OREGON’S WORK INCENTIVES NETWORK (WIN) Dispel Myths Create Opportunities This presentation is sponsored in whole by the Oregon Competitive Employment Project. The Oregon Competitive Employment Project, which is part of the Oregon State Department of Human Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, is funded through a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CFDA #11-P /04). Consumer Workshop

Today’s Workshop  We’ll Discuss: 1. How the Work Incentive Network (WIN) works 2. How to access WIN services 3. Myths and FACTS about benefits and working

The Competitive Employment Project Mission Statement To enhance the quality of life in Oregon by achieving, maintaining and advancing the competitive and inclusive employment of persons with disabilities.

Oregon’s Work Incentive Network (WIN) WIN is a service that helps people with disabilities: 1. MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS about work and benefits 2. USE WORK INCENTIVES to achieve employment goals 3. NAVIGATE THE BENEFIT SYSTEMS when working

The WIN Model: A continuum of services 1. Interested in working, but no job goal:  General Information and Referral 2. Identified a job goal, but not working yet:  Comprehensive Intake and Work Incentive Analysis 3. Secured job:  Implementing Work Incentive and Reporting Earned Income 4. Life changes:  Ongoing support with using Work Incentive and/or wage reporting assistance

The WIN Model: A continuum of services INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SPECIALIST (The Generalist) Information and Referral Specialists (I&RS) provide:  General work incentive information and community service/vocational referrals;  Conduct a Comprehensive Intake when needed;  Connect to a Work Incentive Coordinator; and  Provide ongoing support to those working and utilizing work incentives.

The WIN Model: A continuum of services WORK INCENTIVE COORDINATOR (The Specialist) Work Incentive Coordinators (WIC) provide:  In-depth benefits and work incentive planning assistance, including a written Work Incentives Analysis;  Assistance strategizing the use of various work incentives;  Assistance utilizing work incentives; and  Ongoing support to those working and utilizing work incentives.

WIN SERVICE AREAS

Working with Planning for Work Program WIN and the Planning for Work project work together to create the best possible system for people who want help with benefits and work incentives planning.

Additional Parts of the WIN Model  A Training and Technical Assistance (T/A) Center that provides training, certification and assistance to WICs and I&RSs;  Ongoing outreach and informational training for consumers, service providers, agency staff, community partners and other stakeholders; and  An integrated outcomes research program.

ACCESSING WIN SERVICES  If you know someone who could use WIN services:  Fill out and fax the WIN Referral Form; or  Give the person a WIN brochure so he/she can call and request services; or  You can call and request services on behalf of the person.  Meet the I&RS and WIC for your area  Contact the WIN staff in your area to do onsite informational sessions for your company/agency.

Some Basic Terms You Will Need To Know  SSA: Social Security Administration  SSI: Supplemental Security Income  SSDI: Social Security Disability Insurance  WORK INCENTIVES: Both federal and state-specific programs that assist people with disabilities in return to work efforts

Today’s Workshop  Goal is NOT to make you experts in benefit program work incentives and work rules

IT TAKES A TEAM TO REMOVE THIS BARRIER You can’t do your job AND be a Work Incentive Expert..…. BUT YOU CAN: 1. Let people know there are WORK INCENTIVES that support their employment efforts; 2. Recognize MYTHS and communicate FACTS; and 3. Encourage people to connect to WIN for more individualized analysis.

THE BASICS: SSI PAYMENT AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM  SSI - Cash  Disabled by SSA definition;  Little to no assets; under $2,000 for an individual, $3000 for a couple;  Little to no income; and  Benefit Amount in 2008 is $637, $956 for a couple, reduced by other income.  SSI – Health Care  Medicaid.

9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #1: I will lose my SSI if I go to work FACT #1: Work Incentives let you keep some of the SSI cash benefit when you work!  Basic Deductions: SSI reduced $1 for every $2 after first $65/$85  Additional Deductions let you keep more: IRWE, BWE, SEIE, PASS

9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #2: If wages cause SSI cash benefit to go to $0, there’s no way to get it back FACT #2: You can stay in eligibility status even when you don’t get a cash check!  1619(b) ***Expedited Reinstatement  Needed only if benefit terminates due to earning over annual 1619b threshold

9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #3: If I go back to work I will lose my medical Fact #3: You can keep medical when you work!!  SSI/Medicaid--1619(b)  Employed Persons with Disabilities Program (EPD): Oregon’s Medicaid Buy In program

THE BASICS: SSDI PAYMENT AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM  SSDI – Cash Benefit:  Be disabled by SSA definition: and  Be “insured” or draw off “insured” worker who is disabled, retired, deceased. Amount varies based on work history. No asset test.  SSDI – Health Care:  Medicare (after 24 month waiting period).

9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #4: I will lose my SSDI if I go to work FACT #4: Work Incentives let you keep SSDI cash check when you work!  Trial Work Period (time limited)  Impairment Related Work Expenses  Subsidy/Unincurred Business Expense

9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #5: If wages cause SSDI cash benefit to stop, there’s no way to get it back and I lose Medicare FACT #5: You can stay in eligibility status even when you don’t get a cash check and you can keep Medicare!  Extended Period of Eligibility (time limited)  Expedited Reinstatement  Continuation of Medicare  Medicare for People with Disabilities Who Work

9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #6: There is no incentive for students to try working Fact #6: Students have a special rule that lets them keep more of their SSI when they work!  Student Earned Income Exclusion

9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #7: There aren’t any resources to help me reach self-sufficiency Fact #7: There ARE work incentives that will match funds you set aside to pay for expenses related to a vocational goal  Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS)  Individual Development Accounts (IDA)

9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #8: If I work my rent will go up Fact #8: HUD has work incentives, too!  HUD’s Earned Income Disregard  Family Self-Sufficiency Program

9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS Myth #9: Working always results in overpayments Fact #9: There are strategies to prevent overpayments  Report regularly  Get a receipt from SSA to document you reported  Get assistance from WIN for help developing a strategy and reporting earned income

AND WHAT THE HECK IS THIS THING? IT’S A “KANJI” A Kanji is a Japanese Symbol. Kanjis have become very popular in the United States, especially with youth and young adults. The WIN kanji means FLOURISH. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP YOU FLOURISH WITH WIN!

YOUR OREGON WIN STAFF INDEPENDENT LIVING RESOURCES (ILR) 2410 SE 11 th Avenue Portland, Oregon (503) (voice) (503) (TTY) (503) (fax) SAMM MCCRARY INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SPECIALIST

YOUR OREGON WIN STAFF INDEPENDENT LIVING RESOURCES (ILR) 2410 SE 11 th Avenue Portland, Oregon (503) (voice) (503) (TTY) (503) (fax) MICHAEL MALINOWSKI INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SPECIALIST

Oregon Advocacy Center Planning For Work th Ave., Suite 500 Portland, Oregon (503) (voice) (503) (TTY) (TTY)

YOUR OREGON WIN STAFF CENTRAL OREGON RESOURCES FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING (CORIL) Clay Pigeon Court Bend, Oregon (541) (voice/TTY) (541) (fax) GENE RADA WORK INCENTIVE COORDINATOR

YOUR OREGON WIN STAFF SPOKES UNLIMITED 415 Main Street Klamath Falls, Oregon (541) (voice) (541) PATRICK REED INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SPECIALIST

YOUR OREGON WIN STAFF EASTERN OREGON CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING (EOCIL) 1021 SW 5 TH Avenue Ontario, Oregon (541) (voice/TTY) (541) (fax) JENNIFER BONNELL WORK INCENTIVE COORDINATOR

YOUR OREGON WIN STAFF EASTERN OREGON CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING (EOCIL) 17 SW Frazer Pendleton, Oregon (541) (voice/fax) SARAH THOMPSON INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SPECIALIST

YOUR OREGON WIN STAFF INDEPENDENT ABILITIES CENTER (HASL) 305 NE E Street Grants Pass, Oregon (541) (voice) (541) (fax) RONNIE SHAININ WORK INCENTIVE COORDINATOR

YOUR OREGON WIN STAFF INDEPENDENT ABILITIES CENTER (HASL) 305 NE E Street Grants Pass, Oregon (541) (voice) (541) (fax) NELSON FERGUSON INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SPECIALIST

YOUR OREGON WIN STAFF LANE INDEPENDENT LIVING ALLIANCE, INC. (LILA) 605 Cottage Street NE Salem, OR (503) (voice) CAROL SIMILA WORK INCENTIVE COORDINATOR

YOUR OREGON WIN STAFF LANE INDEPENDENT LIVING ALLIANCE, INC. (LILA) 99 W. 10 th Avenue, Suite 117 Eugene, Oregon (541) (voice) (541) (TTY) (541) (fax) EMMA LEVERT INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SPECIALIST

QUESTIONS? CALL THE WIN STAFF IN YOUR AREA! For more information on the Competitive Employment Project: