Dennis L. Born Director The Supported Employment Consultation and Training Center Indiana Works Work Incentive Planning and Assistance June-09 The NEW.

Dennis L. BornDirector

The Supported Employment Consultation and Training CenterIndiana Works Work Incentive Planning and AssistanceJune-09

The NEW Ticket To WorkNew Program, New Opportunities

What is the Ticket to Work Program?

• A voluntary employment program administered by SSA

• Offers beneficiaries receiving SSI and SSDI cash benefits choices in obtaining services & supports to engage in work & achieve their employment goals

• Pays participating Employment Networks (ENs) for Milestones and Outcomes beneficiaries achieve related to work and earnings

• Ultimate goal: Reduce reliance on Social Security disability benefits, improve quality of life, and increase self-sufficiency

1

A New Approach to Service Delivery

• Payments based on Milestones and Outcomes occurring after job placement

• Not reimbursement for cost of services provided

2

Who Wants to Work?

• There are roughly 11.8 million people receiving disability benefits from SSA> Approximately 6.4 million on SSDI> Approximately 3.9 million on SSI> Approximately 1.4 million are concurrently eligible

• 17% of all beneficiaries see themselves working their way off benefits within the next 5 years

• SSA determined 92% of beneficiaries aged 18-39 with recent work history also have work goals> Nationally, this means about 470,000 beneficiaries who want to

work

[Based on the results of the TTW Evaluation and the National Beneficiary Survey]

4

SSA Is Responding

SSA is Listening.

SSA is Learning.

SSA is Responding.SSA has changed its programs and how it does business to more effectively provide

opportunities for beneficiaries with disabilities who want to work.

5

Improvements of Interest to Beneficiaries

• All adults beneficiaries with disabilities, ages 18 through 64, who receive cash benefits are eligible to participate(About 300,000 MIEs)

• If the beneficiary stops working due to his/her disability, there is an expedited reinstatement to benefits

• Better alignment of all programs> Ticket to Work> Work Incentives Planning & Assistance> Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security> Other Work Support Initiatives

7

Regulatory Improvements Designed for ENs

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

• Outcome payments have significantly increased• Difference in total EN payments for SSI and SSDI

beneficiaries reduced significantly• Milestone payments based on gross earnings

encourage use of work incentives> Phase 1 Milestones - Trial Work level earnings> Phase 2 Milestones – Substantial Gainful Activity

level earnings

10

New Phase 1Milestone Payments

Type Earnings SSDI SSI

Phase 1

Milestone 1 $350/mo for 1 month $1,211 $1,211

Milestone 2 $670/mo for 3 months w/in 6 months (cumulative)

$1,211 $1,211

Milestone 3 $670/mo for 6 months w/in 12 months (cumulative)

$1,211 $1,211

Milestone 4 $670/mo for 9 months w/in 18 months (cumulative)

$1,211 $1,211

Total Potential Phase I Milestone Payments

Not available to En’s if VR takes a successful closure.

$4,844 $4,844

2009 Rates

11

Phase 2 Milestone Payments

Type Earnings SSDI SSIPhase 2 Gross > SGA

2009($980/non-blind; $1,640 for blind)

$363/mo. (up to 11 mos.)

$207/mo. (up to 18 mos.)

Total Phase 2 Payments

$3,993 $3,726

Total Potential Ticket Payments Phases 1 and 2

$8,837 $8,837

2009 Rates

12

Outcome Payments Under Outcome-Milestone Payment System

Type Earnings SSDI SSIOutcome Phase Net > SGA

($980/non-blind; $1,640/blind) AND 0

cash benefit

$363/mo. for 36 months

$207/mo. for 60 months

Total Outcome Phase Payments

$13,068 $12,420

Total Potential Ticket Payments

$21,905 $21,257

2009 Rates

13

New Opportunities for EN-VR Partnerships

• VR Cost Reimbursement payments and EN Milestone and Outcome payments both possible for same beneficiary

– Based on provision of sequential, but not concurrent, services– Referred to as “Partnership Plus”

When VR chooses to serve a beneficiary under Cost Reimbursement, beneficiary’s Ticket is

> Not assigned to VRNew “in-use SVR” status extends Continuing Disability Review (CDR) protection to beneficiary while receiving VR services under Cost Reimbursement

> Cannot be assigned to another EN while VR case is open

• When VR closes the case, the beneficiary has the option of assigning his/her Ticket to an EN

14

15

New Opportunities for EN-VR Partnerships continued Indiana Pure Partnership Plus

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) in IN operates under a “payment for results” model with its vendors. Aspects of this model are being carried over to Indiana’s approach to Partnership Plus where VRS will serve all beneficiaries under the Cost Reimbursement program. VR counselors will encourage all beneficiaries to assign their Tickets to Ens after VR closes their cases. VRS will be asking Ens to share documentation of earnings with VRS to facilitate reimbursement. VRS is planning to offer a payment of $1000 to Ens that are successful in stabilizing beneficiaries in employment and getting them to 8 months of net SGA earnings. VRS can include this $1000 payment to the EN as payment for job retention services as part of their request for reimbursement for post-employment services after case closure.

Where Do ENs Find Good Candidates for Their Services?

• They look to those they are already serving

• They attend local Work Incentive Seminars – Sponsored by WIPAs– 15-20 motivated

beneficiaries – Local ENs invited

17

Why Are the New Regulations Better for ENs?

• Social Security is making it easier for ENs to participate

• NEW Ticket to Work is more profitable for ENs> New Phase 1 and Phase 2 Milestone payments available while beneficiary is still receiving cash benefits

• TTW is an additional revenue source

• Payments are the EN’s to use as it chooses

22

Why Is It Better for Beneficiaries?

• More ENs participating means more choices for beneficiaries

• New opportunities for EN-VR partnerships means a better mix of services for beneficiaries and better coordination of services

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

23

And Finally…

• More beneficiaries receiving Tickets means more opportunities for ENs and VR agencies to match services and supports with beneficiary needs

24

For More Information

• For those interested in becoming ENs, contact CESSI, the Program Manager for Recruitment and Outreach, at 1-877-743-8237 get an EN RFP at: http://www.ssa.gov/work/enrfp.html

• For more information on the Ticket to Work Program:> Visit SSA’s Work Site at: www.socialsecurity.gov/work> Visit the Maximus web site at: www.yourtickettowork.com

or call: 1-866-949-ENVR (3687)

• Any questions on the Ticket to Work Program should be e-mailed to: [email protected]

25

See for Yourself

Look at the people you served last year and use SSA’s EN Revenue Estimator to

determine potential revenue from the Ticket to Work Program.

http://www.cessi.net/en_estimator

26

27

And the Results….

28

These are flexible funds that can be used for many purposes.

• Serve more people

• Hire additional Job Coach or Placement Specialist

• Create a flexible job support fund

• Hire a Work Incentives Planner

• Buy some new equipment

Potential Revenue for an EN

38

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

•Participate in an application process walk-through conference call (E-Mail [email protected])

> documentation requirements> review forms> Q & A

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

Need Help Completing the RFP?

42