Webinar Date: November 21, 2013

Welcome to Workforce3 One

U.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration

Webinar Date: November 21, 2013Presented by: Kevin Nickerson & Mary Lynn ReVoir, NDI Technical Assistance Team

U.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration

Ticket to Work Basics & Employment Network Application

Where are you?Where are you?

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Enter your location in the Chat window – lower left of screen

ModeratorsModerators

Moderator: Randee Chafkin

Title: Workforce Development Specialist

Organization: Employment and Training Administration

Moderator: Miranda Kennedy

Title: Director of Training for DEI, NDI Technical Assistance Team

Organization: National Disability Institute

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

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According to the SGA, DEI project must include a plan to sustain the disability resource coordinator(s) after the grant period ends and to incorporate the promising practices that were successfully implemented by the project into the state and LWIB policies and practices.

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

Training and Technical Assistance to DEI Projects on operating as an Employment Network 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 of operating as an Employment Network will be provided under U.S. DOL ODEP contract with Social Dynamics.

Here’s what you can expect in this webinarHere’s what you can expect in this webinar

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Upon completion of this training webinar, DEI grantees and participants and partners from the public workforce system will have the following:

• Information about Ticket to Work and the basic components of the program

• Information on the relationship between the DEI grant and operating as a workforce EN

• Directions on how to apply to become an EN

• A Walk-Through of the Request For Quotation (RFQ)

PresentersPresenters

Presenter: Kevin Nickerson

Title: Ticket to Work Subject Matter Expert for DEI, NDI Technical Assistance Team

Organization: National Disability Institute

Presenter: Mary Lynn ReVoir

Title: Ticket Coordinator for DEI, NDI Technical Assistance Team

Organization: National Disability Institute

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AgendaAgenda

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• What is the Ticket to Work Program?

• Ticket to Work Basics

• How to apply to become an EN

• Walk through of the Request For Quotation

• Q & A

What is the Ticket to Work Program?

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• A Social Security Administration Program

• Creates an opportunity for any entity (other than a Federal Department) to become a Ticket to Work ‘Employment Network’ and begin receiving payments for supporting ‘Ticket Holders’ in becoming self-sufficient through employment

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

Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act

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The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act was passed in 1999 and provided benefits to SSA Disability beneficiaries & EN’s including:

Yearly cost of living increases for Ticket Payments to EN’s Two new work incentives

◦ Extended Medicare benefits◦ Expedited Reinstatement of Benefits (EXR)

Medicaid Buy-In Programs Work Incentive Planning and Assistance projects Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency employment program

Self-Sufficiency and Providing Choice

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• Goal: Decrease the Ticket Holder’s dependence on their cash benefits by increasing their work effort to substantial gainful activity, and ultimately, to assist Ticket holder in achieving self-sufficiency

• Choice: EN’s offer another level of choice to Social Security beneficiaries

• Increased need for exemplary Customer Service in providing rehabilitation services is important, especially as more EN providers become available

From the Beneficiaries Perspective

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• 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 permits in some 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.

Snapshot of Ticket Process

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Acronyms

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APOR Annual Performance Outcome Report

PII Personal Identifiable Information

BASS Beneficiary Access and Support Services

RFQ Request for Quotation

CDR Continuing Disability Review

SGA Substantial Gainful Activity

COS Certification of Services SSA Social Security Administration

EN Employment Network SSDI Social Security Disability Insurance (Title 2)

eProcess Electronic process for workforce ENs only

SSI Supplemental Security Income (Title 16)

IEP Individual Employment Plan

TPR Timely Progress Review

IWP Individual Work Plan TWP Trial Work Period

OSM Operations Support Manager

VR Vocational Rehabilitation agency of the state

How does Ticket tie into the DEI Strategies?

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• Having Job Centers operate as ENs attracts customers who are on SSA disability benefits and sends a welcoming message encouraging the disability community to access the public workforce system

• Strengthens partnership and collaboration with VR - helps build a responsive service delivery

• Promotes use of Integrated Resource Teams (IRTs) which increases successful employment outcomes for customer and job center programs

• Contributes to the credit of all programs involved in the employment outcomes (i.e. WIA, Wagner-Peyser, VR)

• Provides an opportunity to inject Asset Development strategies, as a part of the individualized services provided to Ticket holders

Leveraging DEI Grant Positions within the Job Centers

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• Becoming an EN is a business objective

• Most ENs have difficulty with start-up costs, as this is an “outcome” driven program

• DEI State projects have a distinct advantage in EN start-up, as each Pilot site has at least one Disability Resource Coordinator, who can assist with EN operations and internal training

• What level of activity needs to occur to generate revenue to maintain a full-time Disability Resource Coordinator (disability subject matter expert) beyond the period of this initiative?

Ticket and DEI youth projects

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• “Our DEI project’s focus is on youth and our youth predominantly do not have tickets.” – If age 18 and receiving disability benefits, Ticket eligible– DEI ENs are encouraged to serve all ages of Ticket holders, not

just those in the DEI target population (youth or adult)

• “Most of the youth served at Job Centers are using their Ticket with state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR).”– Coordinating services among a variety of resources or using an

Integrated Resource Team (IRT) when needed, can benefit the youth and all of the associated programs can get credit

– Job Center EN can serve a youth Ticket holder while waiting for VR services or after VR case closure, this benefits everyone

Remember: Operating as an EN is a core component of all DEI projects

What is all this talk about EN payments?

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• An EN receives payments from SSA, when beneficiary achieves eligible payment thresholds

• Ticket funding is an additional revenue source for Job Center

• Not considered program income and WILL NOT replace existing funding sources (Training and Employment Notice No. 20-07)

• Ticket funds are flexible; there are NO restrictions

– Can be used to sustain work DRC position ----- Will likely become part of DEI Sustainability Plan

– Can be used to fund service gaps at Job Center, additional training dollars, supply transportation discounts or vouchers to get to/from work, fund Assistive Technology or Sign Language Interpretation, or other unique, and otherwise unfunded needs

Milestone-Outcome Payment System:Phase 1 Milestones

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Understanding Phase 1 Payments

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There are reasons some, or all of, Phase 1 payments may not be available to an EN:

– Recent Work Activity• Work at or above applicable Trial Work level earnings

($750 in 2013) within 18 months “prior to Ticket assignment”

• Checkout the 18-Month Prior Earnings Tool to explore how recent work history affects payments: https://yourtickettowork.com/web/ttw/en-forms

– State VR history with Ticket Holder

Milestone-Outcome Payment System: Phase 2 Payments & Outcome Payments

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Partnership Plus

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• VR Cost Reimbursement payments and EN Phase 2 Milestone and Outcome payments both possible for same beneficiary– SSA will pay for sequential, but not concurrent, services

• When VR chooses to serve a beneficiary under Cost Reimbursement, beneficiary’s Ticket is:– Considered as “in use SVR”– Cannot be assigned to another EN while in use– Extends Continuing Disability Review (CDR) protection

to beneficiary

• Beneficiary can assign Ticket to an EN after VR case closure

Will becoming an EN help me with individuals that can only work part-time?

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• Based on the clear direction provided recently by SSA, an EN should NOT assign a Ticket if the Beneficiary has no intention of, or ability to, work at a level that would eventually allow them to successfully leave the benefits roles • This is sometimes referred to as “parking”This is sometimes referred to as “parking”

• Should a beneficiary start with part-time work, as is sometimes the case, this can qualify an EN for initial Phase 1 Milestone payments, but the goal would be for the beneficiary to keep making progress towards self-supporting employment

Requesting Ticket Payments: Made Easy with ePay

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Workforce ENs have the option to use ePay in lieu of collecting proof of earnings and submitting manual requests.

Available to Workforce ENs only Provides automated payments from Milestone 1 through

Outcomes (ALL payments) Processed quarterly thus a lag time in payment

NOTE: ePay will be covered in detail in subsequent trainings

Next Steps in Becoming an EN

(Enter content here)

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The Application

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Any interested agency will complete and submit a Request for Quotation (RFQ) to SSA to become an EN

All Employment Networks need a signed formal contract/agreement with Social Security Administration (called Blanket Purchase Agreement – BPA)

This is a federal contract/agreement and the EN needs to maintain compliance

What you need to before you start

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1. Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as the Tax ID #

2. General business or professional liability insurance in effect (minimum of $500,000 per occurrence)

3. DUNS number (if you need one contact Dun & Bradstreet at 1-866-705-5711 or apply online at www.dnb.com )

4. Register DUNS # with the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov • Formerly Central Contractor Registration (CCR) system and the

Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA)• Primary registrant database for all Federal Government contracts• Enter banking information • Update annually• There is no charge

For RFQ Download, see: http://www.ssa.gov/work/enrfq.html

Request for Quotation (RFQ)

Download and complete on your computer

Solicitation # SSA-FRQ-12-0010L (dated 8/27/12)

Questions on RFQ, direct to: Email: [email protected]: 866-584-5180 TDD: 866-584-5181Fax: 410-597-0429

Submit electronically to: [email protected]

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RFQ and Workforce

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Agencies that have a DOL contract are processed under the workforce umbrella

Federal partnership between DOL and SSA Workforce agencies are deemed eligible to apply as an

EN, plus sections of the RFQ do not apply to workforce agencies. They include:

Proof of Qualifications Submitting a business plan Proof of insurance

Workforce eProcesses reduces administrative burden and paperwork involved with Ticket assignment and payments for workforce ENs

It is important to know terms of the agreement

A Closer Look of the RFQ

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Contains 6 parts (see table of contents): Part I, BPA Agreement (required to submit) Part II, Price (review only) Part III, Statement of Work (review only) Part IV, Contract Clauses (review only) Part V, EN Quotation Documentation Requirements

(required to submit) Part VI, Solicitation Provisions (review only)

Part I, Part II, and Part III

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Part I- Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Complete and submit

• Outlines terms of BPA between the EN and SSA

Part II- Price Do not need to submit• Outlines supplies, services, and price• Firm–Fixed-Price of BPA is $0- for satisfactory performance of services

provided, EN is paid in accordance with the Payment to ENs schedule (Part III--Section 11)

Part III- 12 Sections Internal review; do not need to submit• ENs obligation, EN qualification requirements (Job Centers under WIA

deemed qualified)• Outlines Ticket assignment process, details of IWP• Referral Agreements, EN responsibilities• Security requirements, EN Training, and EN evaluations • EN Reporting Requirements, EN payment system• Statutory Understanding and Compliance

Understanding Your Obligations (Page 7)

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• Inform and educate Ticket Holders purpose of the Ticket Program is to provide individuals with the opportunities and supports they need to

• Go to work, increase earnings, become self-sufficient by leaving cash benefits to the maximum extent feasible;

• Provide employment support services that afford Ticket Holders the opportunity to prepare for, obtain and retain career ladder jobs that will realistically enable them to leave and remain off cash benefits;

• Avoid even the appearance of advising or condoning the practice of artificially manipulating one’s earnings to remain on cash benefits; and,

• Fairly and objectively, advise each Ticket Holder on the benefits and risks of leaving cash benefits and becoming self-sufficient.

• It is unacceptable for an EN to limit its business model to assisting Ticket Holders to engage in part time employment only.

Part IV

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• Reviews and explains EN contract terms and conditions

• Reviews liability insurance requirements – WIA/Workforce Boards/Operators exempt from submitting proof

• Explains the EN Security and Suitability Requirements: Paragraph G (pg 45-54, 57)– Provides SSA policies and procedures re: background investigations

– Investigations determine the suitability of the EN to acquire, handle, and have access to beneficiary personally identifiable information (PII)

• EN suitability process does not begin until after the BPA is awarded; at this time, only EN staff names who acquire, handle, or have access to PII are required

• When awarded BPA, contact the DEI TA Ticket Coordinator for further resources and guidance

Part V: Section 1 and Section 2

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Section 1: Standard Form 1449 – submit

• Box 17a: Offeror Name, Address, Phone, and Tax ID/EIN number

• Box 17b if applicable

• Box 30 a, b, c: signature and date

• Need to submit 2nd page even though you will not enter any information

Section 2: EN Information Sheet: all about your EN - submit• Offeror Name = Name placed in Box 17 on SF 1449• EN Name- optional, if listed in Directory, choose local name • Get registered in SAM and check yes • EN Directory Contact Information: name of the beneficiary POC for your EN• Type of Organization- at minimum check either WIA One Stop and/or

Workforce Board• EN Employee Suitability- names of EN who have access/handle PII; Bene CD

is optional• Note locations and if area covered not within local phone # need toll free• For each additional/different location listed in the online EN Directory,

complete one addendum for EACH different service delivery location

Part V: Section 3 and Part VI

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Section 3: EN Quotation Checklist- internal use only, do not submit (pg 87)

•Business Plan - does not apply to workforce agencies

•Beneficiary CD – best to complete this now if you plan to use Beneficiary CD

Part VI: Solicitation Provisions - review only, do not submit

•SSA evaluation of RFQ

•RFQ selection and award

•Offeror will be notified of missing or incorrect information; given 60 days to correct deficiencies

RFQ Summary

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• Submit Part I (pages 4-5) and all documents contained Part V (pages72-86)– Remember: as a WIA One Stop/Workforce Board/Operator- proof of EN

qualifications and liability insurance not required to submit with RFQ

• Obtain necessary signatures where needed

– Part I, Blanket Purchase Agreement, signature on page 4– Part V, Section 1: SF Form 1449– Part V, Section 2-T: Signatory Authority

• Submit signed Part I and all completed Part V documents to [email protected]

Polling QuestionPolling Question

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Polling QuestionPolling Question

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Summary

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In today’s presentation we covered the following:

• Explanation of what is Ticket to Work and basic components of the program, including the payment structure for Milestone/Outcome payments

• Information on the relationship between the DEI grant and operating as a workforce EN

• Directions on how to apply to become an EN

• Review of the Request for Quotation

ResourcesResources

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Link to Request for Quotation (RFQ):http://www.ssa.gov/work/enrfq.html

To obtain DUNS number (if you need one)Contact: Dun & BradstreetPhone: 1-866-705-5711 Website:www.dnb.com

To register Systems Award Management (SAM)www.sam.gov

EN Payments at a Glance:https://yourtickettowork.com/web/ttw/resource-documents

Discussion & FeedbackDiscussion & Feedback

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Questions about EN models of service?

Please enter your questions in the Chat Room! Please enter your questions in the Chat Room!

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Speakers’ Contact InformationSpeakers’ Contact Information

Speaker: Kevin NickersonTitle: DEI Ticket Subject Matter ExpertOrganization: National Disability InstituteEmail: [email protected]

Speaker: Mary Lynn ReVoirTitle: DEI Ticket CoordinatorOrganization: National Disability InstituteEmail: [email protected]

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Look for upcoming Webinars in this series!Look for upcoming Webinars in this series!

the

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January 14, 2014 at 3pm EST

Thank You!Thank You!

Find resources for workforce system success at:

www.workforce3one.org

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