Debora Wagner

Debora Wagner spent 25 years working with legal services and law school clinical programs. She started her career at the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, where she represented individuals with disabilities in benefits cases before the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration, with a specialization in work incentive planning. She taught at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and Saint Louis University School of Law, focusing on clinical legal education and poverty law.

Throughout her career, she has taught disability benefits, including post-entitlement and return to work issues for attorneys, vocational rehabilitation professionals, agency staff, individuals with disabilities, and their families. She is frequently invited to present on the intersection of VA benefits and Social Security benefits, with a focus on how work impacts benefits for Veterans. Prior to coming to Cornell, she led the statewide network of work incentive training and technical assistance for benefits planners in Ohio.

In December 2021, Debora joined the Cornell staff, where she continues to provide work incentive training and technical assistance. She also serves as an instructor on ytiONLINE, the institute's distance learning program for benefits planners and others interested in learning about Social Security disability, VA disability, and work incentive programs.