The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy and the Employment and Training Administration are working together to provide nearly $22 million in grants for programs that make it easier for people with disabilities -- including people on Social Security disability -- to work. The funding for the grants is through a new program called the Disability Employment Initiative.

The Department of Labor intends to award about 6 to 10 grants. According to its announcement, the grants will be given to programs designed to:

  1. improve educational, training, and employment opportunities and outcomes of youth and adults with disabilities who are unemployed, underemployed and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits; and
  2. help these individuals with disabilities find a path into the middle class through exemplary and model service delivery by the public workforce system.

The grants, which will be for a three-year program period, are made with the understanding that the grantees will work closely with the Office of Disability Employment Policy, the Employment and Training Administration and their state's local workforce investment area. The Department of Labor will also provide extensive technical assistance and perform an independent evaluation of the programs' effectiveness.

Applications for the grants are being accepted through September 8.

Can I Work While I'm on Social Security Disability?

Although the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program is for people whose disabilities keep them from working for at least a year, that doesn't mean every recipient is disabled forever. In fact, working while on SSDI is a natural part of the process of getting back to work full time.

The Social Security Administration checks in periodically with all SSDI recipients to make sure that anyone receiving benefits is still disabled -- and to help those who are able to work get back on their feet. For example, the SSA's Ticket to Work Program offers work incentives to help people keep their full disability and Medicare benefits while they test their ability to work.

Source:

"Grant Applications for Cooperative Agreements under the Disability Employment Initiative" (U.S. Department of Labor grant announcement, August 9, 2010)