Returning to Work

by Michael W. Rickard II, Esq.

Michael is a Contributing Writer to Mental Health World

Entering the job market for the first time or returning to work after an absence due to a disability can be a challenging experience. Like any change in your daily routine, a return to work brings with it the potential for added stress but careful planning can help eliminate these stresses and make your return to the workforce a positive and rewarding experience. Whether you are entering the job force for the first time, or reentering it, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the challenges you may face.

My name is Mike Rickard and I work for the Client Assistance Program at the Western New York Independent Living Center. This program provides information and advocacy for people who receive vocational rehabilitation (VR) services through VESID (Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities) or CBVH (Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped), two agencies which help disabled consumers find work. My clients are people who have never worked before or who have stopped working due to a disability who wish to get back into the job market. I’ve put together some tips based on my own experience helping consumers as well as my own experience in the workforce and my experience as a mental health consumer.

The first thing you should do before making any effort to start working is to ask yourself if you are ready. It’s a big step going to work and there are stresses involved that you need to take into consideration such as the change in your schedule, the pressures involved with work, and the work environment itself. If you have a certain job in mind, you should familiarize yourself with the job requirements so you can get a better idea if your job will have any effect on your mental health. For people who had to leave their job due to a disability, you may already have a good idea of what is good for you in the workplace and what may give you problems.

The next thing to do is to ask yourself if you are going to work because you want to or because someone is pressuring you. Not everyone is ready to work and no one should feel pressured into doing something that are not ready for. Don’t let family or friends pressure you to go to work unless you feel that you are ready. You do not want to put yourself in a situation where the daily stress of employment is going to harm your progress in dealing with your mental illness or any other disability.

Another important factor to consider before going back to work is the effect of employment on Social Security benefits. Many people tell me that they want to go to work but that they’re not sure how it will affect SSI or SSDI benefits. As you probably know, you are only allowed to earn so much before it will affect your Social Security benefits including health insurance. However, there are work incentives such as the trial work period which allows a person receiving Social Security Disability to work several months and receive their benefits at the same time. Equally important to people is the effect of work on their health insurance since some employers do not provide health insurance or their health insurance does not give people prescription benefits that they need. Because of these concerns, there is a program known as the Medicaid buy-in that can allow you to keep your health insurance, even if you are making too much money to receive Social Security benefits. Before you return to work, it is strongly recommended that you consult with a benefits advisor so you are certain of how much you can earn and what incentives there are for you to return to work. This can help you make the decision whether or not you want to go back to work.

In New York State, there are two agencies that you should consider if you have a disability and want to work. The first is the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH) (716-847-3516) http://hometown.aol.com/WNYCAP/home.html . This agency works with blind consumers. Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) (716-848-8001) http://www.vesid.nysed.gov helps other disabled consumers.

Whether you are working with VESID or CBVH, you will need to figure out what type of work you want to do. If you don’t know, the vocational counselors can help you figure out what type of work is right for you. They can also help you figure out what effect your disability may have on the type of work you want to do as well as what reasonable accommodations would help you in the workplace. Keep in mind that VR counselors’ job is not just to find you any job but to help you find work that matches your interests and abilities.

Once you have figured out what you want to do, your vocational counselor will work with you to develop an Individual Plan for Employment (IPE). The IPE covers what your job goal is and what’s necessary for you to become employed in that particular field. Every case is different and what’s needed to get a person working varies with each individual. VESID and CBVH services can include things such as evaluations, college assistance (such as tuition assistance, books, and housing), vocational training, assistive technology, transportation and driver training, on the job training, small business development, home and vehicle modifications, orientation and mobility training, and job placement.

After you have received the skills or training needed to find work in your chosen field, VESID and CBVH can help you with job placement. Assistance can include help with finding work and developing your resume to job coaches who work with you on the job to help you get accustomed to the work environment and any accommodations you need to do your job.

There are a lot of services available for people who wish to work. I have only scraped the surface of what’s out there but I hope this gives you a good idea of where to start. The Client Assistance Program can help you learn what services are available to help you get into vocational rehabilitation. Sometimes a person may experience problems when working with VESID or CBVH. CAP can help you navigate through these systems as well as to advocate for you. Our services are free and you can reach us at 716-836-0822 ext. 114, via email at WNYCAP@aol.com, or on our web page at http://hometown.aol.com/WNYCAP/home.html. Please do not hesitate to call, even if it is just to ask a question about vocational rehabilitation services.