In September 2005, the Social Security Administration awarded WID a contract to expand Disability Benefits 101 Information Services (DB101), part of WID's California Work Incentives Initiative (CWII).

The Social Security contract enables the program to complete design, installation, integration and beta testing of DB101's Benefits Planning Sessions, six new user-friendly benefit planning scenarios with calculator features. The contract funds updates of DB101 benefits information and resources, and translation of DB101 and the new Benefits Planning Sessions into Spanish. As a result, DB101 Information Services will have more person-centered tools for more youth and adults with disabilities, as well as for benefits planners and other service providers.

DB101 Benefits Planning Sessions allow web users to quickly explore "scenarios" that match current situations with new plans, to find out more about benefit eligibility changes that can occur with a new job, a change in earnings, getting married or other financial situations. Each Session allows users to produce a personal "Results" section, rich with individual information to help users understand "break-even" periods when planning to work, and to plan future events based on their own information

The Social Security contract also supports Disability Benefits 101 outreach and training services to target audiences, DB101 responses to consumer requests for benefits information and technical assistance, and the completion of a comprehensive manual on how to develop a state-focused research, training and technical assistance center on work incentives and benefits, based on constant information loops with stakeholders and users of services.

Together, the anchor DB101 website, personalized technical assistance, outreach and training comprise the suite of DB101 Information Services. DB101 Information Services are the collaborative results of WID's partnership with ECONorthwest (benefits calculator designers); Eightfold Way Consultants (web consultants); Language 411 (translators) and Protection and Advocacy, Inc. California (bilingual content analysts).

CWII's most important collaborators are the users of services who share their experiences with us to improve services. The program seeks feedback from consumers and providers including participants of its statewide California Work Group on Work Incentives and Health Care, training participants, and public and nonprofit service providers who test and help the program improve the services as they come online.