About TakeCharge
Founded in 2006 by Dr. M.J. Willard, a behavioral psychologist with 30 years experience in working with people with disabilities, AATakeCharge is designed to support Social Security beneficiaries who want to take charge of their own vocational rehabilitation. AATakeCharge provides counseling to help clients make wise choices in pursuit of their employment goals. In addition, AATakeCharge provides clients with Work Support Payments to help them remain in the workforce once they land that job.
If you earn at least $720 per month from your employment in 2011 you can receive up to $3,837 in Work Support Payments over a nine month period. If you earn enough from your employment that you actually are able to leave the benefit rolls, you can receive up to $17,373 in Work Support Payments over three years.
Where does TakeCharge obtain the money for Work Support Payments? It comes from the Social Security Administration. If you assign your Ticket to an Employment Network, or EN, and you earn at least $720 per month, then your earnings will trigger payments from the Social Security Administration to the EN that holds your Ticket. If you assign your Ticket to TakeCharge, then we pass 75% of the amount we receive for your Ticket back to you. Just keep in mind that you must earn at least $720 per month to trigger payment. The Work Support Payments provided by TakeCharge must be used on items or services that will help you remain employed and working towards self sufficiency.
This cash and counseling model has been very popular with clients. Since 2001 more beneficiaries have assigned their Tickets to TakeCharge than any other EN in the country.