AmericanDreamEN.org ADEN MEMBER ORIENTATION Training for new ADEN Members Estimated time: 1.5 hour

AmericanDreamEN.org Please introduce yourself! Here we are! Co-Directors American Dream Employment Network Kevin Nickerson & Mary Lynn ReVoir

AmericanDreamEN.org AGENDA 1.ADEN introduction and highlights 2.ADEN Training Plan 3.Ticket to Work Basics 4.EN Payments 5.Documentation of services 6.ADEN Website and snapshot of ADEN portal 7.Security Awareness 8.Suitability and Security Clearance Process

AmericanDreamEN.org 1. ADEN INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS AND HIGHLIGHTS

AmericanDreamEN.org SNAPSHOT An innovative solution designed to help individuals receiving SSI or SSDI benefits move forward to long-term financial stability Approved by the Social Security Ticket to Work program A network of agencies across the country providing face- to-face employment services and supports to everyone who participates

AmericanDreamEN.org NATIONAL DISABILITY INSTITUTE (NDI) NDI is a national leader with a mission to improve the economic future for American’s with disabilities. NDI Core Competencies Tax PreparationFinancial EducationAsset Development EmploymentPublic Benefits PlanningPublic Policy NDI has various other services addressing better economic future: Engagement with Public Policy development Create tools and resources related to Financial Wellness Provides training and technical assistance for various national and local projects (US DOL Disability Employment Initiative, US DOL LEAD Center) Development of Real Economic Impact (REI) Network which you are invited to join ADEN is a division of National Disability Institute

AmericanDreamEN.org ADEN KEY PLAYERS ADEN is about creating a better economic future for Americans with disabilities ADEN is about excellence and achieving outcomes

AmericanDreamEN.org ADEN CORE PHILOSOPHY ADEN sparks opportunity for all Americans to build and work in a career of their choice. ADEN values the contributions Americans with disabilities can bring to the workforce and recognizes the strength a business draws from a diverse workforce. ADEN brings hope to individuals receiving Social Security disability benefits by sharing our knowledge and information to elevate your skills and talents.

AmericanDreamEN.org ADEN CORE SERVICES # 1 AND #2 Career Counseling (required by Ticket program) Individuals interests, talents, skills Predictions of job security Promote well-being Job Search Supports (required by Ticket program) Improving job skills Develop skills for positive working relationships with co-workers and supervisors Crafting quality resumes, interview answers, employment application forms Examine job shadows and attendance at job fairs Building a network of support to locate and maintain a job

AmericanDreamEN.org ADEN CORE SERVICES #3 AND #4 Social Security Work Incentives Guidance SSA Work Incentives requires specialized training ADEN will train all Members on SSA Work Incentives in order to support Participants Critical to success of moving on to financial wellness Financial Wellness Financial health assessment and financial planning resources to help build a solid foundation for your future Financial planning connects Participant goals with work effort

AmericanDreamEN.org ADEN CORE SERVICES #5 AND #6 Connection to Employers Marry the demand (Employers) to the supply (Participants) Members and ADEN administration act as bridge Ongoing recruitment of ADEN Partners Long-term Support on the Job (required by Ticket program) Everyone can use a job coach on occasion Changes on the job are guaranteed Periodic contact between Member and Participant while employed proves to sustain employment

AmericanDreamEN.org 2. ADEN TRAINING PLAN

AmericanDreamEN.org ADEN TRAINING PLAN 1. Orientation - all new Members must complete 2. Core Services training - all new Members must complete Core Services A, B, C – attend them in sequential order  Note Core B is Beneficiary Outreach Event Upon completion receive “ADEN EN Training Completion” certificate 3. Advanced Training: Huddle and Advanced Training Held during monthly webinar called the ADEN Huddle All Members are required to attend at least one per calendar quarter 4. Ongoing available technical assistance as needed

AmericanDreamEN.org MEMBER TRAINING CHECKLIST You are responsible to track your ADEN training using Member Training Checklist Checklist posted in ADEN Resources Training notices: Under Training on ADEN website notification posting monthly training calendars Training conducted via webinar venue; need computer with internet access to participate

AmericanDreamEN.org 3. TICKET TO WORK BASICS

AmericanDreamEN.org TICKET TO WORK AND WORK INCENTIVES IMPROVEMENT ACT Passed by congress in 1999 Medicaid Buy-In Programs Work Incentive Planning and Assistance projects Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency employment program Ticket supports Ticket Holders in becoming self-sufficient through employment Ticket Holders are qualified Social Security Disability Beneficiaries ages 18 to 64, receiving Title XVI and/or Title II benefits (SSI or SSDI)

AmericanDreamEN.org EN ACRONYMS CDRContinuing Disability Review ENEmployment Network IWPIndividual Work Plan TPMTicket Program Manager PIIPersonal Identifiable Information SGASubstantial Gainful Activity SSASocial Security Administration SSDISocial Security Disability Insurance SSISupplemental Security Income TPRTimely Progress Review TWLTrial Work Level VR(state) Vocational Rehabilitation EN Acronyms are posted in ADEN Resources.

AmericanDreamEN.org GOALS OF TICKET PROGRAM Self-Sufficiency: Decrease the Ticket Holder’s dependence on their cash benefits by increasing their earnings to a substantial level of employment and ultimately, to assist Ticket Holder in achieving self-sufficiency Choice: Employment Networks (ENs) offer another level of choice to Social Security beneficiaries Increased need for exemplary customer service in providing rehabilitation services is important, especially as more EN providers become available

AmericanDreamEN.org FROM THE BENEFICIARY'S PERSPECTIVE This is a voluntary program - As a Ticket Holder, I do not have to participate. Provides Ticket Holders with CHOICE – As a Ticket Holder, I decide who I assign my Ticket to based upon who I feel can best provide the services I need. Ensures continued employment support – As a Ticket Holder, I know you will continue to provide me support beyond the time that Vocational Rehabilitation permits in some cases. Actively participating in the Ticket program suspends a Ticket Holder’s medical Continuing Disability Review – As a Ticket Holder, I can avoid the stress of a continuing disability review as long as I making progress towards self- sufficiency

AmericanDreamEN.org WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF TICKET PROGRAM? Beneficiary reviews options and choses EN (or VR) Beneficiary and EN together develop IWP Ticket is assigned and services begin Beneficiary begins earning wages that qualify for EN Payment EN receives payment from SSA

AmericanDreamEN.org STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION (VR) When a beneficiary is served by VR, a case is opened, and his/her Ticket is considered “in USE” with VR and cannot be assigned to EN Typically VR closes the case after 90 days of employment After the VR case is closed, the individual can (and should) assign his/her Ticket with an EN It is not required for individual to get VR services; beneficiary have choice to assign Ticket to EN and never use VR or use both. Payments made to VR and EN are discussed later in this training

AmericanDreamEN.org 4. EN PAYMENTS

AmericanDreamEN.org TICKET REVENUE An EN receives payments from SSA, when beneficiary achieves eligible payment thresholds ADEN shares the Ticket Revenue with Members serving the respective Participant who met eligible payment Ticket revenue Does not conflict with Medicaid funded services. SSA and CMS has written statement if needed. Is not program income for the public workforce system. Is flexible; there are no restrictions

AmericanDreamEN.org 2015 PAYMENT AT GLANCE 24

AmericanDreamEN.org EN PAYMENT STRUCTURE Phase I (4 Milestones) Job Placement SSA recognizes some Beneficiaries will begin with part-time work Threshold is based on current year Trial Work level Same payment amount regardless of benefit type Phase II (Milestones) Threshold is working at current year Substantial Gainful Activity level Number of Milestone payments vary based on benefit type Beneficiary may still be in receipt of cash benefits Outcomes Threshold is “$0 cash benefit” Number of Outcome payments vary based on benefit type 25

AmericanDreamEN.org EVENTS THAT IMPACT PAYMENTS 26 Recent Work Activity Work at or above applicable Trial Work Level earnings ($780 in 2015) within 18 months “prior to Ticket assignment” may impact some or all of Phase I payments 18-month Prior Earnings Tool demonstrates how recent work history affects payments: Successful case closure with State VR NO Phase I payments are available to the EN Cost Reimbursement for VR Agencies is discussed in later training Individual Ticket payment history Payments are related to the Beneficiary regardless of assigned EN 26

AmericanDreamEN.org EVALUATING INTENT Per SSA direction, an EN should NOT assign a Ticket if the Beneficiary has no intention of, or ability to, work at a level that would eventually allow them to successfully leave the benefits rolls This is referred to as “parking” It is common for a Beneficiary to enter the workforce by working part-time and move to full-time once they build up their stamina Can qualify an EN for initial Phase 1 Milestone payments Remember, the goal is for Beneficiaries to continue making progress towards self-supporting employment 27

AmericanDreamEN.org EPAY 1. Beneficiaries must report wages “Wage Reporting Fact Sheet for SSA Disability Beneficiaries” from NDI under Resources SSI Wage Reporting tool from SSA 2.ePay relies on wages record in national wage records SSA examines wage records and identifies possible earnings that meet or exceed the two EN payment thresholds Wage records are quarterly records Target is 3 x TWL or SGA Look back also at the previous 8 quarters 3. SSA Ticket Payment team investigates and verifies from the local SSA field office 28

AmericanDreamEN.org PROCESS OF PAYMENTS ADEN Members receive 80% / ADEN Administration receive 20% 29 SSA authorizes payments for qualifying wages and notifies U.S. Department of Treasury U.S. Treasury releases payment as deposit to EN bank account EN is notified of payment (amount, type, and SSN) Monthly, ADEN Administration records receipt of payments to assigned ADEN Member Quarterly, ADEN Administration will authorize payments to ADEN Member NDI will electronically deposit EN Payment in respective Member bank account ADEN Members will have report of EN Payments in the ADEN Portal 29

AmericanDreamEN.org EXAMPLE OF THE TIMING OF EN PAYMENTS Beneficiary earns $1,300 in month of October 2014 Employers have up to 30 days after the quarter to report earnings, which would be January 2015 Earliest SSA can find this wage record is February 2015 Payments team verifies wages during Feb-Mar 2015 U.S. Treasury informed to release payment during March/April 2015 (5-6 months after the qualifying wage earned) 30

AmericanDreamEN.org OVERPAYMENTS AND MISSED PAYMENTS Overpayments can occur SSA notifies EN and provides repayment options If ADEN Member receives overpayment, steps to recoup the payment from ADEN Member will be in accordance with terms noted on the PSA Possible missed payments If ADEN Member feels payments are not being captured by ePay, they are responsible for notifying ADEN Administration ADEN Administration may pursue manual payment requests under these circumstances Circumstances wage records do not capture Self-employment Some federal agencies, i.e., Department of Defense 31

AmericanDreamEN.org WHAT ARE RECONCILIATION PAYMENTS Wages earned by Participants may quickly advance to SGA level before all of the Milestone payments have been collected, which transitions EN to Outcome payments If this occurs, it is possible to recoup all Milestones that have not yet been paid to ADEN SSA will examine any Milestone payments which are still available, and provide them in one payment to ADEN, if/when the Participant achieves the 12 th Outcome This sum payment is referred to as the Reconciliation Payment 80 percent of the Payment will be distributed to the respective Member 32

AmericanDreamEN.org 5. EVIDENCE OF ADEN SERVICES

AmericanDreamEN.org DOCUMENTING SERVICES SSA requires EN to document services quarterly, at a minimum. SSA does not have prescribed documentation styles or content. ADEN requires Members to document services per Professional Services Agreement (PSA) Services vary depending on job development (searching) or job placement (starting new job) or ongoing employment (long-term employment supports). Job Development = more intensive service / more frequent contact / more documentation. Minimum requirement is monthly contact, but likely more often – please document notes monthly. Job Placement = naturally intense when new job / recommended monthly contact – please document notes monthly. Long-term Employment Supports = Minimum requirement is quarterly – document accordingly. 34

AmericanDreamEN.org ADEN MEMBER SUPPORT OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS Evidence: Types and Storage Evidence will be uploaded and stored in secured ADEN portal Case Notes, IWP, BPQY, etc. Employment information (name employer, start date, hourly rate, etc.) Evidence is necessary when SSA requests information SSA random audits Annual Performance Outcomes Reporting and Timely Progress Reviews 35

AmericanDreamEN.org 6. ADEN WEBSITE

AmericanDreamEN.org THE ADEN SITE (WEBSITE AND PORTAL) ADEN Website Receive invitation to log into the American Dream EN website using you newly created account. You are given temporary password / need to reset password to one of your choice. Only have access to trainings and resources. A user manual will be sent to you after this training. ADEN Portal Same log in to access ADEN portal. Not permitted to make any entries until you have Security Clearance and complete portal training, which is at end of Core Training.

AmericanDreamEN.org 7. SECURITY AWARENESS

AmericanDreamEN.org PROTECTION OF PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION Personal Identifiable Information (PII) SSA required training for all personnel who are actively engaged in the handling and storage of PII PII is defined as any piece of information that can identify a person PII includes Social Security Number, date of birth, name and address, etc. In accordance with the ADEN Professional Services Agreement, any hard copy record with PII used for ADEN business operations must be kept in a secure, locked file cabinet or electronically in the secured ADEN portal. This applies to both the ADEN Member and ADEN Administration. All written communication that includes PII exchanged between ADEN Member and ADEN Administration will be conducted through the secured ADEN portal, unless directed to use fax or phone.

AmericanDreamEN.org ADDITIONAL SECURITY MEASURES All ADEN Members Point of Contact will have access to the secured ADEN portal. The ADEN Co-Directors are authorized by SSA for additional security to gain access to the Ticket portal. Only ADEN Administration will communicate about ADEN contractual business with federal SSA office ADEN Members will have contact with local SSA field offices for benefits and work incentive advisement purposes

AmericanDreamEN.org REQUIRED SECURITY AWARENESS TRAINING SSA requires all EN staff to receive training provided via a form called SSA 222 Training is required for new ADEN Member Point of Contacts and every January thereafter The training covers nine points, including: Keeping information confidential and safeguarding information Agreeing not to share or disclose confidential information Direct questions to the ADEN Contracting Security Officer Kevin Nickerson

AmericanDreamEN.org CERTIFICATION OF SECURITY AWARENESS TRAINING Once you have read, understand and agree with all of the SSA Security Awareness Training requirements noted on SSA 222, the following actions are needed: ADEN Member needs to scan and the signed SSA 222 to Kevin Nickerson at ADEN Administration will complete the requirement to notify SSA Security Awareness team. ADEN Administration will file your signed certification of training.

AmericanDreamEN.org 8. SUITABILITY AND SECURITY CLEARANCE PROCESS

AmericanDreamEN.org SUITABILITY AND SECURITY CLEARANCE Suitability and Security Clearance is required for all ADEN Member Point of Contacts so information can be exchanged between SSA and ADEN and then back to ADEN Members The guide, “ADEN Members: Process to Request Suitability and Security Clearance” will assist you with this process The process has numerous steps and will take weeks to complete; however, you only need to go through this process once.

AmericanDreamEN.org SUITABILITY AND SECURITY CLEARANCE The process is an extensive background check. If your history includes an extensive poor background contact ADEN Administration before proceeding. After all the steps are complete, SSA makes a determination if you are suitable or not. Unless someone has a severe poor background, most people receive a favorable decision. We are here to help you if any problems occur during this process. Contact Kevin or Mary Lynn if you have any problems and we will address them together. You are not permitted to contact SSA unless directed by ADEN Administration.

AmericanDreamEN.org GETTING STARTED: SUITABILITY AND SECURITY CLEARANCE Refer to the ADEN Member Suitability and Security Clearance Guide Step 1: You need to provide us with the following information: Your full name, SSN, Date of Birth and City and State of Birth. This information is needed for ADEN Administration to fax a formal request to SSA to start the suitability and security clearance process.

AmericanDreamEN.org STEP 2 & 3: WAITING AND COMPLETING THE EQIP While waiting for your eQIP invitation, review the information about eQIP at ADEN Administration will receive an from SSA inviting you to complete eQIP, which we will immediately forward to you. You must login within 7 days after receipt of the . After the initial login, you will have 14 days to complete the process before the link will expire. (Do not let this link expire.) Once all questions in the eQIP form are completed and the applicant has validated, reviewed and certified the form: Print, sign and date the eQIP signature pages Make a copy of all pages Place the original pages into an envelope

AmericanDreamEN.org STEP 4: DECLARATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT OPTIONAL FORM 306 Applicant must print Declaration for Federal Employment Optional Form 306. You are not employed by the federal government, but this standard form is used to conduct a background check. The website link to the form is on the guide. Once the form is completed: Sign the form Make a copy of all papers Place the originals into the SSA envelope with the eQIP papers

AmericanDreamEN.org STEP 5: FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT AUTHORIZATION FORM Applicant must print Fair Credit Reporting Act Authorization Form The website link to the form is on the guide Once the form is completed: Sign the form Make a copy of all papers Place the originals into the envelope with the eQIP papers and Declaration for Federal Employment

AmericanDreamEN.org STEP 6: FINGERPRINT CHARTS ADEN Director will mail you Field Division-258 charts. Only 2 will be sent to SSA; the others are a spare if needed You can only get these fingerprint charts from ADEN and can only use these specific charts. Schedule an appointment with your local law enforcement office to get your fingerprints marked on the charts. Note: There might be a minimal fee for this service, which is the responsibility of the ADEN Member to pay. Place both of the 2 charts in the envelope.

AmericanDreamEN.org STEP 7: SUBMISSION OF ALL DOCUMENTS TO SSA Collect all of the forms Print out and complete the eQIP Paperwork Cover Sheet provided by ADEN Check that all of the required information is completed Place all originals into the envelope, including the eQIP Paperwork Cover Sheet Check you have copies all materials except for the fingerprint charts

AmericanDreamEN.org MAIL THE PACKET Address the envelope to: Social Security Administration Attention: CPSPM Suitability Program Officer 6401 Security Boulevard Room 1260 Dunleavy Building Baltimore, MD Mail the packet by traceable mail (i.e., FedEx, UPS or USPS Certified)

AmericanDreamEN.org STEP 8: NOTIFICATION ADEN Member will immediately ADEN Administration the date the packet was mailed to SSA. ADEN Administration will notify the SSA EN Specialist via that the eQIP Paperwork Cover Sheet and Packet was sent to SSA. Once processed by SSA, ADEN Administration will be notified via letter the results of the request. ADEN Administration will forward the letter of determination to the ADEN Member. ADEN Administration will retain a copy of the letter for EN operations, as well as the ADEN Member and you.

AmericanDreamEN.org SUMMARY 1. ADEN introduction and highlights 2. ADEN Training Plan 3. Ticket to Work Basics 4. EN Payments 5. Documentation of services 6. ADEN Website and snapshot of ADEN portal 7. Security Awareness 8. Suitability and Security Clearance Process

AmericanDreamEN.org NEXT STEPS Sign, scan and Kevin SSA 222 Start suitability and security clearance request by giving Kevin information Join the next scheduled ADEN Huddle Join upcoming Core Services training Respond to the invitation to log into ADEN website and reset your password.

AmericanDreamEN.org CONTACT US ADEN Co-Directors Mary Lynn ReVoir Kevin Nickerson