The NEW Ticket To WorkNew Program, New Opportunities

Sallie Rhodes & Tom GlossTicket to Work Specialists

CESSI A Di i i f A i R M tCESSI, A Division of Axiom Resource ManagementProgram Manager for Recruitment & Outreach

Jul-08

What is the Ticket to Work Program?

• A voluntary employment program• Offers beneficiaries with disabilities receiving

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) increasedSupplemental Security Income (SSI) increased choices in obtaining services & supports to engage in work & achieve their employment g g p ygoals

• Ultimate goal: Reduce reliance on Social S it di bilit b fit i lfSecurity disability benefits, increase self-sufficiency, and improve the quality of life for beneficiariesbeneficiaries

Key Features of Interest to BeneficiariesInterest to Beneficiaries

• The Ticket Program is voluntary and free to the beneficiaryfree to the beneficiary

• Using a Ticket and making timely progress towards a beneficiary’s employment goals can postpone regularly scheduled medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs)y ( )

• Medicare & Medicaid can continue• If the beneficiary stops working, there is

an expedited reinstatement to benefits

About Employment Networks

• A beneficiary and an Employment Network (EN) agree on services/supports to be provided and develop anon services/supports to be provided and develop an Individual Work Plan (IWP)

• SSA pays the EN based upon the beneficiary attaining specific milestones and outcomes related to selfspecific milestones and outcomes related to self-supporting employment (NOT a fee for service)

• ENs can be private (for profit & non-profit) organizations, t i l d th igovernment agencies, employers and other service

providers that offer education, job training and employment services

• A single entity, a partnership, or a coalition of providers functioning as a single EN

Employment Networks Can Provide

• Services and supports to assist the beneficiary in entering the workforce and progressing towards self-sufficiency

C li & G id– Counseling & Guidance– Education and Training

Job Placement– Job Placement – Job Coaching– Work Adjustment CounselingWork Adjustment Counseling– Job Retention and Ongoing Support Services– Other supports and services

How the Ticket Works

EN & Ticket Holder ConnectHolder Connect

EN & Ticket Holder Negotiate a Plan (IWP)Negotiate a Plan (IWP)

Ticket Holder Assigns TicketAssigns Ticket

Ticket Holder G t W k

EN Submits Payment

EN Provides i t i t Goes to Work

& EN Collects Evidence of

Earnings

Payment Request to Maximus & Gets Paid

services to assist beneficiary in

attaining employment g

(30 days +/-)p y

EN Payment System

• ENs must choose either:• ENs must choose either:– Outcome Payment System – SSA pays EN

when beneficiary enters zero benefit status;when beneficiary enters zero benefit status; or

– Outcome-Milestone Payment System – SSAOutcome Milestone Payment System SSA pays ENs for Milestones and Outcomes beneficiary achieves in moving towards self-supporting employment

EN Payment System (continued)( )

• Initial payment system election is made when EN signs an agreement with SSA

• Once a calendar year, an EN can change its elected payment system

• ENs can split payments

EN Payments

• As of May 30, 2008:As of May 30, 2008:– 38,401 payments to 415 ENs– Over $13 million paid to ENsOver $13 million paid to ENs– Almost 4,100 beneficiaries working

• The New Ticket Program should• The New Ticket Program should increase these numbers significantly

SSA is Responding

SSA is ListeningSSA is Listening.SSA is Learning.g

SSA is Responding.SSA has changed its programs and howSSA has changed its programs and how

it does business to more effectively provide opportunities for beneficiariesprovide opportunities for beneficiaries

with disabilities who want to work.

SSA Listened

• Beneficiaries & families• Advocates• State VR agencies, ENs, and other providersg• Employers and other partners• Formal evaluation

What Has SSA Learned?

• Mix of benefit payments & earningsMix of benefit payments & earnings• Self-sufficiency is an incremental, multi-step

processp• Part-time work is a good start• Ongoing supports may be necessary• Community partnerships work

SSA Responded

• Congress told SSA to continually monitor the program and make changes as needed

• Final Regulation published May 20, 2008• New Ticket Program goes into effect July 21,

2008

Changes in the Final Regulation

• Tickets to all disability beneficiaries, ages 18 through 64T t l t ti l EN t f SSI d SSDI• Total potential EN payments for SSI and SSDI beneficiaries are almost the same and now there is less difference between Outcome-only and Outcome-ymilestone payment systems:– Under the Outcome Payment System

SSDI $657/ f t 36 (t t li $23 652)• SSDI = $657/mo. for up to 36 mos. (totaling $23,652)• SSI = $377/mo. for up to 60 mos. (totaling $22,620)

– Under the Outcome-Milestone Payment Systemy y• SSDI = All Milestone & Outcome payments total $21,299• SSI = All Milestone & Outcome payments total $20,542

Improvements to Outcome-Milestone Payment SystemMilestone Payment System

Outcome payments have significantly increased!Outcome payments have significantly increased!• Total amount of potential outcome payments

increased from 40% to 67% of respective ppayment calculation base (PCB)

• EN payments for dually eligible beneficiaries id t hi h t (PCB f SSDI)paid at higher rate (PCB for SSDI)

Improvements to Outcome-Milestone Payment System

EN il t li ft d t

Milestone Payment System

• ENs earn milestones earlier, more often, and at a higher rate

• Some payments based on part time work• Some payments based on part-time work• Milestone payments based on gross earnings

encourage use of work incentivesencourage use of work incentives

New Phase 1Milestone Payments

Type Earnings SSDI SSI

2008 Rates

Type Earnings SSDI SSIPhase 1 Milestone 1 $335/mo for 1 month $1,177 $1,177Milestone 2 $670/mo for 3 months

(cumulative)$1,177 $1,177

Milestone 3 $670/mo for 6 months $1,177 $1,177$(cumulative)

$ , $ ,

Milestone 4 $670/mo for 9 months (cumulative)

$1,177 $1,177

Total Potential Phase I Milestone Payments

$4,708 $4,708

Payments

New Phase 2 Milestone Payments

2008 Rates

Type Earnings SSDI SSIPhase 2 Gross > SGA

($940/non-blind; $353/mo. (up $203/mo. ($940/non blind; $1,570 for blind) to 11 mos.) (up to 18 mos.)

Total Phase 2 $ $Total Phase 2 Payments $3,883 $3,654

Total Potential Ticket Payments Phases 1 and 2

$8,591 $8,362

Outcome Payments Under Outcome-Milestone Payment Systemy y

O tcome pa mentsOutcome payments • Beneficiary’s NET earning > SGA level and

beneficiary in a $0 cash benefit statusbeneficiary in a $0 cash benefit status– SSDI = Up to 36 payments of $353 (totaling $12,708) – SSI = Up to 60 payments of $203 (totaling $12 180)SSI Up to 60 payments of $203 (totaling $12,180)

(2008 rates)(2008 rates)

Outcome Payments Under Outcome-Milestone Payment Systemy y

2008 Rates

Type Earnings SSDI SSIOutcome Phase Net > SGA

($940/non-blind; $ AND 0

$353/mo. for 36 months

$203/mo. for 60 months

$1,570/blind) AND 0 cash benefit

Total Outcome Phase Payments $12,708 $12,180

Total Potential Ticket Payments $21,299 $20,542

See for Yourself!

Look at the people you served last year d SSA’ EN R E ti t tand use SSA’s EN Revenue Estimator to

determine potential revenue from the Ticket to Work Program.Ticket to Work Program.

http://www cessi net/en estimator/http://www.cessi.net/en_estimator/

Important Reminder

Actual EN payments depend on a n mber of ariables and ma benumber of variables and may be different for each beneficiary.y

Recent Work Rule

• Work at or above Trial Work level ($670 in 2008) within 18 months “prior to Ticket assignment”within 18 months prior to Ticket assignment can impact EN’s access to Phase 1 Milestones

Beneficiary CD mailed to ENs includes recent work– Beneficiary CD mailed to ENs includes recent work history

– Maximus is developing a work sheet for ENs to use to p gexplore prior work history

– Rule does not apply to tickets assigned prior to July 21 200821, 2008

New Opportunities for EN-VR Partnerships

• VR Cost Reimbursement payments and EN Milestone d O t t b th ibl fand Outcome payments both possible for same

beneficiary– Based on provision of sequential, not concurrent, services– After VR closes the case, the beneficiary may assign his/her Ticket to an

EN to receive long-term supports and services necessary to maintain employment

• Although the Ticket is technically not assigned to VR, new “in-use SVR” status extends Continuing Disability Review (CDR) protection to beneficiary while receiving VR(CDR) protection to beneficiary while receiving VR services under Cost Reimbursement– Ticket is not available during this period to be assigned to another

ENEN

EN-VR Partnerships(continued)(continued)

• Beneficiary can assign Ticket to an EN after VR y gcase closure

– Phase 1 Milestones not available to EN if VR closedPhase 1 Milestones not available to EN if VR closed case with beneficiary employed

SSA pays EN for Milestones & Outcomes achieved– SSA pays EN for Milestones & Outcomes achieved after Ticket assignment (Phase 2 Milestones and Outcome)

Entities Automatically Qualified to Be ENs

Entities deemed automatically qualified to be y qENs include:

• Workforce Investment Boards• One-Stop Career Centersp• Native American VR programs

Who Wants to Work?

• There are roughly 11 8 million people getting disability• There are roughly 11.8 million people getting disability benefits from SSA– Approximately 6.4 million on SSDI– Approximately 3.9 million on SSIpp y– Approximately 1.4 million duel eligibles

• SSA determined 92% of beneficiaries aged 18-39 with recent work also have work goals

• With all adult beneficiaries ages 18 through 64 now li ibl t ti i t th i l t f k t deligible to participate, there is lots of work to go around.

Connecting with Beneficiaries

• SSA is doing increased outreach and education to beneficiaries—WISE– Brings together those who want to work with local

ENs and other community resourcesENs and other community resources– More than 100 WISE this year– More planned for next yearMore planned for next year

• CD with contact information for beneficiaries is provided to approved ENsp pp– Can be used to outreach to beneficiaries and market

EN services

Why Become an EN?

• Increase your bottom liney• Gain access to beneficiaries who want to

workwork• Ticket payments are yours to use as you

wishwish• Generous funding stream—over $20,000

per s ccessf l beneficiarper successful beneficiary

Interested in Becoming an EN?

Get the EN RFP atGet the EN RFP athttp://www.ssa.gov/work/enrfp.html

Receive Timely And Responsive SupportResponsive Support

• Streamlined EN application, with personalized pp psupport available to help you complete it.

• SSA can track your claim through to payment• SSA can track your claim through to payment and resolve payment problems.

• SSA has decreased the average payment processing time.

• Training is available on how to make the program work for you.y

Need Help Completing the RFP?

• Contact CESSI, the Program Manager for Recruitment and Outreach at 1-877-743-8237Recruitment and Outreach, at 1 877 743 8237

• Participate in one of CESSI’s bi-weekly teleconferences to walk-through the EN Request forteleconferences to walk-through the EN Request for Proposals (RFP)(E-Mail application@cessi.net)

documentation requirements– documentation requirements– review forms– Q & A

• Receive one-on-one assistance from an Account Manager

New RFP Effective July 21, 2008

• Must use the NEW RFP application• Must use the NEW RFP application package!If i l d l d d th ld• If you previously downloaded the old RFP, do not submit that!

• Download the new RFP• Contact CESSI for help 1-877-743-8237p

Help Continues After Approval as EN

• SSA EN Help Desk (866) 584-5180SSA EN Help Desk (866) 584 5180 • MAXIMUS (866) 968-7842

Website www yourtickettowork com– Website – www.yourtickettowork.com– Ticket Training available

• Ticket Training Tuesdays - FREE CD• Ticket Training Tuesdays - FREE CD• Online, self-paced Training

– Enhanced online directory listingy g– Beneficiary List– Online Newsletter – Inside Ticket

What Does All This Mean?

• NEW Ticket to Work is more profitable for ENs > Additional revenue source> Additional revenue source> Flexible funds

• More ENs participating means more choices for beneficiaries

• Opportunities for EN-VR partnerships will expand scope of services available to beneficiaries and improve coordination of services

• Service provider and beneficiary have more control of employment services and their flexible designy g

For More Information

• To become an EN, contact CESSI at: 1-877-743-8237 (v/tdd)

• Visit Social Security’s Work Site at: www.socialsecurity.gov/work

• Visit the Ticket to Work Web Site at: www.yourtickettowork.com

• Submit questions about the NEW Ticket to Work Program to: TicketProgram@ssa.gov