Benefit Programs Which Can Help You Transition to Employment

Concurrent Session 2C

Advancing Inclusion: The Future of State Government for Persons with DisabilitiesJune 30, 2010

Ticket to Work

Presented by:

Abygail MedinaChief, Social Security Programs, Department of Rehabilitation

Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (TWWIIA)

Purpose: Provide health care and employment

services to individuals with disabilities Encourage States to enable beneficiaries to

purchase Medicaid coverage Provide option of maintaining Medicare

coverage while working Establish the Ticket to Work and Self-

Sufficiency Program (Ticket to Work Program)

Ticket to Work (TTW) Program

General Goal:

“To enhance the range of choices available to Social Security disability and SSI beneficiaries when they are seeking employment services to obtain, regain or maintain self-supporting employment.”

SSA’s Message

“We’re Listening. We’re Learning. We’re Responding. We’ve changed our programs and how we do

business to more effectively provide opportunities for people with disabilities who want to work.”

Sue Suter, Associate CommissionerSocial Security AdministrationOffice of Employment Support Programs, Baltimore, MD

Key Players of TTW

o Social Security Administration (SSA)

o MAXIMUSo CESSIo Beneficiarieso Employment Networks (EN)o State Vocational Rehabilitation

Agencies

Benefits to Beneficiaries

Offers choice of service providers for beneficiaries who do not want VR services.

Offers choice for beneficiaries to receive services from VR and EN sequentially.

Provides ongoing support services to maintain work efforts

Protection from medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs)

The California Working Disabled Program and AB 1269

Presented by:

Karla BellProgram Manager,California Health Incentives Improvement ProjectSan Diego State University Interwork Institute

Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program

Provides choice and opportunity to Californians with disabilities who would otherwise be ineligible for No-Share-of-Cost, full scope Medi-Cal coverage due to earned income and work activity

Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program

Individuals can earn up to $55,188 ($73,884 for a couple) gross per year and still qualify for Medi-Cal

Affordable premiums: $20 - $250 (Single Person) $30 - $375 (Couples)

You can have an IRS approved retirement account (IRA, 401K, 403B)

Disability income not included in countable income when determining eligibility and premium amount

Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program - Eligibility

To qualify, individuals must: Meet Social Security’s medical definition of

disability Meet Medi-Cal program eligibility

requirements Be employed full-time or part-time,

including self employment Countable earnings below 250% of the

Federal Poverty Level For individuals: $2257/month For couples: $3036/month

250% Working Disabled ProgramBenefits

The ability to work and maintain affordable health coverage

No large shares of cost (Medi-Cal or IHSS) Can build retirement accounts Maintain In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)

at home and in the workplace Medi-Cal’s Health Insurance Premium

Payment program (Medi-Cal/HIPP) Automatically qualify for Medicare Part D

Low Income Subsidy (LIS) Medi-Cal pays Medicare Part B premium Access IHSS services (not covered by

Medicare or other health insurance)

250% Working Disabled ProgramFuture Changes

Assembly Bill 1269 was signed into law by our Governor on 10/11/09

AB 1269 policy improvements: Eliminate Age 65 restriction Eliminating the asset limit when money is

placed in a separate account Change premium structure Grace period of 26 weeks if employment

ends

Resources

Disability Benefits 101http://www.disabilitybenefits101.org

Talent Knows No Limitshttp://www.talentknowsnolimits.info

List of 250% WDP County Coordinators (for assistance with enrollment)

http://www.chiip.org/wdp_county_coordinators.html

Resources

For more information on outreach and training activities or questions, contact Karla Bell at 619-594-5381, kbell@interwork.sdsu.edu

To order brochures or promotional materials, contact Nicholas Moore at 916-654-8194, Nicholas.Moore@edd.ca.gov

Medi-Cal Working Disabled Brochure I Can Work Brochure

California’s Disability Benefits 101 On-line Tools and Information Services

Presented by:

Bryon MacDonaldCWII Program Director, California Work Incentives Initiative, World Institute on Disabilityhttp://www.disabilitybenefits101.org