Vocational Rehabilitation And The New Ticket to Work Program Presenters Harold Thornton, TACE Consultant Elizabeth Jennings, National Disability Institute March 31, 2009

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 2 Learning Objectives Participants will acquire a basic understanding of: Impact of new Ticket to Work Regulations Administrative Requirements of the Program Data and systems requirements Key Functions, Staff roles and responsibilities Importance of Quality Assurance How to Maximize SSA Program Income

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 3 The Ticket to Work Program Purpose of the TTW Program Goal of the TTW Program Program Performance –

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 4 Tickets Issued to SSA Beneficiaries as of April 2008 Nationally - 10,624,709 Regionally - 2,449, % of Total

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 5 Tickets Assigned as of April 2008 Nationally: State VR Agencies – 187,935 (93.34%) Employment Networks - 13,360 (6.66%) Regionally: State VR Agencies – 39,573 (93.7%) Employment Networks – 2,674 (6.3%)

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 6 SSA Program Income for VR Nationally - $124,238, Regionally - $21,155, – 17% of Total Income

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 7 Amendments to SSA Regulations Affecting Beneficiaries: ALL Beneficiaries age 18 – 64 receive a Ticket, including those previously ineligible due to Medical Improvement Expected status SSA has restructured the TTW Program to provide for a more incremental process for achieving self-sufficiency employment Part-time employment is now viewed to be progress toward self-sufficiency

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 8 Amendments to SSA Regulations Affecting Beneficiaries (cont.): More opportunities for beneficiaries to stabilize in employment and reduce their dependence on SSA cash benefits on a more permanent basis Provides for critical ongoing supports More flexible standards for making timely progress Assignment of Ticket or Ticket in “In Use” Status continues to provide suspension of Continuing Medical Disability Review

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 9 Affecting Employment Networks: Enhanced EN Payment System From 40 to 60% of PCB More than 4 milestone payments 5% increase in Total Outcome Payments Parity in Payments for SSI and SSDI Amendments to SSA Regulations

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 10 Affecting Employment Networks (cont): Competition alleviated between ENs and SVRA EN can serve Ticket-holders subsequent to being served by SVRA One Stops/ Workforce Boards (WFBs) and Native American Projects automatically qualified as ENs Amendments to SSA Regulations

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 11 Affecting State VR Agencies: Enhanced EN Payment system provides greater opportunity for SSA program income and a more efficient payment system Provides real opportunities for partnerships Provides opportunity to create systemic long term supports after case closure; increasing cost reimbursement, community collaboration and beneficiary success Amendments to SSA Regulations

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 12 Planning for Success Identifying key functions Organizing key functions and placement within organization Staffing key functions Identifying Data and Systems Requirements Development and implementation of Policies, Procedures and Processes Evaluating Program and System Performance

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 13 Key Functions Overall Program Administration Claims/Payment Processing Registration of Ticket Status Records/Data Management Quality Assurance

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 14 Finding a Place for TTW in Your Organization Consider Projected Workload Projected Revenues Centralized vs. Decentralized System Size of organization Work and Information Flow Interaction with field staff Interaction with Fiscal Systems and Staff Appropriated Budget vs. Estimated Expenses

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 15 Centralized or Decentralized System Program Administrator Claims / Payment Processor Ticket Administration Coordinator Quality Assurance Coordinator Staff Roles & Responsibilities

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 16 Consumer Orientation and Education Development, Execution and Coordination of Partnerships (MOA/MOU) Coordination of WIPA Referrals Preparation and Submission of SSA Form 1365 (Ticket Assignment request) Staff Training Staff Roles & Responsibilities

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 17 Data and System Requirements Identification of Consumers who are SSA Beneficiaries Verification of SSA Benefits via local SSA Office State Verification and Exchange System (SVES) Identification of consumers who are Ticket- eligible MAXIMUS CD of Ticket-holders Registration of Ticket Activation/Case Closure

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 18 Tracking Employment and Wage Data UI Data Earnings Inquiry Requests The Work Number Employer Requests Maintenance of Claims and Payment Data Data and System Requirements (cont.)

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 19 TTW Policies and Procedures Based on: SSA Regulations - Section 411 Chapter 12 – SSA Provider Operations Manual Transmittal 29 RSA Policies State VR Agency Policies State Fiscal Policies

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 20 Quality Assurance “The Money Net” Should focus on: Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Policies Observing Consumer Rights and Benefits Conformance to Consumer Expectations Achieving Organizational Goals, Objectives and Performance Expectations

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 21 Program and System Performance Expectations Successful Outcomes for Consumers leading to Self-Sufficiency Being the State leader in the administration of the Program Maximizing SSA Program Income

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 22 Establishing System Controls Controls for Data Integrity Controls to ensure productivity Controls to ensure quality Controls for efficiency Controls for fiscal accountability

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 23 Effectively Using the Payment Systems Traditional Cost Reimbursements Vocational Goal is to engage in Competitive Employment that will extend to 9 months within a 12 month period and earn over SGA level of earnings ($980/month after Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs)).

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 24 EN Payments Vocational Goal is employment that will result in earnings at or above the Trial Work Level (currently $700/month) for at least one or more milestone periods 2 weeks 3 months 6 months 9 months Effectively Using the Payment Systems (cont.)

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 25 Other factors to consider: Part Time vs. Full Time Employment Goal Educational Goal High Wages vs. Low Wages Number of Previous Cases Severity of Disability Projected Cost of Case Age Effectively Using the Payment Systems (cont.)

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 26 Other Program Requirements Must make the decision at time IPE is being initiated Traditional Cost Reimbursement Cases will be placed ‘In Use’ EN Payment Cases will be ‘Assigned’ Effectively Using the Payment Systems (cont.)

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 27 MAXIMUS Website - Social Security Administration – Additional resources

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 28 Questions… Harold Thornton, Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Elizabeth Jennings, National Disability Institute

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 29 THANK YOU!

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 30 TACE Center: Region IV Toll-free: (866) [voice/tty] Fax: (404) Web: TACEsoutheast.orgTACEsoutheast.org My TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportalTACEsoutheast.org/myportal

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 31 Education Credits Participants may be eligible for CEU and CRCC credits. CEU Credit – Pending Approval (.15) Site Coordinators must distribute the CEU form to participants seeking CEU credit on the day of the webinar. Site coordinators must submit CEU form to the TACE Center: Region IV by fax (404) by Friday, April 3, CRCC Credit (1.5 per session) By Friday, April 3, 2009, participants must score 80% or better on a online Post Test and submit an online CRCC Request Form via the MyTACE Portal. My TACE Portal: TACEsoutheast.org/myportalTACEsoutheast.org/myportal

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 32 Disclaimer This presentation was developed by the TACE Center: Region IV ©2009 with funds from the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) under the priority of Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Projects (TACE) – Grant #H264A However, the contents of this presentation do not necessarily represent the policy of the RSA and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government [34 CFR (b)].

TACE Center: Region IV, a project of the Burton Blatt Institute. Funded by RSA Grant # H264A © 2009 All Rights Reserved 33 Copyright Information This work is the property of the TACE Center: Region IV. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the authors. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the authors.