DISABILITY PROGRAM NAVIGATOR TRAINING

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DISABILITY PROGRAM NAVIGATOR TRAINING

• The SSA Perspective on the Role of the Navigator
• November 3, 2003

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SSA Administers Two Programs Paying Benefits to
People with Disabilities 1. Social Security
Disability Insurance SSDI (Title II)2.
Supplemental Security Income Program SSI
(Title XVI)
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SSDI Eligibility

• Covered workers--up to age 65
• Who have a medical condition that will last for
  at least one year or will result in death
• Who cannot do the work they previously did, and
• Who cannot do any other work that exists in the
  National economy (considering age, education,
  exp.)

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SSI Disability Eligibility

• Needs-based program
• Same disability definition as SSDI
• Income and resources must be below specified
  limits

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Characteristics of Disability Beneficiaries
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Adult Disability Beneficiaries Under Age 60
Disabled Workers and Adult SSI by Age Groups
as of July 2002
1,989,000
1,315,000
703,000
678,000
532,000
570,000
480,000
136,000
AGE
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Disability Beneficiary Population
Data as of December 2001
DI
SSI
BLIND AND DISABLED CHILDREN
ADULT CHILDREN
WIDOW(ER)S
BLIND ADULTS
Beneficiaries with concurrent entitlements are
in both groups.
DISABLED ADULTS
WORKERS
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Adult Disability Beneficiaries
Disabled Workers and Adult SSI
SSI Only
DI DI/SSI
MEN WOMEN
MEN WOMEN
41
59
56
44
Avg. Ben. 405
Average Monthly Benefit
Women 688
531 Federal benefit rate
Men 913
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Adult Disability Beneficiaries Under Age 60
Disabled Workers and Adult SSI
26 3.7
Time on the Rolls
21 - 25 4.0
DI SSI DI/SSI Only
16 - 20 8.5
Years
0-5 39 29 6-10 30
29 11-15 17 21 16-20 7
10 21-25 3 5 26 3
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0 - 5 35.6
11 - 15 18.7
6 - 10 29.5
DI SSI Combined
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Adult Disability Beneficiaries Under Age 60
Primary Impairment Data

• 48 of beneficiaries have a mental disability
• 40 of DI DI/SSI
• 60 of SSI Only
• Groupings for the most common impairments vary by
  age and program

as of July 2002
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Adult Disability Beneficiaries Under Age 60
Top 7 Primary Impairments
56 of Beneficiaries
Schizo-phrenia
Mental Retardation
Organic Mental
Affective Disorders
Osteo arthritis
Anxiety
Back
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Adult Disability Beneficiaries Under Age 60
Summary Profiles
DI DI/SSI 50 are 50-59 More men (56 ) Most 12
yrs or more 66 above marginal 18 have
earnings 39 on 5 yrs or less
Age Gender Education Prior earnings Current
earnings Time on rolls Impairments
Mental - 40 Musculoskeletal gt15 Heart
circulatory gt4
-- Most frequent
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Adult Disability Beneficiaries Under Age 60
Summary Profiles
SSI Only 71 under 50 More women (59) Most less
than 12 yrs 99 marginal 17 have earnings 29 on
5 yrs or less
Age Gender Education Prior earnings Current
earnings Time on rolls Impairment
Mental - 60 Musculoskeletal gt 6
-- Most frequent
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SSDI SSI Beneficiaries In States with Navigators
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SSA Return to Work Efforts
Historical rate of return-to-work success
is ½ of 1 of the disabled beneficiary population
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Ticket to Work and Self Sufficiency Program

• Created by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives
  Improvement Act of 1999
• Offers more choices to people in getting the
  services they need to go to work and move toward
  greater self-sufficiency
• Services are provided by Employment Networks
  (ENs), private organizations and government
  agencies, at no cost to the individual
• Program savings realized from benefit cessation
  covers the cost of the process (payments to ENs)

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New Freedom Initiative

• Announced by President Bush on Feb.1, 2001
• A comprehensive program to promote the full
  participation of people with disabilities in all
  areas of society.

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New Freedom Initiative (continued)

• Requires Federal agencies to collaborate in ways
  not previously done to make their programs more
  effective
• The joint DOL-SSA Navigator effort has been
  undertaken in the spirit of the New Freedom
  Initiative

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New Freedom InitiativeSSA Demonstration Projects

• The Ticket Program works and is working for many
  beneficiaries
• Some people need additional supports
• SSA is conducting a series of Demonstration
  Project to help determine what else is needed to
  increase RTW and improve self-sufficiency for
  people with disabilities

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SSA Demonstration Projects

• Early Intervention Demonstration Project
• Youth Transition Process Demonstration
• Benefit Offset Process Demonstration
• Mental Health Treatment Study

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Navigators Provide theCritical Linkage with
Employers
Disability Program Navigators
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Barriers to Employment for People with
Disabilities

• Lack of Medical assistance
• Lack of knowledge about programs, services and
  supports
• Housing needs
• Transportation needs
• Child care needs
• Lack of skills
• Employer attitudes

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Keys to Employment for People with Disabilities

• Medical benefits
• Skills development
• Housing and transportation supports
• Child care
• Assistive technologies and accommodation
• Employer awareness