1. DB101 working with a disability in California www.db101.org © Copyright 2006 by World Institute on Disability, permission to copy pro bono will be granted to non profit entities with appropriate acknowledgement.

2. 2 Health and Benefits Training On Work and Disability

3. 3 Grateful Acknowledgements Training sponsored by the California Health Incentives Improvement Project

4. 4 Grateful Acknowledgements Funded by the: Medicaid Infrastructure Grant Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services

5. 5 Grateful Acknowledgements East Bay Steering Committee Center for Independent Living – Berkeley The Hawkins Legal Services Center Glynda Dixon, Benefits Counselor Alameda County Developmental Disabilities Council East Bay Innovations California Department of Rehabilitation California Employment Development Department The Social Security Administration Regional Center of the East Bay California Health Incentives Improvement Project Student Disability Resource Center, California State University, East Bay Cal Transitions – A Workability IV Program

6. Trainers Maria Iriarte Protection and Advocacy, Inc. Phone 213-427-8747 Maria.Iriarte@pai-ca.org Bryon MacDonald World Institute on Disability Phone 510-251-4304 bryon@wid.org bryon@wid.org

7. 7 Training Agenda Morning Disability Continuum Benefit Programs Afternoon DB101 Benefits-to-Work Calculator Workforce Inclusion Coming of Age

8. 8 Disability and Program Continuums Continuum of needs

9. 9 The Disability Continuum Person-centered, not program centered People get jobs, this is not a policy problem. People with disabilities get jobs, we have a policy problem.  … do we?

10. 10 Benefits Planning Access to: the right information in the right hands at the right time

11. 11 Benefits Planning Using the right information: What are the correct rules for the customer's situation? What are the ways to find the rules? How can the customer get the rules applied to their situation? Using the right tools and resources Brochures, training, Internet tools, program services networks

12. 12 A Benefits Planner Trained expert in: Health coverage and disability income programs Housing and transportation supports Program interaction Impact of work or age on benefits

13. 13 Benefits Planning A relationship building series of activities: Between benefits planner and customer Between benefits planner and other public and private program staff

14. 14 Benefits Planning and Trust Trust is Number One between the customer, the benefits planner and any service agency staff.

15. Benefits Planning and Trust Private and confidential information is required to explain benefit options enable effective benefits planning A confidential relationship built over time.

16. 16 Benefits Planning Pays For the Customer For the Government

17. 17 California State Partnership Initiative with Social Security  Statewide multi-constituency group provided oversight, developed program design  Kern County On Track Employment Services, San Mateo County Vocational Rehabilitation Services project sites  Allen, Shea and Associates Program Evaluator  Department of Rehabilitation managed grant, provided vocational rehabilitation services through Mental Health Cooperative Programs

18. 18 HYPOTHESIS The employment supports of benefits planning and service coordination before, during and after existing vocational rehabilitation and mental health treatment programs will:  Increase employment earnings  Increase employment success rate  Decrease public mental health costs  Decrease SSA benefits

19. 19 CORE SERVICES  Grant Funded  Benefits counseling, planning and management  Ongoing service coordination and employment support  Existing Services Available  Vocational counseling, training and education  Employment preparation, job development and placement  Mental health treatment

20. 20 INCREASED EMPLOYMENT EARNINGS Average Covered UI Earnings Per Person Per Quarter $895 $1,046 $496 $585 $634 $339 At Intake 1 yr. Post Intake 2 yrs. Post Intake

21. 21 Rate of DOR Successfully Employed Case Closures INCREASED EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS RATE 72% 39%

22. 22 DECREASED PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH COSTS ISSP Participants (1 yr Before vs 3.7 yrs after ) Comparison Group (1yr. Before vs 1 yr after DOR Closure) % Decrease of Medi-Cal Costs Per Person Per Year -21% -12%-13% -16% -2%

23. 23 DECREASED SSA BENEFITS As of June 2004:  92 participants working (43 at start of project)  17 off cash benefits  64 reduced cash benefits  11 increased SSDI amount by more than 20%  58 participants not working  Benefit amount increased 12% due to COLAs during project period

24. 24 Benefits Planning Resources Social Security trained benefits planners Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Grantees, WIPA Social Security Work Incentive Liaison, WILs Social Security Work Incentive Coordinator, AWICs Disability Program Navigators at One Stop Career Centers Employment Networks Employer Human Resources departments Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security, PABSS Critical resources to make informed choices.

25. 25 Benefits Planning Statewide California’s overall new strategy with federal grants and state partners  Develop a proactive disability benefits counseling and training infrastructure  Focus on education, training and technical assistance for consumers, state and local programs and employers

26. 26 Benefits Planning Target Audiences  Close to 3 million working age adults in CA with a disability Less than half have jobs today  650,000 students in special education  The people who teach or work with youth or adults with disabilities

27. 27 Target Audience Facts 150,000 adults with disabilities work today with no health coverage at all, who may be eligible for the 250% California Working Disabled Program… Source: “The 250% California Working Disabled Program, Lessons Learned, Looking Ahead” The Lewin Group California HealthCare Foundation

28. 28 Times for Benefits Planning When:  planning employment  new employment starts  changing jobs or getting a raise  using several benefit programs to support or return to employment.

29. 29 Benefits Planning Infrastructure  CA Jobs for All and Workability Programs  Department of Rehabilitation  Supported Employment staff  Employer Human Resources  Community Based Organizations  Staffing agencies  Ticket Program Employment Networks  Program eligibility workers, hospital social workers, case managers and family members

30. 30 Benefits Planning Infrastructure Today’s training goal, learn to: Gain an awareness level knowledge and understanding that people with disabilities can use public and private programs and work Collaborate with benefits planners, and Increase ability to make timely and appropriate referrals

31. Review of Benefit Programs