- Involved in the criminal legal system
- Experiencing housing instability
- Have a verified substance use disorder
- In or seeking recovery
- Have a Mental Health diagnosis
Pathways to Recovery, Education, & Employment
Continuing Education
our PREE program helps with education and training in ways that address real barriers, like work history gaps, transportation challenges, childcare needs, or education costs, that can make it hard to get started or stay in a school. The goal is to help you build skills and credentials that lead to jobs that fit what you want to do, whether that’s a certificate, a trade program, or college coursework.
Continuing Education services follow an evidence-based model that supports you throughout the process, from goal setting and enrollment through completion.
Ready to learn more?
Reach out to explore eligibility and next steps.
Pathways to Recovery, Education, & Employment
Continuing Education
our PREE program helps with education and training in ways that address real barriers, like work history gaps, transportation challenges, childcare needs, or education costs, that can make it hard to get started or stay in a school. The goal is to help you build skills and credentials that lead to jobs that fit what you want to do, whether that’s a certificate, a trade program, or college coursework.
Continuing Education services follow an evidence-based model that supports you throughout the process, from goal setting and enrollment through completion.
How We Can Support You
- Assistance with enrolling in a class or training program
- Help covering short-term training or certification costs
- Assistance with tools, books, materials, and other education-related expenses
- Ongoing support from staff as you navigate school or training
How PREE Works
Instead of requiring readiness classes before you begin, support is structured so that you can start pursuing work and training at the pace that feels right for you. Your team works with you to:
- Identify your education or career goals
- Remove basic barriers that slow progress
- Support you through training or school requirements
- Help connect you to other needed resources
Who Qualifies
You might qualify for PREE if you are one of the following:
- Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
- LGBTQ+
- Involved in the criminal legal system
- Experiencing housing instability
- Have a verified substance use disorder
- In or seeking recovery
- Have a Mental Health diagnosis
Ready to learn more?
Reach out to explore eligibility and next steps.