The Individual Self Sufficiency Planning Project (ISSP) serves 100 San Mateo County individuals with mental illnesses who are part of a 5 year research and development grant from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The grant is managed by the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) through four Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) staff who provide 100 clients (who are participants in this research project) with extensive benefits counseling and other vocationally-related support services. Additionally, the grant provides for more work incentives than an individual is typically allowed by SSA. The purpose of the grant is to formulate recommendations to the SSA that would encourage clients with mental illness to go to work and therefore lessen or eliminate their need to continue receiving SSA benefits. VRS offers intensive social security benefits planning and analysis services. These services are provided through an establishment grant from the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) for DOR clients. The DOR counselor must authorize benefits' counseling services for a DOR client before VRS can work with the client. Social Security Benefits Advocacy Assistance Vocational Rehabilitation Services Social Security Benefits Technicians assist VRS and San Mateo County Mental Health clients with Social Security issues and concerns. Typically, technicians help clients with reporting wage earnings to the Social Security offices. They also try to resolve issues involving overpayments from Social Security and waivers needed to address these issues. For more details of what a Social Security Benefits Counselor does, click here.