WIPA Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWIC)

REMOTE OR ON-SITE SERVICE LOCATIONS: All New Mexico counties and counties in
West Texas: Andrews, Armstrong, Bailey, Brewster, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Cochran,
Crane, Crockett, Crosby, Culberson, Dallam, Dawson, Deaf Smith,
Dickens, Donley, Ector, Edwards, El Paso, Floyd, Gaines, Garza,
Glasscock, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hockley, Howard,We're Hiring
Hudspeth, Hutchinson, Irion, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Lamb, Loving, Lubbock,
Lynn, Martin, Maverick, Midland, Mitchell, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree,
Oldham, Parmer, Pecos, Potter, Presidio, Randall, Reagan, Reeves,
Roberts, Schleicher, Sherman, Sterling, Sutton, Swisher, Terrell, Terry,
Upton, Val Verde, Ward, Winkler and Yoakum.

DUE DATE: Please forward a resume and cover letter to WIPA@sncil.org, attention
Mary Evilsizer by October 30, 2025.

BENEFITS: One full-time position, 80 hours bi-weekly. Benefits include paid holidays, sick
leave, health, dental, vision and life insurance and vacation after three-months.

SALARY: DOE $52,000.00 to $56,100.00

ABOUT US: The Southern Nevada Center for Independent Living is a nonprofit organization
designed, governed, and staffed by people with disabilities. We are part of a nationwide network of
Centers for Independent Living providing the following core services: Information and Referral;
Advocacy; Peer Support; Independent Living Skills training, and Transition.

POSITION OVERVIEW: Prefer Certified CWIC with VCU certification. CWIC is responsible
for ensuring people with disabilities receive the appropriate services, which will enable them to
live more independently in the community. The CWIC will coordinate and develop work
incentive benefits analysis planning and assistance to beneficiaries who are employed or seeking
employment.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Full-time, At-Will Employees working for a Center for Independent Living (CIL), whose
mission is to remove barriers preventing independent living to empower individuals with
disabilities to have choice and control of their lives. Candidates applying for this position should
expect to perform a full range of benefits, advising and support duties related to this mission and
will be expected to demonstrate appropriate office-related skills.
This position requires having the ability to communicate in an effective, polite, and professional
manner with individuals of various cognitive and communication abilities, as well as having the
ability to maintain good judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Remote or on-site positions work under general supervision, working as a team on routine or
regular work assignments and reporting to the WIPA Project Manager or Executive Director on
non-routine assignments or when in doubt as to the correct procedures to follow. Must have self-
supervising skills and abilities to provide timely services to beneficiaries.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Provide long-term benefits advising and work incentives to beneficiaries. CWIC’s will
    provide planning and assistance to persons with disabilities (and their families) who are
    potentially eligible to participate in Federal and State work incentive programs as
    prioritized by SSA. Conduct outreach efforts to persons with disabilities as approved by
    SSA. Work with Federal, State, and private agencies/nonprofit organizations that serve
    Persons with Disabilities with emphasis on SSA.
  • Conduct intakes and assessments and provide case file management and documentation,
    including research related to specified field.
  • Provide work incentives planning and assistance directly to beneficiaries to assist with
    employment efforts.
  • Understands communicates and models Independent Living Philosophy.
  • Submit a quarterly report that emphasizes WIPA deliverables and outcomes.
  • Provide SSA work incentives outreaches as approved.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of SSA field office structure, and how to work with various SSA
    Work Incentive specialists such as AWIC’s, PASS Specialist and Work Incentive Liaison.
  • Ability to follow CWIC Service Workflow on time.
  • Screen and refer beneficiaries with disabilities to the appropriate employment networks.
  • Show knowledge of SSA’s SSDI and SSI disability program and work incentives as well
    as other federal, state, and local work incentive programs and be able to communicate
    this knowledge to beneficiaries so they understand.
  • Experience using Microsoft Office and various database software’s.
  • Various other duties as assigned.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Remote or on-site office environment, working with people with varying degrees and
    types of disabilities utilizing phone, text, skype, zoom, email, standard mail, video relay,
    video interpreters, and American Sign Language, and other language interpreters and
    other accommodations as requested. Must maintain a confidential work environment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Successful candidates will be certified as CWICs or have the capacity to obtain certification to
    include a federal Tier 2 suitability clearance. To perform this job successfully, an individual must
    be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The knowledge and ability requirements are
    representative of essential duties. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to enable
    individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Knowledge of:

  • Benefits Summary and Analysis
  • SSI, SSDI work incentives and Impairment Related Work Expenses
  • Organizations andservices available to people with disabilities
  • Understanding the concepts of the Independent Living philosophy
  • Methods of data collection

Ability to:

  • Analyze data and formulate successful solutions
  • Understand the sensitivity to the needs of persons with disabilities and diverse populations
  • Be self-motivated with good verbal, written and organizational skills
  • Successfully relate to and communicate with people with disabilities and their families
  • Conduct intake and assessments of all consumers seeking WIPA services
  • Develop and maintain partnerships with beneficiary verification and resource agencies and programs
  • Maintain active beneficiary carry over cases while conducting new intakes continuously for a benchmark of 100 to 105 new referrals annually
  • Read and understand rules, policies, and procedures
  • Use good judgment, discretion, and maintain confidentiality

Physical Standards:

  • Mobility: ability to sit for long periods, move about an office, stands occasionally, and reaches above and below desk level
  • Dexterity: fine manipulation sufficient to operate a computer keyboard, handle individual papers, write and take notes
  • Visual Requirements: close vision sufficient to read files, documents, and computer screens and do close-up work; ability to adjust focus frequently
  • Hearing/Talking: ability to communicate with people with disabilities
  • Interpersonal Skills: ability to make decisions and concentrate; frequent contact with others including public contact; frequent deadlines and time- limited assignments

Education and Experience:

  • A.A., A.S., B.A. or B.S. degree in human services or related field and significant experience with disability issues
  • Knowledge and understanding the concepts of the Independent Living philosophy
  • Self-motivated with good verbal, written, and organizational skills
  • Experience working with people with disabilities is strongly desirable
  • Prefer Certified CWICs, but willing to train jointly with VCU for certification

Additional Skills Desirable but Not Required:

  • Fluent, accurate, spoken, and written Spanish strongly preferred
  • American Sign Language (ASL)

SNCIL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to their race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran, marital, or domestic partner status, genetic
information or any other status or characteristic covered by federal, state, or local law.

CWIC Service Workflow
We will provide training and guidance on the technical aspects of WIPA services to successful
applicants. The workflow, however, resembles the following:

  1. The WIPA project receives a Referral from the Help Line, or a beneficiary contacts them to
    request services directly.
  2. The CWIC reaches out to the beneficiary within two business days, preferably as soon as
    possible. In this contact, the CWIC gathers additional information about the beneficiary,
    identifies the beneficiary’s goals and current benefits, and explains that the beneficiary will
    receive a packet. This packet will include releases that will allow the CWIC to verify what the
    beneficiary receives. Verification is a critical step since many beneficiaries may be confused
    about the programs they access.
    If the referral comes from the Help Line, and the type of benefit is thus verified, the CWIC will
    include a Social Security approved introduction to the entitlement the Help Line identified.
  3. The next step is verifying the benefits involved. Verification of the benefits is critical to ensure
    the information the CWIC provides is accurate and appropriate. We will provide training on
    when and how to verify benefits as part of the training we provide CWICs.
  4. Following receipt of verifications, the CWIC will meet with the beneficiary to talk through the
    benefits and their associated work incentives. CWICs will meet several times with beneficiaries
    as part of the counseling process. It may take several meetings to ensure the beneficiary
    understands their benefits and work incentives.
  5. CWIC prepares a Benefits Summary and Analysis (BSA) that documents the benefits and
    work incentives that apply to the beneficiary’s goals. The BSA documents the counseling and
    serves as a reference for the beneficiary and anyone supporting his or her work goals. The CWIC
    works with the beneficiary to help him or her understand the effect of work on his or her federal,
    state, and local financial benefits, health insurance, and employment supports.
  6. The CWIC and beneficiary identify critical actions, points in time when changes may occur,
    and what causes the changes. It is also important to identify changes that a beneficiary must
    report and what documentation the beneficiary will need to make that report.
  7. Once the beneficiary is comfortable with the information in the analysis, the CWIC schedules
    future appointments to discuss any questions or to assist the beneficiary navigate anticipated
    changes. We call this proactive follow-up.
  8. Social Security requires the CWIC to track the services he or she provides. We will give
    additional information about what and when to report, but it is essential that the CWIC document
    and track what services he or she provides.

Not all contacts will follow this model, but most WIPA services should have a similar goal to
help beneficiaries understand the effects of work and help them make a successful transition to
work and economic stability.

Due to the complexity of work incentives, disability support, and poverty reduction programs,
we require that WIPA staff participate in a CWIC initial training course and pass a rigorous
certification process prior to working with beneficiaries.

In addition to the information provided in training classes, CWICs must be willing and able to
research programs and policies affecting the beneficiaries with whom they work. This may
include researching an unusual situation for the beneficiary or seeking training and reference
materials about state and local programs that may help beneficiaries. The key to successful
WIPA services is providing comprehensive and accurate information specific to individual
beneficiaries so they may access work incentives and increase the likelihood of success in
achieving their goals.

DUE DATE: Please forward a resume and cover letter to WIPA@sncil.org attention
Mary Evilsizer by October 30, 2025.