Diane Ricker , Work Incentives Counselor, Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA)

Diane Ricker is a Work Incentives Counselor with Work Without Limits, a program of ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School dedicated to advancing equal employment for people with disabilities. Certified by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) as a Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC), Diane provides benefits counseling through Work Without Limits’ SSA Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) contract. In this role, she helps individuals with disabilities navigate SSA and other public benefit systems while pursuing employment and financial independence.

A compassionate social worker, Diane is committed to helping people discover their passions and purpose through meaningful work. With over 20 years of experience in Vermont’s TANF and SNAP programs, she understands the challenges of the “benefit cliff” and the fears that can accompany returning to work. Her lifelong mission has been to promote social and economic justice, foster disability inclusion, and support individuals in achieving financial stability.

Diane holds a BA in Social Work with a minor in Psychology from Wheelock College and a Master of Social Work from the University of Vermont.