Ticket Holder Assessment & Individual Ticket Holder Assessment & Individual Work Plan (IWP)Work Plan (IWP)

2013 Ticket/EN Series

Hosted/Facilitated by: Miranda Kennedy with the NDI Technical Assistance TeamPresented by: Kevin Nickerson and Mary Lynn ReVoir with the NDI Technical Assistance Team, and guest presenter, LaWanda Hawkins with the Operations Support Manager (OSM)

U.S. Department of Labor

Questions/CommentsQuestions/Comments

If you have a comment or question we encourage you to submit it to the host in writing via the Chat or Q&A Box to the right.

Your question will either be addressed during the training, responded to in the Chat or Q&A Box, or followed up on after the training.

Disability Employment Initiative Disability Employment Initiative (DEI)(DEI)

•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.

Learning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesUpon completion of this training webinar, DEI grantees

and participants and partners from the public

workforce system will :

• Understand Ticket Holder assessment strategies• Have a better understanding of all the elements involved in assessing

Ticket holders, including the following:• Educating staff on how to identify Ticket holders

• Evaluating Ticket holder service needs

• Understanding the connection between assessment and revenue• Know how to assign a Ticket to your Employment Network and the

available Individual Work Plan (IWP) Forms that are required• Next Steps

Ticket/EN Subject Matter ExpertTicket/EN Subject Matter Expert

Kevin NickersonE: knickerson@ndi-inc.org

P: (607) 272-7570 Ext. 136

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AgendaAgenda

• Introduction to Ticket Assessment

• Review of the Ticket Assessment Guide

• Overview of Maximus’ Operations Support Manager (OSM) Individual Work Plan (IWP)

• Overview of the Customized Workforce IWP

• Time for Q & A

Ticket Assessment StrategiesTicket Assessment Strategies

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To Assess or not to Assess…To Assess or not to Assess…the Ticket that is…the Ticket that is…

The Two Schools of Thought…

Assign all Ticket Holders who are interested in working with you and hope some will yield a payment for the EN

Assign only those Ticket Holders who you feel can benefit from your EN services, and who you think will yield a

payment under the TtW Program

Assessment: Assessment: Assigning Assigning AllAll Ticket Holders Ticket Holders

Advantages:

– No need to assess whether the Ticket holder will yield any results to the EN

– Requires less time up-front in assessing each Ticket holder

– Staff simply need to know what services are provided by the EN, & how to assign the Ticket

Disadvantages:

– Many of the Ticket holders assigned will never yield any revenue to the EN

– Much more paperwork involved in this process as many more IWP’s are developed

– Overall revenue produced is less, and placement rates will be lower, despite the increased number of staff hours required

• Using this approach, an EN simply assigns as many Ticket holders as possible that have interest in working with the EN

Refining the Number of Ticket Holders Refining the Number of Ticket Holders

Served, Individual AssessmentServed, Individual Assessment

In this process of assessment, each Ticket holder is reviewed based on the following:

– Services Needed : Do they fit our EN Business Model?– Employment Goals : Are projected earnings consistent with

required Milestones and Outcomes?– Benefits Evaluation : Is the Ticket holder ready to move forward

with gainful employment? (i.e. SGA level employment)– Skills / Education / Experience : Is this consistent with Ticket

holder employment goals, and with the current workforce need?– Projected Revenue : Will we produce revenue if we serve this

Ticket holder as an EN?– Other : Health status at intake and restrictions, apparent

motivation to return to work?

Assessment ResourcesAssessment Resources

• O*Net Online: http://www.onetonline.org/ – Compare current skills with required skills of various

occupations

• Other DOL sponsored Online resources such as Job Zone (NYS): https://jobzone.ny.gov/views/jobzone/guest.jsf

Ticket/EN Subject Matter ExpertTicket/EN Subject Matter Expert

Mary Lynn ReVoirP: (515) 975-2344

E: mlrevoir@ndi-inc.org

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A Review of the Ticket Assessment A Review of the Ticket Assessment GuideGuide

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Ticket/EN Guest ExpertTicket/EN Guest Expert

LaWanda HawkinsProgram Integrity Manager

Operations Support ManagerSocial Security Ticket to Work Program

P: (703) 336-8076

E: lawandaahawkins@maximus.com

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A Review of Individual Work Plan (IWP): A Review of Individual Work Plan (IWP): Maximus (OSM) VersionMaximus (OSM) Version

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What is an What is an Individual Work Plan (IWP)?Individual Work Plan (IWP)?

The IWP, is a written agreement between the beneficiary and the EN. It is developed in partnership with each beneficiary in a manner that affords the beneficiary the opportunity to exercise informed choice in selecting an employment goal and specific services needed to achieve that goal.

Basically, the IWP is an agreement between the two parties that lays out the actions both will take to assist the beneficiary to obtain economic financial independence through gainful employment. The IWP details the beneficiary’s vocational goals and the services and supports the EN is agreeing to provide to assist the beneficiary to achieve those goals. This document is intended to be an active and living agreement between the beneficiary and the EN.

What is the What is the Individual Work Plan (IWP)?Individual Work Plan (IWP)?

WHAT IT IS Written Agreement

Contract between Beneficiary and Employment Network (EN)

Details Goals of the Beneficiary

Details Services Provided to Meet those Goals

Intent /Use

Living Document or “roadmap” to Track

Signed by Both Parties in Partnership of Informed Choice

WHAT IT IS NOTx Application

x One Time Piece of Documentation

x Pre-Printed Goals

x Pre-Printed Services

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Request for Quotation (RFQ)?Request for Quotation (RFQ)?• RFQ - Understanding of

Policies and Procedures

• http://www.ssa.gov/work/enrfq.html (p. 15-18)

• Beneficiary and Employment Network Relationship

• Higher Standard of Documentation

• 9 Mandatory Components

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And Enhanced Approach: And Enhanced Approach: Back to the Basics Back to the Basics

GOALS: • Clarify IWP Standard• Enhance EN Performance

Expectations• Moving to Successful

Outcomes• Accountability • Business Ethics• Good Faith Practices• Protect and Maintain

Integrity 19

1: Adequate DocumentationAdequate Documentation

• Documentation of One-On-One Discussion– Date– Modality– Summary– EN’s Assessment of

Vocational Goals– How Services and

Supports Will Assist

• Statement Acknowledging Ticket Assignment

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2: Description of Employment Description of Employment GoalGoal

• Describe in detail the goal developed with beneficiary

• Goal must be clear, measurable and consistent, and Ongoing– Avoid Ambiguity

• Over arching goal- helping beneficiaries advance and obtain self-supporting employment or self-sufficiency

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Specific – Answers the question… What?

Measurable – Answers... How?

Attainable – Can the goal be achieved?

Realistic – Something the beneficiary can achieve?

Timely – Maintains Focus

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Goals should beGoals should be:

3: Description of Services and Description of Services and Supports Supports

Initial Job Acquisition and Retention Phase

• Describe Services– Career Planning– Coaching– Training

• Trial Work Level Earnings

Ongoing Support Phase• Describe Services: Likely

to change over time! – Ongoing Job Supports

– Assistance to Maintain and Advance

– Further Job Placements

– Quarterly Contact

– Employer Contact

• Substantial Gainful Activity Level Earnings

4 and and 5: Terms, Conditions and Terms, Conditions and PermissionsPermissions

4: Include a description of any terms and conditions related to the provision of the services and supports

5: Include a statement whereby the beneficiary gives permission to the EN to contact employers on the beneficiary’s behalf to verify or obtain evidence of work and earnings

6: Description of Beneficiary Description of Beneficiary Recent EarningsRecent Earnings

• Description of a Beneficiary’s Recent Earnings

• 18/6 Months

• 6 Months is the Minimum Requirement for Ticket Assignment

• Phase 1 Milestone Payments can be affected by earnings above the Trial Work Level

• 18 Month Lookback Form NOT Mandatory but Work History Documentation IS Mandatory

7: Statement Acknowledging TPRStatement Acknowledging TPR

• Inform Beneficiary of Timely

Progress Review (TPR)– A way to track Ticket holder

progress

– Occurs every 12 months

• Service Providers– Explain during IWP

– Understand the process

PARKINGPARKING

The EN shall not say or imply to any Ticket Holder:

•You can work part time indefinitely with the support of the EN.

•The EN will support or enable parking (i.e., artificially manipulating a beneficiary’s work and earnings to remain on cash benefits).

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8 and and 9: EN Responsibilities and EN Responsibilities and Ticket AssignmentTicket Assignment

• 8. EN and Beneficiary have responsibility to each other.

• Speak in clear language• Ensure

understanding/expectations• Refer to pg. 17-18 in RFQ• Statement that the beneficiary

acknowledges assignment of

his/her ticket.

• MAXIMUS bases the IWP review on requirements noted in the RFQ, August 2012 which details the most recent requirements, that you can use, or you can create your own IWP if you prefer

• The IWP includes Ticket Holder demographics, statements required by the RFQ, and guides you with documentation regarding vocational goals and services and supports that you will provide to and/or assist with obtaining for the Ticket Holder

• The Maximus IWP template can be found here: http://www.yourtickettowork.com/selftraining/NEW%20IWP.doc

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IWP SPECIFICSIWP SPECIFICS

Let’s discuss a few items

Checking Ticket AssignabilityChecking Ticket Assignability

1. Interactive Voice Response (IVR System)

• 24/7 Days a Week

• No Limit to How Many Tickets Can Check at One Time

• Dial In: 1-866-949-3687

• Must have DUNS, PIN, and Social Security Number!

2.Secure Provider Portal @ http://www.yourtickettowork.com

Common ErrorsCommon Errors• Beneficiary’s name is missing• Beneficiary’s name does not match the SSN provided• Short/Long term vocational goal is missing• Expected monthly earnings are missing or insufficient• Services and Supports are missing• Beneficiary earning history not provided• Statement of any additional terms or conditions is missing• Statement indicating EN will not receive compensation is missing• Statement indicating EN may Amend IWP or Unassign the Ticket is missing• Ongoing employment support is missing• Statement of beneficiary’s rights under the Ticket to Work Program, including the

right to Unassign is missing• Statement of remedies available to beneficiary, including availability of State

Protection and Advocacy is missing

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Common Errors cont.Common Errors cont.• Statement to inform beneficiary of annual progress reviews and Timely Progress

Review guidelines is missing• Statement of the beneficiary’s right to privacy and confidentiality is missing• Statement advising beneficiary IWP may be amended is missing• Statement that EN will only use qualified employees and or providers to provide

services to beneficiary is missing• Statement of the beneficiary’s right to have a copy of the IWP in accessible

format is missing• Signature of Beneficiary is missing• Signature of EN Representative is missing• Record of Career Counseling is missing• Beneficiary may not be eligible to participate in the Ticket to Work Program• The IWP was signed prior to the Unassignment Date• Beneficiary’s Ticket is not currently Assignable

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Protect Personally Identifiable Protect Personally Identifiable InformationInformation

• Suitability clearance

• Protect electronic documents

• No Post-Its

• No name and Social Security Number in email

• Keep documents secure

• Lock your computer

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• ENs have the option to customize the IWP to meet their own needs

• Must contain all required components• You may add information beyond the required

components, for example:– Additional services– Additional tracking information (i.e. job classification, distance

willing to travel to job)

• A customized IWP has been developed, as an alternative to the standard Maximus IWP, for Workforce ENs

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A Review of the Customized Workforce A Review of the Customized Workforce IWPIWP

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SummarySummary

In today’s presentation we covered the following:

• Assessment of Ticket holders, whether to individually assess and how, or to assign en mass

• Overview of the Maximus (OSM) IWP template, and updates on the IWP process

• Overview of the customized Workforce IWP

Next StepsNext StepsJoin us for our next training in the Ticket to Work Series on Tuesday, April 16th 2013 from 3:00pm to 4:00pm EST.

Part 7: Ticket to Work and Partnership PlusThis training will be presented by Mary Lynn ReVoir and will be hosted by Miranda Kennedy with the NDI Technical Assistance Team.

This webinar will provide:• Knowledge of the state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs participation in the Ticket to Work program• Information on how Partnership Plus can be used as an opportunity to address beneficiary needs for ongoing supports after job placement• Information on how State VR agencies and Workforce entities can collaborate to expand the scope of services available to beneficiaries and improve services coordination• Examples of how Job Center Employment Networks can partner with other community agencies

Questions/CommentsQuestions/CommentsIf you have a comment or question you can:

A: Submit it to the host in writing via the Chat or Q&A Box to the right, or…

B: Click on the “raise hand” icon to have your line un-muted and ask your question/make your comment.

Contact InformationContact InformationMary Lynn ReVoirNDI Technical Assistance TeamP: (515) 975-2344E: mlrevoir@ndi-inc.org

Kevin Nickerson

NDI Technical Assistance Team

E: knickerson@ndi-inc.org

P: (607) 272-7570 Ext. 136

LaWanda Hawkins

Program Integrity Manager, Operations Support Manager

Social Security Ticket to Work Program

E: lawandaahawkins@maximus.com

P: (703) 336-8076