Dennis L. Born Director The Supported Employment Consultation and Training Center Indiana Works Work Incentive Planning and Assistance June-09 The NEW Ticket To Work New Program, New Opportunities

What is the Ticket to Work Program? A voluntary employment program administered by SSA Offers beneficiaries receiving SSI and SSDI cash benefits choices in obtaining services & supports to engage in work & achieve their employment goals Pays participating Employment Networks (ENs) for Milestones and Outcomes beneficiaries achieve related to work and earnings Ultimate goal: Reduce reliance on Social Security disability benefits, improve quality of life, and increase self-sufficiency 1

A New Approach to Service Delivery Payments based on Milestones and Outcomes occurring after job placement Not reimbursement for cost of services provided 2

Who Wants to Work? There are roughly 11.8 million people receiving disability benefits from SSA >Approximately 6.4 million on SSDI >Approximately 3.9 million on SSI >Approximately 1.4 million are concurrently eligible 17% of all beneficiaries see themselves working their way off benefits within the next 5 years SSA determined 92% of beneficiaries aged with recent work history also have work goals >Nationally, this means about 470,000 beneficiaries who want to work [Based on the results of the TTW Evaluation and the National Beneficiary Survey] 4

SSA Is Responding SSA is Listening. SSA is Learning. SSA is Responding. SSA has changed its programs and how it does business to more effectively provide opportunities for beneficiaries with disabilities who want to work. 5

Improvements of Interest to Beneficiaries All adults beneficiaries with disabilities, ages 18 through 64, who receive cash benefits are eligible to participate (About 300,000 MIEs) If the beneficiary stops working due to his/her disability, there is an expedited reinstatement to benefits Better alignment of all programs >Ticket to Work >Work Incentives Planning & Assistance >Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security >Other Work Support Initiatives 7

Regulatory Improvements Designed for ENs ENs earn milestones earlier, more often, and at a higher rate Outcome payments have significantly increased Difference in total EN payments for SSI and SSDI beneficiaries reduced significantly Milestone payments based on gross earnings encourage use of work incentives >Phase 1 Milestones - Trial Work level earnings >Phase 2 Milestones – Substantial Gainful Activity level earnings 10

New Phase 1Milestone Payments TypeEarningsSSDISSI Phase 1 Milestone 1$350/mo for 1 month$1,211 Milestone 2$670/mo for 3 months w/in 6 months (cumulative) $1,211 Milestone 3$670/mo for 6 months w/in 12 months (cumulative) $1,211 Milestone 4$670/mo for 9 months w/in 18 months (cumulative) $1,211 Total Potential Phase I Milestone Payments Not available to Ens if VR takes a successful closure. $4, Rates 11

Phase 2 Milestone Payments TypeEarningsSSDISSI Phase 2Gross > SGA 2009 ($980/non-blind; $1,640 for blind) $363/mo. (up to 11 mos.) $207/mo. (up to 18 mos.) Total Phase 2 Payments $3,993$3,726 Total Potential Ticket Payments Phases 1 and 2 $8, Rates 12

Outcome Payments Under Outcome- Milestone Payment System TypeEarningsSSDISSI Outcome PhaseNet > SGA ($980/non-blind; $1,640/blind) AND 0 cash benefit $363/mo. for 36 months $207/mo. for 60 months Total Outcome Phase Payments $13,068$12,420 Total Potential Ticket Payments $21,905$21, Rates 13

New Opportunities for EN-VR Partnerships VR Cost Reimbursement payments and EN Milestone and Outcome payments both possible for same beneficiary –Based on provision of sequential, but not concurrent, services –Referred to as Partnership Plus When VR chooses to serve a beneficiary under Cost Reimbursement, beneficiarys Ticket is >Not assigned to VR New in-use SVR status extends Continuing Disability Review (CDR) protection to beneficiary while receiving VR services under Cost Reimbursement >Cannot be assigned to another EN while VR case is open When VR closes the case, the beneficiary has the option of assigning his/her Ticket to an EN 14

15 New Opportunities for EN-VR Partnerships continued Indiana Pure Partnership Plus Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) in IN operates under a payment for results model with its vendors. Aspects of this model are being carried over to Indianas approach to Partnership Plus where VRS will serve all beneficiaries under the Cost Reimbursement program. VR counselors will encourage all beneficiaries to assign their Tickets to Ens after VR closes their cases. VRS will be asking Ens to share documentation of earnings with VRS to facilitate reimbursement. VRS is planning to offer a payment of $1000 to Ens that are successful in stabilizing beneficiaries in employment and getting them to 8 months of net SGA earnings. VRS can include this $1000 payment to the EN as payment for job retention services as part of their request for reimbursement for post-employment services after case closure.

Where Do ENs Find Good Candidates for Their Services? They look to those they are already serving They attend local Work Incentive Seminars –Sponsored by WIPAs –15-20 motivated beneficiaries –Local ENs invited 17

Why Are the New Regulations Better for ENs? Social Security is making it easier for ENs to participate NEW Ticket to Work is more profitable for ENs >New Phase 1 and Phase 2 Milestone payments available while beneficiary is still receiving cash benefits TTW is an additional revenue source Payments are the ENs to use as it chooses 22

Why Is It Better for Beneficiaries? More ENs participating means more choices for beneficiaries New opportunities for EN-VR partnerships means a better mix of services for beneficiaries and better coordination of services Service provider and beneficiary have more control of employment services and their flexible design 23

And Finally… More beneficiaries receiving Tickets means more opportunities for ENs and VR agencies to match services and supports with beneficiary needs 24

For More Information For those interested in becoming ENs, contact CESSI, the Program Manager for Recruitment and Outreach, at get an EN RFP at: For more information on the Ticket to Work Program: >Visit SSAs Work Site at: >Visit the Maximus web site at: or call: ENVR (3687) Any questions on the Ticket to Work Program should be ed to: 25

See for Yourself Look at the people you served last year and use SSAs EN Revenue Estimator to determine potential revenue from the Ticket to Work Program. 26

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And the Results …. 28

These are flexible funds that can be used for many purposes. Serve more people Hire additional Job Coach or Placement Specialist Create a flexible job support fund Hire a Work Incentives Planner Buy some new equipment Potential Revenue for an EN 38

Contact CESSI, the Program Manager for Recruitment and Outreach, at Participate in an application process walk-through conference call ( >documentation requirements >review forms >Q & A Receive one-on-one assistance from an Account Manager Need Help Completing the RFP? 42