PABSSprogram.htm

PABSS Program Description

Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS)

This program was born out of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. The sole purpose of the PABSS program is to serve beneficiaries of Social Security on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The focus of this program is to protect beneficiaries' rights to obtain, maintain, or retain employment.

Please comment on our planned emphasis for 2005 - 2006. You can email your comments to webmaster@thegao.org or mail your comments to 150 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 430, Decatur, GA 30030. We welcome your comments on our work throughout the year.

Program priorities are:

Priority 1: To advocate for Beneficiaries of Social Security who have disabilities to secure and maintain gainful employment so that they may regain greater independence and community involvement, and through that involvement prevent the abuse and neglect of individuals with disabilities.

- Objective 1: To advocate for and act as a support system for individuals who use Employment Network Services and other agencies to gain meaningful employment and assistive technology.

- Objective 2: To develop sustainable, interactive workshops that will train people with disabilities and service providers on self-advocaacy skills to increase their effectiveness in advocating for improved access to comprehensive high quality treatment.

- Objective 3: To train employers and employment service providers and other agencies on accessibility and accommodations in the workkplace for people with disabilities.

Priority 2: To respond to allegations of discrimination and legal rights violations that are barriers that prevent individuals with disabilities in Georgia returning to work.

- Objective 1: To investigate allegations of discrimination either during the work search process or during the employment period.

- Objective 2: To remedy and rectify discriminattion practices in Georgia by working with employers and critical state agencies to explore through policy changes, implementation, and pilot projects to discover ways that people with disabilities may go to or return back to work.

- Objective 3: To offer and provide sensitivity trainings to employers and agencies in Georgia so that they can develop a better working relationship with individuals with disabilities.

- Objective 4: To empower individuals who have been discriminated against seek appropriate remedial action.

Priority 3: To provide outreach by conducting educational and training events throughout Georgia about PABSS.

- Objective 1: To educate and arm individuals with disabiliities in Georgia with information about the Ticket to Work and Work Improvement Incentives Act of 1999 so that they may make invormed decisions towards self-sufficiency.

- Objective 2: To educate, train, and provide detailed information to various service providers so that they may distribute information about the Ticket to Work and Work Improvement Incentives Act of 1999 in hopes that the people they serve will be able to make an informed decision towards self-sufficiency.

- Objective 3: To develop and collect a wide array of SSA, Ticket Incentives, and Employment Network Services and other useful resource information materials that will be beneficial in providing outreach services for and to the community about Protection and Advocacy as a whole with emphasis on Social Security Beneficiaries.

This program is funded by a grant made available by the Social Security Administration and is managed by the Georgia Advocacy Office.