The Ticket to Work Program Support for Americans with Disabilities Who Want to Work
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Transcript of The Ticket to Work Program Support for Americans with Disabilities Who Want to Work
Choose Fulfillment. Choose Earnings.Choose Work.Choose Work.
The Ticket to Work ProgramSupport for Americans with Disabilities
Who Want to Work
Welcome!
Today’s Presenters:• Tom Gloss, Ticket Program Specialist, TASC,
[email protected] • Joel Middleton, Account Manager (NJ), TASC,
[email protected]• Emily Malsch, Workforce Specialist, TASC,
[email protected]• Donna DeJulius, Senior Account Manager, TASC
[email protected] • Barbara Butz, Consultant & Workforce Specialist,
Webinar Agenda
• Ticket Trends
• Ticket 101- The Basics
• EN Technical Assistance and Support Center (TASC)
• The Year of the Workforce
Choose Fulfillment. Choose Earnings.Choose Work.Choose Work.
Ticket Trends
Tickets Assigned (National)
New Tickets Assigned to ENs 2009-2011
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
2009
2010
2011
On average, 1300 tickets were assigned per month from February 2010 to January 2011.
Ticket Payments (National)
Total Dollars Paid to ENs 2009-2011
0.
1,000,000.
2,000,000.
3,000,000.
4,000,000.
5,000,000.
6,000,000.
Janu
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•The average monthly payment from February 2010 to January 2011 was $1,981,914.40
Ten + Tickets Assigned (National)
ENs with 10 or More Tickets Assigned
292 294 300 300 307328 334 335 344 358 368 375 376
49 50 49 51 52 54 54 54 57 58 57 59 6049 49 50 47 49 49 50 50 51 50 51 52 52
0
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150
200
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300
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10 - 100
101 - 1000
1000 or more
New Jersey Ticket Holders
New Jersey has 274,328 Ticket Holders
Estimate 10% of WIB customers are Ticket Holders!
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Ticket 101: The Basics
Ticket to Work
• What? Employment program administered by SSA
• Who? Adults (ages 18 through 64) receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cash benefits based on disability– Referred to as “Ticket Holders”
Ticket to Work
• Purpose? Expands choices for obtaining services and supports to enter and maintain employment
• How? SSA compensates approved service providers as Ticket Holders achieve employment-related milestones and outcomes– Referred to as “Employment Networks” or “ENs”
An Outcome-Based Program
• Payments based on milestones and outcomes> Associated with work and earnings> Achieved by a Ticket Holder after assigning
his/her Ticket to the EN and after job placement
• Not reimbursement for the cost of services provided
Goals of the Ticket Program
Primary Goals
• Expand choices available to beneficiaries with disabilities
• Reduce/eliminate reliance on Social Security disability benefits
Secondary Goals
• Increase independence of beneficiaries
• Improve quality of life for beneficiaries
• Ticket program is voluntary – No penalty for not participating
• Ticket program is free– EN cannot charge for services provided
under the Ticket program• Medicare and/or Medicaid can continue• Ticket Holders can choose
– Whether/When to use their Tickets– Where to seek assistance
• State VR agency• Approved EN
What Do Beneficiaries Need to Know?
How Do Beneficiaries Participate?
A paper Ticket is mailed when SSDI or SSI benefits are approved
How Do Beneficiaries Participate?(continued)
• Many beneficiaries received their Tickets some time ago -- Paper Ticket not needed to participate
Contact MAXIMUS to determine> Who is Ticket-eligible> Who has a Ticket available for assignment
• Requires beneficiary’s name & SSN • Beneficiaries call Ticket to Work Helpline: 866-
968-7842(v); 866-833-2967(tty)• ENs call: (866) 949-3687 (v)
Benefits to Beneficiaries
• If disability benefits cease due to work and beneficiary stops working within 5 years of entering zero cash benefit status, there is an expedited reinstatement of benefits
• If a beneficiary is using his/her Ticket and making timely progress towards his/her employment goals, regularly scheduled medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) will be postponed
What Is a Medical CDR?
Medical CDRs are periodic reviews SSA conducts to determine continued eligibility for disability benefits based on a beneficiary’s medical or disabling condition
• Conducted every year or every several years, depending on the expectation of medical recovery
• A CDR may result in the loss of benefits if substantial evidence shows medical recovery
What Are Employment Networks?
• Providers who are approved by SSA to assist beneficiaries to enter and maintain employment– Private (for profit/non-profit) organizations and service
providers– Government agencies (state and local, not Federal)– One Stop Career Centers
• An EN can be a single entity, two entities forming a partnership, or a coalition of organizations functioning as a single EN
How Do Ticket Holders Find ENs?
A Ticket Holder can• Learn about ENs in the area by viewing the online
directory at: www.yourtickettowork.com or calling (866) 968-7842 (v); (866) 833-2967 (tty)
• Discuss his/her employment goal and the services and supports needed to achieve that goal with several ENs before assigning the Ticket
Remember• Many beneficiaries are not aware that they have Tickets• Your organization may already be working with Ticket
Holders
EN Services
• Services EN plans to provide are listed in application to SSA
• Services available through approved ENs are listed in EN Directory on MAXIMUS website: www.yourtickettowork.com
• Services to Ticket Holder should be individualized based on employment goal and service needs
EN Chooses Which Ticket Assignments to Accept
An EN can refuse a Ticket assignment or have a Ticket un-assigned
• Goal is to find a good match between what the Ticket Holder needs and what the EN offers
• After Ticket is assigned, the EN or the Ticket Holder can terminate the relationship by asking MAXIMUS (in writing) to un-assign the Ticket
ENs: Connecting with Beneficiaries
• Look at those you are already serving
• Develop relationships with SSA staff and SSA sponsored programs and services– Area Work Incentive Coordinators (AWIC) – Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) projects– Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security
• Attend a Work Incentives Seminar Event (WISE): http://www.chooseworkttw.net/
How Do ENs Work with Ticket Holders?
• EN and Ticket Holder negotiate Individual Work Plan (IWP)> IWP template available at www.yourtickettowork.com > Signed IWP submitted to MAXIMUS for approval> Approval of IWP triggers Ticket assignment to EN
• EN provides the services/supports outlined in IWP • Ticket Holder goes to work and EN submits
Payment Request form and documentation of earnings to MAXIMUS
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Why Become an EN?
Why Become an EN?
Opportunities for Success• New sources of funding in era of shrinking
budgets • New options for funding long-term employment
supports• Unrestricted funds
– SSA places no requirements or restrictions on use of Ticket payments
– SSA does not view Ticket payments to ENs using other sources of funding to serve beneficiaries as “double dipping”
Medicaid Policy Clarification
• CMS Medicaid Director’s Letter
• Issued Jan 28, 2010• Ticket Payments do
not conflict with Medicaid
• Encourages State agencies/services providers to be ENs
Other Sources of Funding
How do other funding sources view Ticket payments?
• State VR agencies, IL Centers, PWIs, and other programs funded under the Rehab Act: Ticket payments constitute “program income” and must be used to further the purposes of the program
• Workforce Investment Boards and One-Stop Centers: DOL guidance (12/12/07) encourages both to become ENs and clarifies that Ticket payments are not program income (thus, unrestricted funding)
ENs Have Choices!
When signing the contract with SSA, an EN chooses between payment systems
• Outcome Payment System: EN receives payments when Ticket Holder has substantial-level earnings (referred to as Substantial Gainful Activity) and no longer receives cash disability benefits
• Milestone/Outcome Payment System: EN receives payments when beneficiary attains prescribed levels of work and earnings
– Milestones based on lower-level earnings consistent with part-time work and Ticket Holder can still receive cash disability benefits
Outcome/Milestone Payment System(2011 Rates)
Payment Type Ticket Holder Gross Earnings
EN Payment (SSDI)
EN Payment (SSI)
Phase 1 Milestones
Milestone 1 $720/mo for 1 month $1,279 $1,279
Milestone 2 $720/mo for 3 months w/in 6 months (cumulative)
$1,279 $1,279
Milestone 3 $720/mo for 6 months w/in 12 months(cumulative)
$1,279 $1,279
Milestone 4 $720/mo for 9 months w/in 18 months (cumulative)
$1,279 $1,279
Total Potential Phase I Milestone Payments
Additional criteria may apply and reduce total payments
$5,116 $5,116
Phase 2 Milestone Payments(2011 Rates)
Payment Type Ticket Holder Gross Earnings
EN Payment (SSDI)
EN Payment (SSI)
Phase 2 Gross > SGA($1,000/non-blind;
$1,640 for blind)Up to 11 payments
of $384/mo. Up to 18 payments of
$221/mo.
Total Phase 2 Payments
$4,224 $3,978
Total Potential Ticket Payments Phases 1 and 2
$9,340 $9,094
Outcome Payments Under Outcome-Milestone Payment System (2011)
Type Ticket Holder Net Earnings
EN Payment (SSDI)
EN Payment (SSI)
Outcome Phase Net Earnings > SGA ($1000/non-blind;
$1,640/blind) “AND” 0 cash benefit
Up to 36 payments of
$384/mo.
Up to 60 payments of
$221/mo.
Total Outcome Phase Payments
$13,824 $13,260
Total Potential Ticket Payments (Phases 1 & 2, and Outcome)
$23,164 $22,354
Outcome Payments Under the Outcome Payment Method
2011 Rates
Payment Type Ticket Holder Net Earnings
EN Payment (SSDI)
EN Payment (SSI)
Outcome Phase Net Earnings > SGA ($1,000/non-blind;
$1,640 for blind)AND 0 cash benefit
Up to 36 payments of $714/mo.
Up to 60 payments of $411/mo.
Total Outcome Payments Available
$25,704 $24,660
State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
State VR agencies (SVRA) have two options for seeking compensation for successfully serving beneficiaries with disabilities
• Cost Reimbursement (authorized in 1981) > Only available to SVRAs
• Ticket to Work program (authorized in 1999) >Available to State VR agencies and approved
ENs
• Ticket legislation permits VR to choose on a case-by-case basis between seeking compensation under CR or Ticket program
What Is Partnership Plus?
State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)agencies and ENs can partner to meetneeds of Ticket Holders
• Old Ticket Regulations – SSA paid for beneficiary success under either the VR Cost Reimbursement (CR) program or under the Ticket program, NOT BOTH
• New Ticket Regulations – Permit payments to VR under the CR program and to an EN under the Ticket program on behalf of the same beneficiary for the same Ticket in certain circumstances
Partnership Plus (continued)
Circumstances required for a Partnership Plus case
• State VR agency chooses to serve beneficiary under CR program
• Beneficiary decides to assign Ticket to an EN after VR case closure
• Compensation is for provision of sequential, not concurrent, services
Bottom Line: When VR serves a Ticket Holder under the CR program, the Ticket still has value when taken to an EN after VR closes the case
Benefits of Partnership Plus
• Opportunity to address need for post-employment supports to help beneficiaries maintain and advance in employment, including
Ongoing support services Job coaching
Benefits planning Skill building
Job retention services Transportation
Additional Education/Training Mentoring
Other services/supports to maintain/advance in employment
Benefits of Partnership Plus (continued)
• Everybody Wins: Increases likelihood – Ticket Holder will continue working– VR will receive CR payment from SSA– EN will receive Ticket payments
• Allows a service provider to function as a VR vendor while the VR case is open and as an EN after VR closes the case
How Does Partnership Plus Impact Payments to ENs?
• When a Ticket Holder’s VR case is closed successfully (beneficiary is employed), Phase 1 Milestones are not available to the EN – Ticket Holder already working at Ticket assignment– Number of hours working/earnings does not matter
• All Phase 2 milestone and outcome payments still potentially payable to EN based on beneficiary’s continued work and earning!> Up to $16,000 to $17,000 of value left in the Ticket
after VR case closure depending on type of disability benefits received (SSI/SSDI)
Partnership Plus Toolkit
Check out the online Partnership Plus Toolkit at:
http://PartnershipPlus.cessi.net
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Becoming an Employment Network
Where Can I Get the EN RFP?
Download the EN Request for Proposal (RFP):
http://www.ssa.gov/work/enrfp.html
What Do You Need to Complete the EN RFP?
1. Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as the Taxpayer ID # (TIN)
> Obtain by contacting the Internal Revenue Service at 1- 800-829-4933, or via the web at www.irs.gov
2. General Business or Professional Liability Insurance
> Minimum coverage of $500,000 per occurrence must be in effect
3. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number
> Contact Dun & Bradstreet at 1-866-705-5711 or apply online at www.dnb.com
4. Central Contractor Registration (CCR): DUNS number must be registered through the CCR process
Completing the EN RFP (Continued)
5. Proof of EN Qualifications• Be prepared to provide evidence of your qualifications to
become an EN, for example:• Vendor agreement or contract with the state
VR agency • A state license or certification to provide
employment support services to people with disabilities
• Accreditation from a national rehabilitation and employment services accrediting body (i.e. CARF)
Completing the EN RFP (continued)
6. Financial Institution Information- EN payments are directly deposited into your bank account
7. Security Clearance & Suitability Determination: - All employees working with beneficiaries
and the signer of the EN proposal (signatory authority) need to complete/sign Form 306 - Declaration of Federal Employment http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/of0306.pdf
Tips on Completing the EN RFP
• Download & complete the RFP on your computer
• Do not mail your RFP! Send via:– Email: [email protected]; or– Fax: 1-410-597-0429
• The cover letter of the RFP provides information on how to contact SSA
Need Help Completing the EN RFP?
• General Guidance- contact CESSI, MAXIMUS’ (Ticket Operations Support Manager) Partner: – Phone: (703) 448-6155 to speak with a Ticket to Work
Account Manager– Email: [email protected]
• Additional help is available through SSA’s EN Contracts Team (ENCT)– Email: [email protected]– Phone: (866) 584-5180
Learn More!
• Ticket Quick Start Resources– http://www.yourtickettowork.com/training_2
• Ticket Training Tuesdays – Interactive training modules – Every Tuesday at 1:00 pm EST; toll-free conference call
• Archived Ticket webinars
– http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/m-cessi-webinars.cfm – Sample webinars include:
• Ticket to Work and Partnership Plus: Assisting Beneficiaries with Disabilities to Achieve Long-Term Employment
• How to Obtain Foundation and Corporate Grants for Your EN• One Stops in Action: Live Demonstration of Effective Practices
And More!
For more information on the Ticket to Work program, check out these websites:
• SSA’s Work Site: www.socialsecurity.gov/work• MAXIMUS’ Ticket to Work website:
www.yourtickettowork.com
Or call the EN Technical Assistance and Support Center at: 1-866-949-3687
Choose Fulfillment. Choose Earnings.Choose Work.Choose Work.
Resources for Beneficiaries Who Want to Work
AWICS
Area Work Incentives Specialists (AWICS)
• Social Security has a team of Work Incentives specialists to ensure that beneficiaries receive– Accurate information about returning to work– Assistance in processing information on work activity
• Find the AWIC serving your local area at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/work/awiccontacts.html
Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA)
SSA approved organizations that assist beneficiaries in making informed choices about work
• Trained to provide information about work and work incentives
• Can answer questions about how work will affect a beneficiary’s federal, state and local benefits
• Can help beneficiaries find resources and services to achieve their employment goals
WIPA services are free! Find the WIPA in your area at: www.socialsecurity.gov/work
Protection and Advocacy
Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS)
• State Protection & Advocacy Systems receive funds from SSA to provide– Information, advocacy services & legal advice on
employment services and rights protection – Information and support during the job application
process, and following job placement
What Are WISE?
• Work Incentives Seminar Events (WISE) are hosted by local WIPA
• At a WISE beneficiaries are invited to – Learn about the Ticket program and other SSA work
incentives– Meet with community partners who can assist with
transition to work
• Great opportunity for ENs to meet Ticket Holders who are motivated to seek employment
• To learn when a WISE event is happening in your area, visit: http://www.chooseworkttw.net/
Ticket Helpline
Work Incentive Information and Referral Center (WIIRC)
• Provide general benefits information• Provide work incentives information depending on
Ticket Holder entitlement• Refer Ticket Holders to WIPA if they are actively
seeking employment or already working
> (866) 968-7842, Option 3
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EN Technical Assistance and Support Center
TASC
EN Technical Assistance and Support Center (TASC)
• TASC managed by MAXIMUS, Ticket Operations Support Manager
• TASC provides ongoing support to ENs
• Each EN has an assigned Account Manager
• EN Provider line: 1-866-949-3687
What TASC Can Offer an EN
• Payment request inquiries• Ticket assignment inquiries• Ticket assignability inquiries• Training needs, such as:
– Ticket Program Basics– Ticket Assignment Process– Payment Process– Outreach Options– EN Capitalization– Timely Progress Review
Ticket Assignment Process
• Beneficiary assessment
• Ticket assignability
• Completing the IWP
• Timely Progress Review
• Beneficiary information safeguarding
EN Payment Process
• Payment Methods
• Ticket Value
• Payment Options
• Completing the payment request form
• Payment Tracking
• Beneficiary wage reporting
Marketing Your EN Services
• Beneficiary Referral CD
• EN Directory
• Media Coverage
• Networking
Ticket to Work Program:The Year of the Workforce
The Partnership Grows
• Beginning in 2010, SSA and DOL committed to working together to increase the employment of people with disabilities in communities across the country.
• One of the first steps in this process was the development of “ Tiger Teams”
2010 – Tiger Teams and Pilots
- The TIGER Team was a collaborative effort between SSA, CESSI, and MAXIMUS
- The TIGER Teams’ purpose was to support the vision of making Ticket to Work mainstream
- Goal was to help existing ENs with expertise and operational supports to increase Ticket assignments and EN payments
DOL/Workforce TIGER Team
Specifically, the Team’s Goal was:• To increase the representation and participation
rates of One Stop as ENs.
– Increase the number of Ticket assignments to One-Stop ENs
– Increase Ticket payments to One Stop Ens
– Increase the inventory of One Stops as ENs
TIGER Team Activities
• Analyze data on current ENs- trends in Ticket activity, Ticket assignments, and EN payments
• Based on data, identify One Stops to contact to discuss/determine barriers
• Develop operational training and support tools based on outreach to those targeted One Stops (pilot sites)
• Provide training and outreach to share research, models, other operational support tools developed through pilot sites
Listening and Learning
• SSA did a lot of listening to DOL Partners including our pilot WIBs in Florida, Texas, New York and Iowa
• Common Themes– Difficult to identify our common customer– Process is burdensome– WIB resources limited
New WIB Electronic Process
• Recognizes the partnership between DOL and the workforce community and SSA
• Knows that up to13% of the Workforce customers in many states are also SSA beneficiaries.
• Workforce system is preferred providers for many individuals with disabilities
New WIB Electronic Process
• Four step streamlined process– State or WIB submits list of SSN numbers for all
individuals they are serving– SSA responds with a “hit” list that identifies common
customers– WIB contacts individuals and provides information to
common clients about ticket; assigns tickets for those who are interested and develops simple plan to keep on file.
– SSA automatically identifies individuals eligible for payment based on UI and other records on a quarterly basis and pays the WIB
Process Being Piloted
• Florida Pilot began in February.
• Data match has occurred
• Navigators and Operational Staff has been trained
• Timeline for steps two and three are being finalized
Next Steps
• NJ is a Disability Employment Initiative State (DEI)
• NJ is eligible to participate in pilot
• Discussions are underway with state officials regarding possibility of the State becoming an Administrative EN to facilitate data-sharing