Minnesotans with disabilities want to work. However, many people with disabilities fear that if they go to work, they'll lose needed health care and other disability benefits. With DB101 people can explore different ways to balance benefits and work.

DB101 helps people with disabilities learn how income may impact benefits so they can make informed choices, reduce fears, and ensure work is part of the plan.

DB101 provides:

Information – centralized and easy to understand, that:

  • covers benefits programs and work incentives,
  • supports a learning process,
  • answers frequently asked questions, and
  • addresses common pitfalls.

Estimators that tailors information to the user to:

  • show connections between work and benefits,
  • develop tailored plans,
  • help set work goals,
  • educate about work incentives and benefits the user may access, and
  • offer tips for success.

Experts who can help:

  • answer questions,
  • access personal benefits information for estimator sessions,
  • interpret results,
  • understand next steps, and
  • connect to community resources.

Use DB101 when:

  • exploring work as an option,
  • planning to work,
  • starting a new job,
  • changing jobs,
  • negotiating a raise,
  • using work incentives,
  • working while in school, or
  • transitioning from school to work.

Partners

DB101 Site

The DB101 Core Team is a group of content experts, web designers, and estimator engine builders. We believe that by working in partnership we can provide information in a way that no single entity could do alone. This approach enhances the services that you find on DB101.

The three main Core Team partners are:

  • The World Institute on Disability, Content Experts - with many Board members and staff living with a significant disability, deeply understands the target audiences as well as the broad policy context and history.
  • Eightfold Way Consultants, Web Technology - developed a dedicated content management system that eases navigation and tailors content to the specific user's case.
  • ECONorthwest, Estimator Engineers - brings a history of public program econometric modeling and award-winning Internet adaptations of benefit estimators to team projects.

The Core Team works with community-based benefits experts with disabilities to maintain and improve services. DB101’s Core Team has been working together since 2002 to design, produce, test and refine web based benefits planning information and calculator tools.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), through their Pathways to Employment (PTE) partnership, contracted with the World Institute Disability (WID) to adapt the California Disability Benefits 101 website to meet the needs of Minnesotans.

DB101 MN is part of the Disability Linkage Line® system. The Disability Linkage Line® provides DB101’s Talk to an Expert services and provides access to DB101 for people without computers.

Talk to an Expert

When you have questions or need help, use Talk to an Expert. This feature connects you to a DB101 Expert using live chat, phone, or secure email. Anything you talk about is private.

Talk with a DB101 Expert to:

  • Understand your current benefits
  • Get help using DB101.org
  • Connect to resources
  • Plan next steps

Contact DB101 Experts Monday–Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm.

To provide DB101 Talk to an Expert services, DLL draws from a team of experts to get people answers. This team includes The Minnesota Work Incentives Connection, experts in work incentives, benefits planning and formal benefits analysis.