Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Disability Program Navigator Audio Conferences Sponsored by: The Department of Labor and the Social Security Administration, in cooperation with the Law, Health Policy, and Disability Center of the University of Iowa's College of Law Session VII – July 15, 2004 Streetwise Employment Tools that Work Sponsored by: The Department of Labor and the Social Security Administration, in cooperation with the Law, Health Policy, and Disability Center of the University of Iowa's College of Law Presented by: David Hammis, Senior Partner Griffin - Hammis Associates, LLC 1

Streetwise Employment Tools that Work I. Overview: Incorporating SSA, WIA, & VR resources for wage & self employment II. Example: WIA supported small business & blending resources available through Medicaid & Social Security III. Strategies: Using work incentives to develop self employment options 2

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work I. Overview Premise: Certainly not all, yet many individuals with disabilities receive some type of government benefits or support, such as: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) & Medicare Supplemental Security Income (SSI) & Medicaid Veterans & VA Medical Coverage Housing &/or Energy Assistance, &/or Food Stamps Vocational Rehabilitation Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) 3

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work I. Overview Premise: Many individuals with disabilities receiving government benefits make decisions to-work or not-to- work based on the effect of earnings on benefits Deciding to work or not to work often can be based on perceived, feared, or known impacts on benefits Some benefits programs mandate work &/or mandate work search or work related training activities at some point to receive services or benefits Streetwise employment tools are the tools that address and effectively solve for each person’s benefits concerns and fears. 4

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work I. Overview Premise: Adults Work! The issue is not if someone can or will work – it’s simply “Will you work for money?” Adults work all day long via home-work, school-work, free- work, paid work, self-employment-work Home-work: Brushing teeth, laundry, cooking, getting dressed School-work: Reading newspapers, watching educational TV Free-work: Volunteer work, assisting neighbors or friends Paid-work: Wage jobs, working for someone else Self-employment-work: Mowing lawns, baby-sitting, craft sales 5

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work I. Overview Why would people with disabilities not want to work for money? Possible Reasons: Fears of losing government healthcare benefits Fears of losing monthly cash benefits Social isolation imposed in segregated work settings Social prejudice fears & demeaning expert expectations Complex systems policies and regulations Presumption of “inability to work” by benefits systems 6

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work I. Overview Incorporating VR, WIA & SSA Resources Effective Streetwise Resources: VR: Direct Employment & Self-Employment Purchases WIA: Facilitation of Accurate Information and Co- ordination of information, local resources, counseling, and Individual Training Account (ITA) funding SSA - Social Security Administration: Accurate Information and support to understand benefits fears and concerns: Ticket To Work and Employment Networks Benefits Planning Assistance & Outreach (BPAO) Local Resources Plans for Achieving Self Support – Direct Cash Accounts 7

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work I. Overview: Section I: Overview Q & A (or a short 10 minute break ) 8

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work II. Example: From: “Creating a Fully Accessible & Truly Welcoming One-Stop System Project” Funded by a Workforce Incentive Grant by the ETA, U.S. DOL Worksystems, Inc. & the Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) “Building Capacity to assist customers with disabilities to become self employed” is one component of the project Additional Support was “braided” from: Oregon VR, The Seattle SSA PASS Cadre, Tillamook County Small Business Development Center, Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC, local Tillamook Medicaid, PCA, Food Stamps, Section 8, and SSA Field Office staff 9

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work II. Example: Brad’s Story: Rebuilding his life – by Tina Weeks 10

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work II. Example: Brad: $1,500 per month SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) Monthly Check & Medicare Issue: Medicare does not pay long term support Solution Prior to Benefits Analysis & Subsequent SSA Work Incentives Application: Medicaid “Spend Down” billed Brad about $950 per month to cause him to “spend down” his monthly SSDI income to get to the SSI (Supplemental Security Income) 2003 Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) of $552 to qualify for Medicaid – leaving him only $552 to live on – Medicaid does pay long term support 11

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work II. Example: Solution Proposed to Brad: Use a SSA PASS to qualify for SSI and Medicaid – and eliminate his monthly Medicaid Spend Down PASS for large SSDI checks requires projections of Net Earnings from Self Employment (NESE) over SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity) (over $810 in 2004) Brad ends up with a large $30,000 PASS for his business startup and new van & more discretionary Income to live on 12

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work II. Example: SSA PASS: $20,000 Van $10,000 Biz VR: $20,000 Van Modifications $20,000 Biz (Business Startup Equipment & Services) 13

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work II. Example: Brad’s Net Earnings = his owner’s draws Brad’s projected monthly business Net Earnings: 2003: $204 per month 2004: $843 per month 2005: $934 per month Brad ends up with a goal of not earning less than SGA in his business (versus traditional advice not to earn more than SGA) – so his SSDI check does not restart 14

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work II. Example: Brad’s Self-Employment Benefits Advantages PESS (Property Essential to Self Support) – allows for unlimited business property including unlimited liquid resources (cash in his business account) PASS is the only tool in any system that could get Brad on SSI with his large SSDI check: SSI brings with it Medicaid in Oregon and in most states, and eliminates his Medicaid Spend Down 15

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work II. Example: Section II: Example Q & A (or a short 10 minute break ) 16

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work III. Strategies: 1.) One Stops become SSA Ticket to Work Employment Network Providers: Simple Application – Low Risk/High Yield Self Directed Tickets (such as: ) Ticket Outcome Payments Provide Cash Flow for One Stops 2.) Coordinate with SSA BPAO Funded local outreach staff, and VR & Medicaid, Food Stamps, Section 8 Housing 17

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work III. Strategies: 3.) One Stops send Navigator staff to SSA sponsored 5 day certification training for BPAO services Internal Staff Provide Benefits Planning Support & Employment Network Support 4.) Provide Office Space for local BPAO staff Often BPAO staff trained by SSA work out of their homes 18

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work III. Strategies: 5.) Invite BPAO staff to present at One Stop Monthly or bi-Monthly Orientation Trainings Create a benefits accessible One Stop over time by providing immediate and clear benefits information in a One Stop versus having to refer customers out the door as soon as they arrive 6.) Provide access to Benefits Planning Software on all One Stop Customer use Computers – such as (there’s more): Employment Support Institute at VCU - Work World Software (free) at SSIManager (web based) – University of Missouri RCEP7: 19

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work III. Strategies: 7.) Small Business Development Center Staff: Negotiate with VR and SBDC’s to provide clear information and immediate access in the One Stop – on computers, policies, office space if possible, orientation meetings, etc... Self Employment Support Options require a series focus and intent to create the initial information and welcoming attitudes required 8.) Meet with local PHA’s (Public Housing Authorities), Medicaid, VR, SSA staff, staff and invite and share similar approaches as outlined in 1-6 for BPAO staff 20

Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Streetwise Employment Tools that Work III. Strategies: Section III: Strategies Q & A: 10 Minutes Evaluations & Adjourn: Thank You!!!!!!!!!! Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC On-line Evaluation at: 21