Services

Employment First

1. Employment 1^st
   
   1. State’s Policy – Employment First Policy
   2. SCDD (State of California Developmental Disabilities) Employment Data Dashboard
2. For Employers
   1. Tax Incentives
      1. Work Opportunity Tax Credit
         1. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a Federal tax credit available to employers for hiring individuals from certain target groups, including people with disabilities, who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment.
      2. Disabled Access Credit
         1. Provides a non-refundable credit for small businesses that incur expenditures for the purpose of providing access to persons with disabilities.
      3. Barrier Removal Tax Deduction
         1. Encourages businesses of any size to remove architectural and transportation barriers to the mobility of persons with disabilities and the elderly. Businesses may claim a deduction of up to $15,000 a year for qualified expenses for items that normally must be capitalized
   2. Accommodations
      1. Job Accommodation Network- JAN is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.
         
         
3. For Individuals We Serve and Parents and Family Members
   1. ABLE Act
      1. The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act is a new law that lets a person with a disability and that person’s family put money into a special tax-advantaged account. The first $100,000 in an ABLE account will not count against the $2,000 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) resource limit, nor will it count against resource limits other programs, such as Medi-Cal, may have.
      2. This new work incentive is a big deal: it means that if a consumer gets a job, you can start saving up some money without losing your benefits.
      3. https://calable.ca.gov/ for more information
      4. Check your city and county websites for opportunities
      5. Volunteer Match: https://www.volunteermatch.org/
4. For Providers
   1. California Blueprint and the Local Partnership Agreement
      
      1. The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), California Department of Education (CDE), and California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) have entered into a collaborative partnership consistent with the State’s “Employment First” policy and other laws to make employment in an integrated setting, at a competitive wage, for individuals with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) its highest priority.
         
      2. To view the Local Partnership Agreements for the counties served by SARC, please email SARC's Employment Specialist for the most up to date document.
5. Benefits Planning
   1. Social Security Red Book - The Red Book is a general reference tool designed to provide a working knowledge of these provisions.
      1. https://www.ssa.gov/redbook/
      2. Benefits Planning Query- This provides information about a beneficiary’s disability cash benefits, health insurance, scheduled disability reviews, representative payee, and work history, as stored in SSA’s electronic records. This is an important planning tool for a beneficiary, benefits counselor, or other person who may be developing customized services for a disability beneficiary who wants to start working or stay on the job.
   2. Work Incentives through SSI
      1. https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-work-ussi.htm
         
   3. Disability Benefits 101
      1. Gives you tools and information on health coverage, benefits, and employment. You can plan ahead and learn how work and benefits go together.
      2. https://ca.db101.org/
         
   4. Disability Rights CA
      1. Disability Rights California advocates, educates, investigates, and litigates to advance the rights, dignity, equal opportunities, and choices for all people with disabilities.
      2. http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/
         
   5. WIPA (Work Incentive Planning & Assistance) Program
      1. Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities have a WIPA Program that works with individuals who receive SSI and SSDI to help them navigate how benefits are affected when getting back to work. This resource is free.
      2. https://www.cidsanmateo.org/services/work-incentive-planning-assistance.php
   6. You MUST report wages anytime you work and receive SSI and/or SSDI. If you have questions on how to report, ask your service coordinator for the “How To Report Earnings to Social Security” pamphlet.