DB101working with a disability in California

www.db101.org

© Copyright 2006 by World Institute on Disability, permission to copy pro bono will be granted to non profit entities with appropriate acknowledgement.

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Health and BenefitsTraining

OnWork and Disability

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Grateful Acknowledgements

Training sponsored by theCalifornia Health Incentives

Improvement Project

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Grateful Acknowledgements

Funded by the:

Medicaid Infrastructure GrantCenter for Medicare and Medicaid

Services

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Grateful Acknowledgements

East Bay Steering Committee Center for Independent Living – Berkeley

The Hawkins Legal Services CenterGlynda Dixon, Benefits Counselor

Alameda County Developmental Disabilities CouncilEast Bay Innovations

California Department of RehabilitationCalifornia Employment Development Department

The Social Security AdministrationRegional Center of the East Bay

California Health Incentives Improvement ProjectStudent Disability Resource Center, California State University, East Bay

Cal Transitions – A Workability IV Program

TrainersMaria Iriarte

Protection and Advocacy, Inc.Phone 213-427-8747Maria.Iriarte@pai-ca.org

Bryon MacDonaldWorld Institute on DisabilityPhone 510-251-4304bryon@wid.org

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Training Agenda

Morning Disability Continuum Benefit Programs

Afternoon DB101 Benefits-to-Work Calculator Workforce Inclusion Coming of Age

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Disability and Program Continuums

Continuum of needs

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The Disability Continuum

Person-centered, not program centered People get jobs, this is not a policy

problem. People with disabilities get jobs,

we have a policy problem. … do we?

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Benefits Planning

Access to: the right information in the right hands at the right time

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Benefits Planning

Using the right information: What are the correct rules for the

customer's situation? What are the ways to find the rules? How can the customer get the rules

applied to their situation?

Using the right tools and resources Brochures, training, Internet tools,

program services networks

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A Benefits Planner

Trained expert in: Health coverage and disability income

programs Housing and transportation supports Program interaction Impact of work or age on benefits

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Benefits Planning

A relationship building series of activities: Between benefits planner and

customer Between benefits planner and other

public and private program staff

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Benefits Planning and Trust

Trust is Number One between the customer, the benefits planner and any service agency staff.

Benefits Planning and TrustPrivate and confidential information is

required to

explain benefit options

enable effective benefits planning

A confidential relationship built over time.

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Benefits Planning Pays

For the Customer For the Government

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California State Partnership Initiative with Social Security Statewide multi-constituency group provided

oversight, developed program design Kern County On Track Employment Services,

San Mateo County Vocational Rehabilitation Services project sites

Allen, Shea and Associates Program Evaluator Department of Rehabilitation managed grant,

provided vocational rehabilitation services through Mental Health Cooperative Programs

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HYPOTHESIS

The employment supports of benefits planningand service coordination before, during andafter existing vocational rehabilitation andmental health treatment programs will: Increase employment earnings Increase employment success rate Decrease public mental health costs Decrease SSA benefits

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CORE SERVICES

Grant Funded Benefits counseling, planning and management Ongoing service coordination and employment

support

Existing Services Available Vocational counseling, training and education Employment preparation, job development and

placement Mental health treatment

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INCREASED EMPLOYMENT EARNINGS

$300

$400

$500

$600

$700

$800

$900

$1,000

$1,100

ISSP Comp. Group

Average Covered UI Earnings Per Person Per Quarter

$895

$1,046

$496 $585

$634

$339 At

Intake

1 yr. Post Intake

2 yrs. Post Intake

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Rate of DOR Successfully Employed Case Closures

ISSPParticipants

ComparisonGroup

INCREASED EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS RATE

72%

39%

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DECREASED PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH COSTS

ISSP Participants (1 yr Before vs 3.7 yrs after)

Comparison Group (1yr. Before vs 1 yr after DOR Closure)

% Decrease of Medi-Cal Costs Per Person Per Year

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

In-Patient

Out-Patient

Total0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

In-Patient

Out-Patient

Total

-21%

-12% -13%-13%-16%

-2%

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DECREASED SSA BENEFITS

As of June 2004: 92 participants working (43 at start of project)

17 off cash benefits 64 reduced cash benefits 11 increased SSDI amount by more than 20%

58 participants not working Benefit amount increased 12% due to COLAs during project period

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Benefits Planning Resources Social Security trained benefits planners

Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Grantees, WIPA Social Security Work Incentive Liaison, WILs Social Security Work Incentive Coordinator, AWICs Disability Program Navigators at One Stop Career

Centers Employment Networks Employer Human Resources departments Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social

Security, PABSS

Critical resources to make informed choices.

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Benefits Planning Statewide

California’s overall new strategy with federal grants and state partners

Develop a proactive disability benefits counseling and training infrastructure

Focus on education, training and technical assistance for consumers, state and local programs and employers

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Benefits PlanningTarget Audiences

Close to 3 million working age adults in CA with a disability Less than half have jobs today

650,000 students in special education The people who teach or work with

youth or adults with disabilities

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Target Audience Facts

150,000 adults with disabilities work today with no health coverage at all, who may be eligible for the 250% California Working Disabled Program…

Source:“The 250% California Working Disabled Program, Lessons Learned, Looking Ahead” The Lewin Group

California HealthCare Foundation

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Times for Benefits Planning

When: planning employment new employment starts changing jobs or getting a raise using several benefit programs to

support or return to employment.

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Benefits Planning Infrastructure CA Jobs for All and Workability Programs Department of Rehabilitation Supported Employment staff Employer Human Resources Community Based Organizations Staffing agencies Ticket Program Employment Networks Program eligibility workers, hospital social

workers, case managers and family members

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Benefits Planning InfrastructureToday’s training goal, learn to: Gain an awareness level knowledge

and understanding that people with disabilities can use public and private programs and work

Collaborate with benefits planners, and

Increase ability to make timely and appropriate referrals

Review of Benefit Programs