What is your name, title, and role with Work Without Limits?
Brian Forsythe, Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC). I provide Public Benefits Counseling to individuals with disabilities receiving SSDI and SSI who are working or looking for work.
How long have you held this position?
I’ve been at UMMS for ten years and eight years as a CWIC prior to joining UMMS.
What is the best part of your job?
Meeting with clients one to one to help them understand that it is possible to work while receiving Social Security benefits and that in fact they will be better off by working.
Do you have any special skills, interests or hobbies?
I enjoy developing and conducting training’s to help service providers understand how they can better serve the needs of their clients.
What is your best advice for job seekers?
Don’t be afraid to take a chance on employment. The satisfaction you get from a job well done far outweighs any anxiety about possible changes to public benefits.
What is your best advice for employers seeking a more inclusive and/or diverse workforce?
Look past a person’s perceived limitations and focus on their skill set. Individuals with disabilities are usually capable of much more than you think. They may do things differently, but they can do them.
What is your favorite place in the world?
The coast of Maine.
Hi Brian,
Because of the stay in place directive , can you give us some guidance and information on filing for unemployment for our daughter [ We met with you around 6 weeks ago ]
We’re unsure if she will be eligible for this . You may recall she is on SSDI and works part time for Ashland Family Pet Hospital.
Any information would be appreciated.
Hi,
Thank you. Brian Forsythe, for contracting my client Rob Leger. He sounds very encouraged by your attention! I am now asking about another young disabled client who gets Social Security and is paid (somewhat generously) by MassHealth to provide care for his disabled son. He and I want to know if the monthly payment he receives from MassHealth counts as a second income for purposes of doing a Social Security PASS plan. If you would simply wish me to refer this person for your agency’s services, I would ask that you email me the referral forms. THANKS!!!!!
I was reading your blog and I am on SSI, I have slot of questions regarding SSI and collecting unemployment.I was working part time and receing SSI, so I applied for unemployment and was approved but I have alot of questions on filing a biweekly claim, the questions are very confusing to me! The first question on the file a biweekly claim is something like Did you work, but in the same question it says and planning to go back to work after Covid-19? My answer is No, I did not work but I Do plan on going back to work so, how do I answer this question? People have told me that I should answer Yes, but if I say yes, then it will ask me how much I was paid? I am no longer receiving any income from my job so do I answer $0.00? I hope you are able to help me in answering these two questions! I also have other questions regarding receiving SSI and collecting unemployment, but I will start from here! I am so overwhelmed with this question, I hope you are able to help me! Thank you so much!
Hi I’m on ssdi in Ma I only receive 965 a month due to my MS pays rent & bills so I have been crafting on the side & selling items baby sitting Here & there to make some extra cash but it’s not nearly enough to report it. A friend told me to see if I was eligible for the pandemic unemployment To make up for some extra income So that’s what I did and it was excepted but not the 600 only 267 Is this going to count or interfere with my SSDI Now or in The future I can’t lose my Ssdi did I make a mistake in filing ? Thank you