Iowa State Workforce Partners Employment Network November,

Background to the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of National Organization on Disability/Harris Survey Findings 29% of individuals with disabilities were working full or part time From , the number of people receiving disability benefits rose 80% 2

U.S. General Accounting Office Findings Less than 1% of SSDI and SSI beneficiaries attain paid employment enabling them to be self- sufficient One-third of the people who leave the rolls return in 3 years If one half of one percent of those individuals were to attain self-supporting employment, savings would total $3.5 billion 3

Common Fears of Individuals With Disabilities Explain Why Continuing As Beneficiaries Lack of affordable health care insurance and often are uninsurable by private plans Fear of losing health care coverage thus unable to maximize earnings potential Fear the risk of losing medical coverage that is linked to cash benefits 4

Overall Goal of The Ticket to Work Program Goal of TTW: increase self sufficiency Purpose of the TTW will: Increase the number of beneficiaries entering the work force, and Reduce dependency on cash benefits New ticket rules effective July, 2008!!! 5

Major Components of the Ticket to Work Program Social Security Administration MAXIMUS Tickets Beneficiaries Employment Networks Individual Work Plans EN Payment Systems 6

Social Security Administration Designated by Congress to oversee the implementation of the Ticket to Work Program Responsible for writing TTW Regulations Monitor the success/short-comings of the TTW Determine which beneficiaries will receive tickets Have the final say on all decisions 7

MAXIMUS Selected by Social Security Administration as the Operations Support Manager for TTWP Overseeing the day-to-day functions of TTWP Train EN’s, Monitor EN payments, maintain list of EN’s 8

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Beneficiaries SSI or SSDI beneficiaries, be years old & active status Ticket Program is VOLUNTARY Beneficiaries will not be penalized for choosing not to use their ticket Beneficiaries may assign their ticket to the EN of their choice A person can be working and still assign their Ticket 10

Employment Networks Organizations or groups of organizations that have come together to provide necessary services to a beneficiary in support of an employment goal State VR agencies are EN. EN listing at ENs are compensated for services provided to Ticket Holders when those beneficiaries achieve certain milestones or outcomes 11

Iowa State Workforce Partners EN Iowa State Workforce Partners represents 7 State Agencies EN application submitted in June, 2007 Workforce became an EN in August, 2007 State Partners directed IWD to be the applicant. 12

EN Payment Option Outcome-Milestone Payment –2 phases of milestones & 1 phase outcome –Phase I: 4 milestones related to Trial Work Level. (Wages > $720/month) –Phase II: 11 milestones (SSDI) or 18 milestones > SGA level. (Wages > $1000/month) –Outcomes (sometimes called Phase III): 36 months (SSDI) and 60 months > SGA and $0 cash benefits. (Wages > $ $0 cash benefit. 13

2010 EN Payments-at-a-Glance 14 Phase 1Gross Earnings RequiredPayment amount SSI & SSDI Milestone 1$720 in 2 weeks or 1 month$1275 Milestone 2$720/month x 3 months within 6 months$1275 Milestone 3$720/month x 6 months within 12 months$1275 Milestone 4$720/month x 9 months within 18 months$1275 Total for Phase 1$5100 Phase 2Earnings RequiredSSI & concurrentSSDI Milestones Gross earnings at or over $1000/month (SGA) Up to 18 payments of $220/month Up to 11 payments of $382/month Total for Phase 2$3960$4202 OutcomeEarnings RequiredSSI & concurrentSSDI Earnings over $1000/month & zero cash benefit Up to 60 payments of $220/month Up to 36 payments of $382/month Total of Outcome Payments$13,200$13,752

Continuing Disability Review (CDR) Reviews conducted by Social Security to determine if beneficiary is still disabled under Social Security guidelines During the period the Ticket is “assigned” Social Security will not begin a Medical CDR Services may begin and the Ticket may be assigned if a CDR has already begun and the CDR will be completed on schedule 15

Status of a Ticket The EN calls Maximus to check on status of ticket. You will need your EN # & name, the SS# & name of the customer. 2 Responses: Assignable or Not Assignable Reasons not assignable 1.Ticket is in Use by VR agency or Assigned to another EN 2.Beneficiary may not be in current cash payment status 3.Beneficiary no longer considered disabled 4.Beneficiary not eligible for the program. 16

Individual Work Plan A written agreement signed by both the beneficiary and the EN that describes employment and support services needed to reach an employment goal (same as the Employment Plan for members in “iworks”) The IWP becomes effective once: MAXIMUS verifies that the beneficiary has a Ticket that is assignable IWP is signed by the beneficiary and a representative of the EN 17

Components of the IWP Vocational goal Services and supports to reach the goal Terms and conditions relating to these services and supports EN may not request or accept compensation from the beneficiary Conditions for amending or terminating the IWP Beneficiary’s rights under TTWP Dispute resolution processes available to the client Client’s right to privacy and confidentiality Client’s right to have a copy of the IWP 18

IWP for Iowa Workforce EN 3 parts 1.A member’s “Employment Plan” 2. The IWP addendum 3.The 18-month look back 19

Timely Progress Review Conducted annually Only impacts the CDR protection not the Ticket assignment Refer to the details listed SSA website link 20

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Involuntary Termination of Ticket Assignment An EN can terminate a Ticket assignment at any time if a beneficiary is not actively participating in his/her IWP: –The EN will notify MAXIMUS –MAXIMUS will notify the beneficiary Upon notification, the beneficiary may: –attempt to resume active participation if the EN is willing, –Reassign his/her Ticket to another EN, –Place his/her Ticket in Inactive Status, or –Withdraw from the TTW altogether 22

Key Players of Workforce State EN State Coordinator oversee state EN Regional Workforce Investment Board invited to participate as part of the state EN Local management directs implementation Integration Policy The region designates a Ticket contact 23

A customer discloses they are on SSI or Social Security Disability benefits All staff and partner staff should act: 1.Staff will treat them as any other customer and invite them to become a Member 2.State the workforce center is an Employment Network and invite them to meet with your contact person.

Cont: What do we do?? 3.Local team determines plan how to connect, i.e. direct introduction if available/ if not and give number. 4.Regions will give person a Disability Tip Sheet (person does not need be on SSA), which has the contact information. 5.The EN Rep will meet with the person and process Ticket

Role of the Ticket Contact Rep Serve as the EN representative at regional level Seek signature for regional ticket assignment Responsible for following procedure regarding TTW documents Provide regional information to the Ticket Coordinator (This person is not assuming the role of the Navigator, but instead the sole purpose is the contact person for the regional TTW and the workforce center teams are being responsive to the job seekers with disabilities.) 26

Relationship between State EN and regional workforce partners Regional Workforce leadership will designate a local person as contact and promote EN through training and marketing Regional Workforce staff will provide referrals Regional Workforce Partners will receive EN payments minus 5% state admin fee for each ticket holder from their region 27

Relationship between State Workforce EN and state VR agencies Focus on customer service - available, appropriate services - cooperative not competitive - handoffs Written agreement Model for the nation 28

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By the Numbers (As of 12/1/2010) Tickets Mailed: 12.3 Million Tickets in Iowa: 98,000 40% Ticket holders want work EN Payments to Iowa Workforce EN: $115,000 30

Thank You Contact Mary Lynn ReVoir ext 107 cell: