Planning guide
Supported employment and meaningful work
Programs that help adults with disabilities find and keep work, and how earned income interacts with benefits.
What is available
State vocational rehabilitation agencies offer assessments, job coaching and placement. Customized and supported employment are approaches that shape a job around a person's strengths with ongoing support.
Schools must begin transition planning in the teen years, which is a good time to explore work experiences.
Income and benefits
Work income can change SSI and Medicaid, but there are work incentives designed so that working does not mean losing all support. Benefits counseling is often free and explains how this applies to your family member.
Continuity treats earned income as an assumption you can edit, and does not assume it continues forever.
Questions worth asking
- What does a realistic work goal look like for my family member?
- How would earnings affect SSI and Medicaid?
- Who provides job coaching after placement?
Official source
Vocational rehabilitation agencies ↗
State programs for supported and customized employment.
Add your ZIP code in the calculator to see your state's resource.
General educational information, not legal, tax, medical or financial advice. Rules vary by state and change over time; confirm details with the agency or a qualified professional.
More guides
- Medicaid, waiver services and public benefits
- ABLE accounts
- Legal and estate planning for a family member with a disability
- Adult housing and living arrangements
- Backup people, replacement care and the care handoff
- Funding future support: savings, insurance and investments
- Finding local disability resources