1. A Guide to Working Towards Employment
11/14/2018 5:31 AM
In the Works
A Guide to Working Towards Employment
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2. What do you want to be when you grow up?

3. Let’s Make it Happen! Texas Employment First Policy
Part One: Employment Services
What state agencies do
Where to go and what to ask for
Part Two: Benefits and Medicaid
SSDI and SSI
Medicaid
Part Three: Planning Ahead
Special Needs Trusts
ABLE Accounts
3 Take-Aways

4. Employment First Policy
Texas law: Employment must be the first option and goal of every Texan with a disability, and the agencies who support them.

5. Part One Employment Services

6. State Agencies Working With You
State agencies must help you with your employment goals
If you have a waiver (HCS or CLASS)… Employment must be on your individual plan of care
They must help you identify employers
conduct training
and identify your skills

7. State Agencies Working With You
State agencies must help you with your employment goals
Employment Assistance helps with:
Resume writing Finding jobs Developing skills and interests Prepares you for interests Driving to interviews Different job experiences

8. State Agencies Working With You
Supported employment entitles you to:
On-the-job coaching Adaptations in the workplace
Transportation
Service planning meetings

9. State Agencies Working With You
Who can help you? Local authority (with waiver)

10. Getting Waivers and Services
Go to TWC
Put employment goals on your IPC
Use services
Apply for waivers
Once accepted, use services
If denied, reapply
You must go to Texas Workforce Commission before you do anything else.
If you already have waivers, talk to your case manager about employment assistance.
TWC services take 3 months to get, start using waiver services while you wait.

11. Part Two Benefits and Medicaid

12. Working with Social Security Disability
You do not immediately lose SSDI when you get a job!
You can take it with you like a suitcase.
Trial Work
Grace Period (Rolling)
Extended Period of Eligibility
SGA: $1,180

13. Working with Social Security Disability
Trial Work Earn as much as you want without losing SSDI Trial is nine months long
Grace Period
Extended Period of Eligibility
Impairment Related Work Expenses

14. Working with Social Security Disability
Trial Work
Grace Period Keep SSDI for another 3 months, which can start over
Extended Period of Eligibility
Impairment Related Work Expenses

15. Working with Social Security Disability
Trial Work
Grace Period
Extended Period of Eligibility If you earn over 1,180 after the Trial Work and Grace period, you become independent of SSDI and lose Medicaid. Expedient reenrollment
Impairment Related Work Expenses
Poof!

16. Working with Supplemental Security Income
SSI is not always a suitcase. You may not be able keep SSI if you work. For every $2 you earn, you $1 from your SSI check Working is ALWAYS better; you are sure to earn more by working.
SSI
SSI and Work
$700
$500
$450
$700
$950
Poof!

17. Working with Medicaid Benefits
You do not have to lose your Medicaid if you get a job! If you are eligible for Medicaid due to disability, you can get Medicaid buy-in. If you earn $15,000-$29,999 a year 1619b work incentive If you earn $30,000+ a year buy Medicaid for $40 a month *Call TWC and ask for a Benefits Query

18. Part Three Planning Ahead

19. If You Want to Work, Plan Now
Here are a few things that may help you get ready for employment now, or down the road:
ABLE Accounts and Special Needs Trusts
One-Pagers

20. If You Want to Work, Plan Now
ABLE Accounts Save money without losing benefits Can pay education, housing, health, employment training, and more Great way to build a nest egg for being at work and coming off benefits $15,000 per year cap, and $100,000 overall cap $100,001 and benefits are suspended Special Needs Trust An individual can put earnings into a trust and keep benefits AND/OR someone can put money into a trust for an individual and the individual can keep their benefits.

21. If You Want to Work, Plan Now
ABLE Accounts
One-Pagers
Self-determination and person-centered tool
Tells providers and employers:
What’s important TO you
What’s important FOR you
What people admire about you
How people can support you
Helps others understand you and your goals

22. Key Take-Aways You can work It is better to work We are here to help!
Lauren Gerken
Public Policy Fellow

23. Let’s get to work!

24. Questions or comments?