Disability Benefits 101: Working with a disability in California
Benefits Planners
The Benefits Planner Directory is currently being updated. We welcome feedback if you find an out of date entry.
Service Area: Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Trinity Counties
Sande Smith
Disability Services and Legal CenterOffsite Link
980 Hopper Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(800) 528-7703 (Toll-Free)
(707) 528-2745 (Phone)
(707) 528-2151 (TTY)
(707) 528-9477 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, and Del Norte Counties
Larry Henzerling
Disability Services and Legal CenterOffsite Link
980 Hopper Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(800) 528-7703 (Toll-Free)
(707) 528-2745 (Phone)
(707) 528-2151 (TTY)
(707) 528-9477 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: Serving the counties of—Glenn, Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, Lassen, Plumas, Tehama
Estera Alvarez
Crossroads Employment ServicesOffsite Link
PO Box 990819
Redding, CA 96099-0819
(866) 936-4237 (Toll-Free)
(530) 605-9444 (Phone)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: Butte, Colusa, Yuba, Sierra, Sutter Counties
Michael McCullough
Sutter County One Stop
256 Wilbur Avenue
Yuba City, CA 95991
(866) 936-4237 (Toll-Free)
Areas of Expertise:  Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: American River, Auburn, Chico, Crescent City, Eureka, Fairfield, Feather River, Lakeport, Napa, North Sacramento, Oroville, Placerville, Redding, Roseville, Sacramento, Santa Rosa, South Sacramento, Susanville, Ukiah, Vallejo, West Sacramento, Yreka
Ed WronaMail Link
Social Security Office-Chico
2035 Forest Ave
Chico, CA 95928
530-345-9788 ext. 222 (Phone)
530-345-2704 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: Sacramento (North of the American River), Amador, El Dorado, Calaveras, Placer Counties
Vilma Rodriguez
Crossroads Employment Services
9300 Tech Center Dr. Suite #160
Sacramento, CA 95826
(866) 936-4237 (Toll-Free)
(916) 457-1900 (Phone)
(916) 457-4439 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: Sacramento (South of the American River), Nevada, Yolo Counties
Madeline Thompson
Crossroads Employment ServicesOffsite Link
9300 Tech Center Dr. Suite #160
Sacramento , CA 95826
(866) 936-4237 (Toll-Free)
(916) 457-1900 (Phone)
(916) 457-4439 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
DB101 TrainedDB101 Outreach Partner
Service Area: San Joaquin County
Alexandra Queen
Disability Resource Agency for Independent Living (DRAIL)Offsite Link
4555 Precissi Lane
Stockton, CA 95207
(866) 256-9408 (Toll-Free)
(209) 477-7734 (TTY)
(209) 477-7730 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator
Service Area: Northern Alameda County
Joel Roberts
Center for Independent LivingOffsite Link
2539 Telegraph Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 841-4776 x142 (Phone)
(510) 848-3101 (TTY)
(510) 841-6168 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
DB101 TrainedDB101 Outreach Partner
Service Area: Northern Alameda
Susie Waxman
Center for Independant Living-Berkeley
2539 Telegraph Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510)841-4776 (Phone)
711 (TTY)
(510) 841-6168 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: Entire County of Alameda —Beneficiaries with HIV/AIDS.
Liam Galbreth
East Bay Community Law CenterOffsite Link
2921 Adeline Street
Berkeley, CA 94703
510-548-4040 x331 (Phone)
(510) 845-2305 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area:  Southern & Eastern Alameda County
Kelly M. Harp, M.A.Mail Link
Community Resources for Independent LivingOffsite Link
Tri-Cities Branch Office
39155 Liberty St., Suite A100
Fremont, CA 94538
(510) 794-5735 (Phone)
(510) 881-0218 (TTY)
(510) 881-1593 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise:  HICAP (Medicare) and CWIC
DB101 TrainedDB101 Outreach Partner
Service Area: San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.
Alexa Johanson
Center for Independence of the Disabled
CA
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: San Francisco County
Aine Casey
Independent Living Resource Center San FranciscoOffsite Link
Tri County WIPA Project
649 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 543-6222 (Phone)
(415) 543-6698 (TTY)
(415) 543-6318 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: Marin County
Mary Mathews
Marin Center for Independent LivingOffsite Link
710 4th Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 459-6245 x26 (Phone)
(415) 459-7027 (TTY)
(415) 459-7047 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: San Mateo County
David Mon
Center for Independence of the DisabledOffsite Link
Tri County WIPA Project
1515 S. El Camino Real Suite 400
San Mateo, CA 94402
650 645-1780 X127 (Phone)
(650) 595-0743 (TTY)
650 645-1785 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: Santa Clara County
Donna Reed
Center for Independence of the DisabledOffsite Link
Tri County WIPA Project
2306 Zanker Rd.
San Jose, CA 95131
(408) 894-9041 (Phone)
(650) 595-0743 (TTY)
(650) 645-1785 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: Solano, Central Contra Costa, & East Contra Costa Counties
Claire Yragui Mail Link
Independant Living Resource of Contra Costa and Solano County Offsite Link
1850 Gateway Blvd Ste 120
Concord, CA 94520
(925) 363-7293 x102 (Phone)
(925) 363-7293 (TTY)
(925) 363-7296 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
DB101 TrainedDB101 Outreach Partner
Service Area: Eastern and Central Contra Costa Counties
Chester Faller
Independent Living ResourceOffsite Link
3200 Clayton Road
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 363-7293 (Phone)
(925) 363-7293 (TTY)
(925) 363-7296 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: West Contra Costa County
Deborah Haro
Hawkins Law CenterOffsite Link
101 Broadway
Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 620-1192 (Phone)
(510) 232-2271 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) 
DB101 TrainedDB101 Outreach Partner
Service Area: Alpine, Mariposa, Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties
Ignacio Chavez
Disability Resource Agency for Independent Living (DRAIL)
221 McHenry Ave
Modesto, CA 95354
(209) 521-7260 (Phone)
(209) 521-1425 (TTY)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
DB101 TrainedDB101 Outreach Partner
Service Area: Kings and Tulare counties.
Talina Veliz
Center for Independent Living-Fresno (CILF)Offsite Link
3008 North Fresno
Fresno, CA 93703
(800) 244-2274 (Toll-Free)
(559) 221-2330 (Phone)
(559) 221-2342 (TTY)
(559) 221-2340 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: Monterey County, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Georgina Alvarez
Central Coast Center for Independent Living Offsite Link
234 Capitol Street, Suite A & B
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 757-2968 x816 (Phone)
(831) 757-3949 (TTY)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentives Coordinator
Service Area: Fresno County
Anne Marie Rennells
Center for Independent Living - FresnoOffsite Link
3008 North Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93703
(559) 221 2330 (Phone)
(559) 221-2342 (TTY)
(559) 221-2340 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Certified BPAO/WIPA Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
DB101 TrainedDB101 Outreach Partner
Service Area: Kern County
Harvey ClowersMail Link
Independent Living Center of Kern County
1631 30th Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301
(800) 529-9541 (Toll-Free)
(661) 325-1063 (Phone)
(661) 325-4143 (TTY)
(661) 325-6702 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise:  Benefit Planner
Service Area: Kern, Tulare, and Kings Counties
Sandy Meeks
Goodwill Industries of South Central CAOffsite Link
1731 Chester Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93301
661-837-0595 ext 306 (Phone)
(661) 322-7590 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Benefit Planner and Program Coordinator
DB101 TrainedDB101 Outreach Partner
Service Area: Northern Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties
Sandra Mathias
Independent Living Resource Center Santa BarbaraOffsite Link
423 West Victoria Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 462-1162 San Luis Obispo (Phone)
(805) 963-0595 (TTY)
(805) 963-1350 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Benefits Planner
Service Area:  Southern Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties
Carol Baizer
Independent Living Resource Center--Santa BarbaraOffsite Link
423 West Victoria Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 963-0595 x102 (Phone)
(805) 963-0595 (TTY)
(805) 963-1350 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Benefits Planner
Service Area: Parts of Los Angeles County: Watts (City of LA), South Central, Los Angeles, Compton, Rancho Dominguez, East Rancho Dominguez, Rosewood, Willowbrooke, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Lawndale, Lynwood, Manhatten Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo, Torrence, Inglewood, Lennox, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Avalon, Bellflower, Harbor City, Lomita, San Pedro, Carson, Wilmington, Signal Hill, Long Beach, and North Long Beach
Markita Shelton
Human Potential Consultants, L.L.C.Offsite Link
500 E. Carson Plaza Dr. #127
Carson, CA 90746
(800) 472-0799 (Toll-Free)
(310) 756-1560 (Phone)
(310) 756-1562 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: Los Angeles County
Joe Burgos
AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA)Offsite Link
611 S. Kingsley Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90005
(213) 201-1471 (Phone)
(213) 201-1665 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Return to work counseling for Social Security beneficiaries; Social Security Ticket to Work and PASS program counseling and referrals; Department of Rehabilitation referrals, Employment Development Department referrals; CARE HIPP-HIPP program counseling and enrollment; California AIDS Drug Assistance Program counseling and enrollment; Los Angeles County Welfare program eligibility counseling and referrals. Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
DB101 TrainedDB101 Outreach Partner
Service Area: Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties
John Riley
AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA)Offsite Link
611 S. Kingsley Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90005
(213) 201-1659 (Phone)
(213) 201-1665 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
DB101 TrainedDB101 Outreach Partner
Service Area: Parts of Los Angeles County: Glendale, Burbank, La Canada-Flintridge, Van Nuys, Hancock Oark, Civic Center/Chinatown, Downtown (City of LA), Echo Park/Silverlake, Griffith Park/Los Feliz, Hollywood, Montecito Heights, El Sereno/Monterey Hills, Boyle Heights, Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mount Olympus, City Terrace, Cypress Park/Glassell Park/ Mt. Washington, Montrose, Shadow Hills/Sunland, Tujunga, La Crescenta, Arleta/Pacoima, San Fernando, Lake View Terrace/Sylmar, North Hills, Granada Hills, Mission Hills, Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood, and Toluca Lake
Nina SchultzMail Link
Verdugo Workforce Investment BoardOffsite Link
1255 S. Central Avenue
Glendale, CA 91204
(818) 409-0476 ext 7349 (Phone)
(818) 409-0496 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
DB101 TrainedDB101 Outreach Partner
Service Area: Parts of Los Angeles County: Glendale, Burbank, La Canada-Flintridge, Van Nuys, Hancock Oark, Civic Center/Chinatown, Downtown (City of LA), Echo Park/Silverlake, Griffith Park/Los Feliz, Hollywood, Montecito Heights, El Sereno/Monterey Hills, Boyle Heights, Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mount Olympus, City Terrace, Cypress Park/Glassell Park/ Mt. Washington, Montrose, Shadow Hills/Sunland, Tujunga, La Crescenta, Arleta/Pacoima, San Fernando, Lake View Terrace/Sylmar, North Hills, Granada Hills, Mission Hills, Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood, and Toluca Lake
Jairo RiveraMail Link
Verdugo Workforce Investment ForceOffsite Link
1255 S. Central Avenue
Glendale, CA 91204
(818) 409-0476 ext 7322 (Phone)
(818) 409-0496 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area:  Orange County
Rosie NgoMail Link
Project IndependenceOffsite Link
3505 Cadillac Ave. O-103
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(877) 444-0144 (Toll-Free)
(714) 549-3464 ext. 228 (Phone)
(714) 549-3559 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: Orange County
Debbie Alvarado
Project IndependanceOffsite Link
3505 Cadillac, Suite O-103
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(877) 444-0144 (Toll-Free)
714-549-3464 ext 279 (Phone)
(714) 549-3559 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area:  San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties
Kathryn Endo-RobertsMail Link
Goodwill Industries Inc. Southern California
342 North San Fernando Rd.
Los Angeles,, CA 90031
(323) 223-1211 X 2345 (Phone)
(323) 539-2081 (TTY)
(323) 539-2109 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: Riverside County
Francisco Sanchez, CWIC
Workforce Development Center of Riverside CountyOffsite Link
1151 Spruce St.
Riverside, CA 92507
(951) 955-1057 (Phone)
Areas of Expertise: SSDI and SSI Benefits Planning and Management and Community Work Incentive Coordinator
Service Area: Riverside County
Michael McCullough
Crossroads Employment ServicesOffsite Link
1151 Spruce St.
Riverside, CA 92507
(866) 936-4237 (Toll-Free)
(530) 845-2540 (Phone)
Areas of Expertise: Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area:  San Diego County
Karla Bell
North County Inland Career CenterOffsite Link
463 N. Midway Dr.
Suite 100 B
Escondido, CA 92027
(760) 871-1976 (Phone)
(760) 871-0346 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise:  Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area:  Imperial County
Letty Zuno VizcarraMail Link
Access to Independence (a2i) of Imperial ValleyOffsite Link
400 Mary Avenue
Suite D
Calexico, CA 92331
(800) 300-4326 (Toll-Free)
(760) 768-2044 (Phone)
(760) 768-0466 (TTY)
(760) 768-4977 (FAX)
Areas of Expertise:  Program Manager
Service Area: Imperial, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and parts of Los Angeles County
Mandy Wu
Familia UnidaOffsite Link
4716 E. Cesar Chavez Ave.,Bldg. A.
Los Angeles, CA 90022
(877)-298-3267 ext 204 (Toll-Free)
(323) 261-5565 (Phone)
Areas of Expertise: Service Languages: English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin and American Sign Language; other languages can be arranged as needed with prior appointment. Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: Imperial, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and parts of Los Angeles County
Michelle Michel
Familia UnidaOffsite Link
4716 E. Cesar Chavez Ave.,Bldg. A.
Los Angeles, CA 90022
(877) 298-3267 ext 208 (Toll-Free)
(323) 261-5565 (Phone)
(866) 833-2967 (TTY)
Areas of Expertise: Service Languages: English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin and American Sign Language; other languages can be arranged as needed with prior appointment. Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)
Service Area: Imperial, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and parts of Los Angeles County
Veronica Romo
Familia UnidaOffsite Link
4716 E. Cesar Chavez Ave.,Bldg. A.
Los Angeles, CA 90022
(877) 298-3267 ext 209 (Toll-Free)
(323) 261-5565 (Phone)
(866) 833-2967 (TTY)
Areas of Expertise: Service Languages: English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin and American Sign Language; other languages can be arranged as needed with prior appointment. Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC)

What is a Benefits Planner?
Most current benefit planners have training in public health and income support programs such as Social Security disability programs. This emerging field is growing rapidly. More planners are developing expertise on public and private, health and income programs. Benefit planners work with the individual goals of those seeking benefit program information and interaction. Some organizations call this field benefit counseling.
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