Disability Employment Initiative (DEI)

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Disability Employment Initiative(DEI)

• Ticket to Work Boot Camp
• Foundational Knowledge
• Ticket Overview Integrating Ticket to Work into
  your One-Stop Career Center

Hosted/Facilitated by Miranda Kennedy Presented
by Kevin Nickerson, NDI Technical Assistance
Team Members
2012 Training Series
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Disability Employment Initiative (DEI)

• DEI Projects at the state level and/or local
  level participating LWIBs are required to become
  Employment Networks under Social Security
  Administrations 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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Learning Objectives

• Upon completion of this training webinar, DEI
  grantees
• and participants and partners from the public
• workforce system will have the following
• Basic understanding of the Ticket to Work Program
• Knowledge of 2008 changes to the Ticket to Work
  Program rules
• Awareness of Employment Network (EN) models and
  partnerships
• Information on next steps and how to apply to
  become an EN

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Agenda

• Background The Challenge Experience
• What is the Ticket to Work Program?
• Ticket to Work Basics
• Review of 2008 Changes to the Ticket to Work
  Program rules
• Employment Network (EN) models and partnerships
• Resources
• Whats my next step? How do we apply?

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• Background The Challenge Experience

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Challenge Workforce Solutions New York State
EN Experiences

• Consistent with Challenge Mission
• Established as an EN in 2001
• First Ticket assigned in New York State to
  private EN
• Knowledge of SSA benefits increased Ticket holder
  confidence in services and assisted with
  referrals to program
• Increasing Ticket assignments now due to changes
  in regulations which occurred in 2008
• Challenge, a nonprofit, vocational services
  organization, was founded in 1968 to offer
  employment and placement opportunities to
  individuals who face barriers to employment.
  http//aboutchallenge.org/CI-final/

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Challenge Workforce Solutions New York State EN
Experiences

• 2nd EN in Nation to achieve 60th Outcome payment
  (achieved March, 2007)
• Our second 60th Outcome measure occurred in May,
  2009
• Our third 60th Outcome measure occurred in July,
  2010
• In 2011, had a total of 5 Ticket holders
  graduate from the Ticket program successfully,
  helping us achieve all possible EN payments

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What is the Ticket to Work Program?
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What is the Ticket to Work Program?

• A Social Security Administration Program
• Established through the signing of legislation in
  December 1999, The Ticket to Work and Work
  Incentives Improvement Act
• Provides payments to participating Employment
  Networks for assisting Social Security
  beneficiarys in becoming more self-sufficient
  through employment

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What is the Ticket to Work Program?

• A program designed to assist Social Security
  beneficiaries in the return to work through the
  provision of employment services from public and
  private providers
• Allows Social Security beneficiarys to receive a
  Ticket to Work which may be assigned to a
  participating Employment Network for assistance
  in achieving their desired vocational goal
• Expands the universe of choices people with
  disabilities have in getting assistance in the
  return to work through participating Employment
  Networks

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What is the Ticket to Work Program?

• The goal
• A Shift

Self-sufficiency. Decrease the Ticket Holders
dependence on their cash benefits by increasing
their work effort to substantial gainful
activity, and ultimately, to assist Ticket holder
in achieving self-sufficiency.

• Customer Service.
• A shift in how Rehabilitation services are
  offered, increasing beneficiary choice and
  customer service

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Choice

• ENs 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

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Ticket to Work Basics
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• In 2008, SSA made several improvements to the
• Ticket to Work employment program to increase
• participation.
• Today you will learn about these improvements
  and.
• Ticket to Work program basics
• New payment structure
• How Partnership Plus works
• Next Steps to becoming an Employment Network

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Ticket to Work Program Basics

• The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives
  Improvement
• Act was passed in 1999 and provided benefits to
  SSA
• Disability beneficiaries ENs including
• Yearly cost of living increases for Ticket
  Payments to ENs
• 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

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Ticket to Work Program Basics Cont.

• 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 as they work at
  increasing their earning capacity.
• 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
• 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 Program Basics Cont.

• Ticket to Work Provider basics
• This is a voluntary program (you do not have to
  participate, although DEI projects have committed
  to becoming ENs as a part of this grant)
• Provides additional monetary support to approved
  providers (Employment Networks) who assist Social
  Security beneficiaries with disabilities in
  obtaining and maintaining employment
• Funds are flexible, and can be used, in part, to
  support beneficiary needs

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Ticket to Work Program Basics Cont.

• Ticket to Work Ticket Holder basics
• 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 VESID or
  Medicaid funding permits in some cases.
• Actively participating in the Ticket to Work
  program suspends a Ticket Holders 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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Snapshot of Program Overview
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Ticket Funding Other funding sources

• Training and Employment Notice No. 20-07
  clarifies that Ticket funding is an additional
  revenue source for One-Stop delivery systems and
  is not considered program income and WILL NOT
  replace existing funding sources (i.e. funding is
  in addition to current funding sources, to be
  used how you see fit)
• Braiding Medicaid funded services and Ticket to
  Work funds is not double dipping
• The Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services
  (CMS) clarified this recently in a State Medicaid
  Director Letter (SMD 10-002), See
  http//aaidd.org/media/PowerPoint/Ticket20to20Wo
  rk20SMD201-28-1020clean.pdf

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Improvements to the Ticket-to-Work Program
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• 2008 Improvements of Importance
• Ticket payments have increased and allow for
  payments before the Ticket Holder works at SGA
  level
• Ticket payment structure encourages the use of
  available work incentives with new Phase 2
  payment structure
• 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 State Vocational Rehabilitation
  agencies are more clearly defined, and now called
  Partnership Plus

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Outcome Payment System
Type Ticket Holder Earnings EN Payment for SSDI EN Payment for SSI
Outcome Earnings sufficient for zero cash benefits status 719/mo. for up to 36 months 412/mo. for up to 60 months
Total Possible Outcome Payments 25,884 24,720
2012 Rates
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Milestone-Outcome Payment System Phase 1
Milestones
Type Ticket Holder Earnings EN Payment for SSDI EN Payment for SSI
Phase 1 Phase 1 Phase 1 Phase 1
Milestone 1 720/mo for 1 month (can bill with wages of 360 within a two week period) 1,288 1,288
Milestone 2 720/mo for 3 months within 6 months (cumulative) 1,288 1,288
Milestone 3 720/mo for 6 months within 12 months (cumulative) 1,288 1,288
Milestone 4 720/mo for 9 months within 18 months (cumulative) 1,288 1,288
Total Potential Phase I Milestone Payments Total Potential Phase I Milestone Payments 5,152 5,152
Subsequent months must be at TWL
2012 Rates
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Understanding Phase 1 Payments

• There are reasons some, or all of, Phase 1
  payments may not be available to an EN
• Recent Work Activity
• State VR history with Ticket Holder

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• Recent Work Rule
• Work at or above applicable Trial Work level
  earnings (720 in 2012) within 18 months prior
  to Ticket assignment can impact EN access to
  Phase 1 Milestone payments
• Does not apply to Tickets assigned prior to July
  21, 2008
• MAXIMUS has created a tool to explore a
  beneficiary recent work history
• gt Check out the 18-Month Prior Earnings Tool at
  www.yourtickettowork.com.

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• Partnership Plus
• 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, beneficiarys Ticket is
• -- Not assigned to VR, and
• -- Cannot be assigned to another EN while VR
  case is open
• New in-use SVR status extends Continuing
  Disability Review (CDR) protection to beneficiary
  while receiving VR services under Cost
  Reimbursement

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• Partnership Plus VR Case Closure
• Beneficiary can assign Ticket to an EN after VR
  case closure
• Phase 1 Milestones not available to EN if VR
  closed case with beneficiary employed
• -- VR provided services leading to initial
  efforts at self-supporting employment
• -- SSA can pay EN for Phase 2 Milestones
  Outcomes achieved after Ticket assignment
• NOTE More detailed information about Partnership
  Plus will be provided in future TtW training

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Milestone-Outcome Payment System Phase 2 Payments
Type Ticket Holder Earnings EN Payment for SSDI EN Payment for SSI
Phase 2 Gross gt SGA (1010/non-blind 1,690 for blind) 387/mo. (up to 11 mos.) 222/mo. (up to 18 mos.)
Total Phase 2 Payments 4,257 3,996
Total Potential Ticket Payments Phases 1 and 2 9,409 9,148
2012Rates
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Milestone-Outcome Payment System Outcome Payments
Type Ticket Holder Earnings EN Payment for SSDI EN Payment for SSI
Outcome Phase Net gt SGA (1010/non-blind 1,690 /blind) AND 0 Federal cash benefits 387/mo. for up to 36 months 222/mo. for up to 60 months
Total Outcome Phase Payments 13,932 13,220
Total Potential Ticket Payments 23,341 22,468
2012 Rates
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Will becoming an EN help me with individuals that
can only work part-time?

• The overall goal of the Ticket program continues
  to be self-sufficiency, and should be the
  long-term goal
• Should a beneficiary start with part-time work,
  as is sometimes the case, this can qualify an EN
  for initial Phase 1 Milestone payments
• Example Joe is an SSI recipient, and works 20
  hours/week and makes 8.50/hour, monthly average
  wage736
• This example would qualify your EN for Phase 1
  Milestone payments
• NOTE Your IWP needs to be developed showing the
  Ticket Holder will achieve at least TWL earnings
  in order to be assigned by Maximus, however, the
  overall goal is to assist the individual in
  achieving greater levels of self-sufficiency, and
  to have clear, long-term goals of SGA level
  earnings

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• Milestone Reconciliation Payment
• Occurs when Beneficiary moves quickly into the
  Outcome Payment Period
• Includes all Milestones available at time of
  first Ticket assignment that remain unpaid due
  to the start of the Outcome payment period
• Reconciliation payment made when 12th Outcome
  payment is achieved
• This payment does not need to be requested,
  Maximus will determine the amount owed to the EN
  after the 12th Outcome is achieved

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• Requesting Ticket Payments
• Three options for requesting payment
• 1. Evidentiary Payment Request (EPR)
• -- Requires primary evidence of earnings
• 2. Certification Payment Request (CPR)
• -- Uses secondary evidence of earnings
• 3. Workforce e-Process, e-Pay
• -- Available to Workforce ENs only, and
  provides automated payments from Milestone 1
  through Outcomes
• NOTE Billing options will be covered in detail
  in subsequent trainings, and are also covered by
  Maximus through Ticket Tuesday Training
  opportunities

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• Benefits of becoming an EN include
• Increase your bottom line - Get paid for the work
  you are already doing
• Ticket payments are your own to use as you wish
• Generous funding stream 23, 341 (SSDI) and
  22,468 (SSI) per successful beneficiary who
  achieves all payments

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• Q A
• To ask a question/make a
• comment please click on
• the raised hand icon OR
• submit it via the QA
• panel, both are located on
• the right hand toolbar

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Employment Network (EN) Models

• Funds through the Ticket program are flexible to
  use as you wish, however, so is the Business
  Model you choose to develop for your Employment
  Network
• The following are examples of strategies found in
  various locations across the U.S.

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Local Level Strategy
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Collaborative Agreement Strategy
Specific Advantage of collaboration with
One-Stop Access to database of potential Ticket
holders who wish to return to work, ITAs, staff
support
Advantages Sharing of information resources,
staffing and community outreach
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Consortium Strategy
Providers of Employment Services
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State Level Strategy
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Next Steps in Becoming an Employment Network
(EN)
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• Becoming an Employment Network
• Get the EN Request for Quotation (RFQ) at
• http//www.ssa.gov/work/enrfp.html
• Download and complete on your computer
• Cover letter provides information on how to
  contact SSA, and recommended way to send
  completed RFQ

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• Request for Quotation (RFQ)
• Basic Components
• Must have an Employer Identification Number
  (EIN), also known as the Tax ID
• Must have general business or professional
  liability insurance in effect (minimum of
  500,000 per occurrence)
• Must have a DUNS number (contact Dun Bradstreet
  at 1-866-705-5711 or apply online at www.dnb.com)
• Once you have obtained a DUNS Number complete the
  Central Contractor Registration (www.ccr.gov)
  once CCR is active, complete the Online
  Representations and Certifications Application
  (https//orca.bpn.gov/)

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• You can receive assistance with questions
• you may have in completing the RFQ!
• Contact Emily Malsch, Ticket/Workforce
  Specialist, OSM/MAXIMUS, at emalsch_at_cessi.net, or
  by phone at (443) 492- 9846
• REGISTER for the Ticket to Work Boot Camp, Part 2
  Training
• Understanding the RFQ Teleconference for DEI
  Grantees on February 9th from 3pm to 430pm EST
  https//ndi.webex.com/ndi/onstage/g.php?tad9620
  33463
• documentation requirements
• review forms
• Q A
• Additional help is available through SSAs
  Employment Network Contracts Team
• E-Mail ENContracts_at_ssa.gov
• Call 1-866-584-5180

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As an EN

• Once you become an Employment Network, MAXIMUS,
• the Operations Support Manager for the Ticket to
  Work
• program will
• Handle the process for assigning un-assigning
  Tickets
• Maintain the list of approved ENs
• Process Ticket payments
• Conduct timely progress reviews
• Staff an EN Help Desk
• Provide training technical assistance to ENs
• Visit the MAXIMUS website at www.yourtickettowork.
  com

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• Ticket to Work Program Resources
• Visit SSAs Work Site at www.socialsecurity.gov
  /work
• Visit the MAXIMUS web site at
  www.yourtickettowork.com
• or call 1-866-949-ENVR (3687)
• Visit the Beneficiary Access Support Services
  (BASS) http//chooseworkttw.net/  

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Next Steps

• Ticket to Work Boot Camp Becoming an Approved
  Employment Network (EN) will cover the following
• Review RFQ, including document requirements.
• Provide a section by section review of the RFQ
  and suggestions on how to successfully complete
  the required forms and receive your EN Blanket
  Purchase Agreement (BPA) award from SSA
• Provide an opportunity for One-Stop Career
  Centers to establish a direct connection with
  Maximus, for assistance throughout the EN
  application process.
• Registration
• Thursday, February 9th (300pm 430pm EST)
• Registration In order to register go to
• https//ndi.webex.com/ndi/onstage/g.php?tad9620
  33463

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Contact Information

• Kevin Nickerson
• Program Associate
• NDI Technical Assistance Team
• knickerson_at_ndi-inc.org
• Phone [phone] Ext. 136