Virginia Commonwealth University has been awarded a $4.2 million contract to help people with disabilities find jobs that reduce their dependence on government assistance

The three-year contract from the Social Security Administration will allow VCU to provide training and technical assistance for more than 500 so-called community work incentives coordinators -- local professionals who promote employment opportunities for Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

Fear of losing critical cash benefits and health insurance prevents millions of beneficiaries from trying to find work or return to work. As a result, these people remain dependent on government benefits as their sole source of financial security, according to the National Council on Disability.

Since 2000, the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance National Training Center at VCU has been awarded more than $14 million in federal contracts and provided training and technical assistance to 800 community-based professionals providing service to more than 250,000 Social Security beneficiaries.