Individual Development Account (IDA) Resources
Corporation for Enterprise Development

The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) works to promote Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), Children's Savings Accounts (CSAs) and other asset-building tools. CFED provides resources and information on IDAs, including a 4-page fact sheet and a national directory of IDA programs at www.idanetwork.org.

CFED's IDA Program Design Handbook: A Step by Step Guide to Designing an IDA Program provides information on effective IDA practices based on the experiences of thirteen separate IDA programs. This publication can be purchased online at the CFED website.

The Access to Assets program at the World Institute on Disability (WID) offers assistance to people with disabilities interesting setting up an IDA. The program’s Question and Answer Fact Sheet offers comprehensive information on IDAs. EQUITY, the Access to Assets monthly e-newsletter, also addresses IDA-related topics. For more information, call 1-866-723-1201 or email tom@wid.org. Disclosure: WID is a partner in Disability Benefits 101.

NeighborWorks America® Training Institute provides a two-day training for people interested in designing, improving or expanding IDA programs. The course, Designing and Implementing Individual Development Account Initiatives (ED175), covers a range of topics including how to find adequate funding sources and strategies to increase participant success.

The Finance Project’s Economic Success Clearinghouse provides information on programs and financing strategies to assist low income families and individuals. Their website includes details on workforce development, work supports, income supplements, asset development, and IDAs.

Finding a Benefits Planner
The federal government pays benefits planners in communities around the country to help people think ahead about benefits issues. Social Security's Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program provides counseling to people who are planning for work and receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

To find a benefits planner near you, use DB101's Benefits Planners Directory.

Community Based Organizations
Various community-based organizations provide staff to work with people concerning a range of options on state, federal, public, and private health and income programs. Counseling about benefits, as a community service, is an emerging field of expertise with different levels of services available. Some organizations may work with specific populations while others work with individuals with any type of disability.

Goodwill Industries services range from personal evaluation and office skills training to career counseling, childcare, and transportation. Some of these centers conduct Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach for Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries related to work activity.

Goodwill IndustriesFind locations at http://www.goodwill.org, or by calling (voice) 1-800-664-6577.

California Foundation for Independent Living Centers logoThe California Foundation for Independent Living Centers lists 29 centers serving individuals with all disabilities. Many of these centers conduct Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach for Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries related to work activity. Most independent living centers can refer callers to local benefit program information if they do not have these services.

Find the list of independent living centers at http://www.cfilc.org, or by calling (voice) 916-325-1690 or (TTY) 916-325-1695.

The AIDS Hotline database contains 1,300 organizations providing HIV/AIDS services throughout California. Some of these organizations offer case management, benefits planning, and benefits counseling services that can include assistance with public and private benefits programs.

Find the list of AIDS organizations at http://www.aidshotline.org, or by calling (voice) 1-800-367-AIDS (2437) or (TTY) 1-888-225-AIDS (2437).

Disability Rights California provides representation for consumers of public programs who are disabled. Website publications include topics on health care, benefit programs, and In Home Supportive Services.