Benefits Counselors around the country received the news today that Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) was forced to close the National Training and Data Center (NTDC) on July 29.
The brief announcement from Melanie Webb, Branch Chief of Employment Programs at SSA’s Division of Employment Support, declared that the agency is trying to get the NTDC “back up and running as soon as possible:”.
The NTDC provides training and technical assistance to Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) projects, the Ticket to Work Help Line, and community partners (CPWICs) to ensure accurate and timely support for beneficiaries on the road to employment and financial independence and is staffed by a small but experienced and knowledgeable team, most of whom were benefits counselors themselves. As it stands there will be no training or technical assistance available to anyone. Benefits Counselors are also now unable to access their accounts or work on any Continuing Certification Credits.
The closure itself actually went into effect on July 18 and staff have been under orders since then not to respond to any questions or indeed do any work while the closure remains.