TICKET 301: Part I Employment Network Operations

2011 Training Series

Hosted/Facilitated by: DJ Diamond

Presented by Kevin Nickerson

NDI Technical Assistance Team Members

DEI Projects at the state level and/or local level participating LWIBs are required to become Employment Networks under Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work Program.

Training and Technical Assistance to DEI Projects in attaining Employment Network status and implementing effective EN operations is provided under U.S. DOLETA contract with NDI Consulting, Inc. and the National Disability Institute (NDI).

Evaluation of the impact of the DEI Projects implementation and outcomes as Employment Network will be provided under U.S. DOL ODEP contract with Social Dynamics.

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Upon completion of this webinar, DEI Project staff will:

Understand the basics of Ticket to Work program, including:◦ Who the program serves◦ How ENs are paid◦ Improvements to Ticket program based on 2008 changes

Have received an overview of upcoming Ticket 301 series training

Be aware of Future Technical Assistance for ENs

Have the registration details for Ticket 301, Part II

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Ticket 301, Part I Learning ObjectivesTicket 301, Part I Learning Objectives

Why promote Ticket services in One-Stop Career Centers?

Ticket Basics Review

Overview of Ticket 301 Series Training Components

Next Steps

Partnership Plus Developing an EN Business Model Staffing & Services Marketing & Outreach Assessment of Ticket holders Ticket assignment Billing for EN services Tracking Ticket holders Resources that can assist your EN

Individuals with disabilities are accessing One-Stop Career Centers for main stream employment supports

Based on a recent report entitled: “Use of One-Stops by Social Security Disability Beneficiaries in Four States Implementing Disability Program Navigator Initiatives” up to 25% of All Work-Oriented SSA Beneficiaries actively pursuing employment visited One-Stops in these states*

Ticket funding can help to support ongoing disability services in One-Stop Career Centers

The One-Stops are already providing many of the necessary services

*Produced by Mathematica, May 2010, Gina A. Livermore & Silvie Colman, link to report: www.doleta.gov/disability/pdf_docs/Final_DPN_Report_05_2010.pdf

Ticket to Work Basics

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The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act was passed in 1999 and Improvement Act was passed in 1999 and

provided several benefits to SSA Disability provided several benefits to SSA Disability beneficiaries, and ENs, including:beneficiaries, and ENs, including:

Yearly cost of living increases for Ticket Payments to ENs

Two new work incentives that were introduced:◦ Extended Medicare benefits◦ Expedited Reinstatement of Benefits

Medicaid Buy In Programs ◦ New York: Medicaid Buy-In Program for Working People with Disabilities

Work Incentive Planning and Assistance projects

Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency employment program99

Any entity (other than a Federal Department) can become a Ticket to Work ‘Employment Network’ and begin receiving payments for supporting ‘Ticket Holders’ as they work at increasing levels of wages

ENs must have the necessary experience required to work with SSA beneficiaries in providing return to work services

Social Security has determined that One-Stop Career Centers have this necessary experience in assisting SSA disability beneficiaries, therefore, they need not provide evidence of this in the RFP

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Who can become an Employment Who can become an Employment Network?Network?

◦ Ticket Holders are qualified Social Security Disability Beneficiaries ages 18 to 64, receiving Title XVI and/or Title II benefits (SSI or SSDI)

◦ Now both Medical Improvement Expected (MIE) and Medical Improvement Not Expected (MINE) groups are eligible due to changes in TtW regulations from 2008

◦ At the time of Ticket assignment, Ticket holder must be in current pay for Social Security benefits

This is a voluntary program (Providers choose to get involved, however, DEI projects have agreed to become ENs as a part of this project)

Provides additional monetary support to approved providers (Employment Networks) who assist Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining employment

TtW offers long-term funding to ensure Ticket Holders receive ongoing return to work support

Increases choice for Ticket Holders and Employment Networks allowing both to choose who they work with under the program

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Ticket to Work Basics

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Basics an EN should understandBasics an EN should understand

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 or Medicaid funding permits in many cases

Actively participating in the Ticket to Work program suspends a Ticket Holder’s medical Continuing Disability Review – as a Ticket Holder, I can return to work without fear that I will medically improve before I am gainfully employed

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Ticket to Work Basics

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Basics a Ticket Holder Should UnderstandBasics a Ticket Holder Should Understand

The goal of the Ticket to Work program continues to The goal of the Ticket to Work program continues to be….be….

Self-sufficiency.

Decrease the Ticket Holder’s dependence on their cash benefits by increasing their work effort to substantial gainful activity

level and beyond.

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Ticket to Work Basics

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2008 Improvements of Importance2008 Improvements of Importance

Ticket payments have increased and allow for payments before the Ticket Holder works at SGA level (Phase 1 Milestones)

Ticket payment structure encourages the use of available work incentives with new Phase 2 Milestone payments

Tickets are now available to all beneficiaries with disabilities, ages 18 through 64 (with a few exceptions)

Timely progress reviews are now one time per year

Partnership with Vocational Rehabilitation is more clearly defined, now called Partnership Plus

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Ticket to Work Basics

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EN & Ticket Holder ConnectEN & Ticket Holder Connect

EN & Ticket Holder discuss needs/services & Ticket Holder gets

benefits planning.

EN & Ticket Holder discuss needs/services & Ticket Holder gets

benefits planning.

IWP is sent to Maximus – once approved, Ticket is assigned to EN

(7 days +/-)

IWP is sent to Maximus – once approved, Ticket is assigned to EN

(7 days +/-)

Ticket Holder Goes to Work

& EN Collects Evidence of Earnings

Ticket Holder Goes to Work

& EN Collects Evidence of Earnings

EN continues to provides services &

supports in accordance with

Ticket Holder’s IWP

EN continues to provides services &

supports in accordance with

Ticket Holder’s IWP

EN submits Payment Request

to Maximus & receives Ticket

Payment

(30 days +/-)

EN submits Payment Request

to Maximus & receives Ticket

Payment

(30 days +/-)

EN provides agreed upon services and

supports

EN provides agreed upon services and

supports

EN & Ticket Holder Negotiate the Individual Work Plan (IWP)

EN & Ticket Holder Negotiate the Individual Work Plan (IWP)

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Ticket to Work Basics

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The Ticket Program at a GlanceThe Ticket Program at a Glance

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Milestones – paid to ENs when Ticket holders achieve earnings of $720/month for specified periods of time, assuming these payments are available *

Phase 2 Payments – require Ticket holder to be at SGA level earnings ($1,000/month for 2011), even if they are still in receipt of SSA cash benefits

Outcome Payments – require Ticket holder to be at SGA level earnings, and no longer be in receipt of SSA cash benefits (although not necessarily terminated from either SSI or SSDI)

* State VR history and previous earnings history can impact the number of Milestone payments available in each case

Questions?Questions?

Partnership Plus Developing an EN Business Model Staffing & Services Marketing & Outreach Assessment of Ticket holders Ticket assignment Billing for EN services Tracking Ticket holders Resources that can assist your EN

Based on the July, 2008 changes to the Ticket to Work program, a more clearly defined interaction between State VR programs, and ENs was developed, called Partnership Plus

What is Partnership Plus and how does that impact Ticket holders and EN operations?

How do you produce revenue as an Employment Network?

What questions should be considered in developing a model that works for a One-Stop?

Have staff been identified that will carry out necessary Employment Network administration and service delivery tasks?

What are the services your One-Stop/EN will provide Ticket holders?

How do you reach your target audience, including Ticket holders, service providers and other referral sources?

Understanding how to properly assess Ticket holders that you can effectively serve, and that will yield some measure of success based on Milestone and Outcome benchmarks, is critical to your success as an EN

How do we know which beneficiaries we should work with through the Ticket program?

Should we assign every Ticket holder we serve, or narrow down who we work with through this program?

What is an Individual Work Plan (IWP), and how do we develop one with a Ticket holder?

Once you have established a functional EN, you will be helping SSA beneficiaries in the return to work, which leads you to the next step in developing your EN, billing for the work you’ve done

How do we bill for the work we’ve done as an EN, and when do we qualify for payments?

How should we keep track of necessary data for Ticket holders we serve?

What are the resources I should be aware of that will support our efforts as an EN?

As Pilot sites more fully develop their EN operations, NDI will provide more informal “EN Team” workgroups via teleconference and/or webinar to identify promising practices and address challenges that arise in moving your EN forward

Questions can be submitted via email as they arise regarding EN operations

One-on-One phone conferences can be arranged as needed to address EN development

Questions?Questions?

This webinar will begin to lay the groundwork for your Employment Network operation and will focus in detail on: 1) Partnership Plus model between One-Stop Career Centers and Vocational Rehabilitation, 2) How payments to an EN can be impacted if Ticket holders are served by State VR programs, and 3) How Partnership Plus can provide an opportunity to work closely with your State VR programs. Additionally, this webinar will explore questions that Disability Resource Coordinators, DEI Project Staff and One-Stop Career Centers will need to address in order to establish a solid foundation for future EN operations.

Registration

Note that all NDI hosted webinars are based on Eastern Time (ET).

Thursday, April 21st (3:00pm – 4:30pm EST)

Registration: In order to register go to: https://ndi.webex.com/ndi/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=964269465

 

If you would like to review the Ticket 101 Training, youcan access the web and audio archived version of thistraining along with the accompanying materials /resources by visiting www.dei-ideas.org and login usingyour User ID and Password and select the "Training" Tabfrom the main menu. From there, select "WebinarTraining Archives"

Kevin NickersonProgram AssociateNDI Technical Assistance Teamknickerson@ndi-inc.org*For Ticket to Work Technical Assistance needs, please email questions, or

requests to schedule a call. Email requests will be reviewed through out the

week

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Contact InformationContact Information