Disability Employment Initiative (DEI)

1. Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) TICKET 301: Employment Network Operations, Part V: Billing & Tracking, Additional EN Resources Hosted by: DJ Diamond, NDI Technical Assistance Team Member Presented by: Kevin Nickerson, NDI Technical Assistance Team Member Emily Malsch, Ticket to Work, Workforce Specialist / EN TASC Account Manager 2011 Training Series

2. 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 Administration’s 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 Networks will be provided under U.S. DOL ODEP contract with Social Dynamics. 2

3. Upon completion of this webinar, DEI Project staff will: Understand current EN billing options, and procedures Have a better understanding of how to manage Ticket holder demographics, and EN payments Know who your Maximus Technical Assistance and Support Center (TASC) Account Manager is, and the kinds of supports they provide ENs Understand the next steps NDI will take to provide ongoing Ticket/ENTechnical Assistance to DEI projects Ticket 301, Part V Learning Objectives 3

4. Ticket 301, Part V Agenda • EN Billing Options • EN Revenue Use • Payments at a glance • Billing Options • Payment Request Form overview • Future billing options for Workforce • EN Ticket holder tracking • The Challenge / Tompkins Workforce New York EN Tracking Tool • How to utilize the tracking tool • Additional reporting responsibilities • Introduction to Maximus Supports • Introducing the Technical Assistance and Support Center (TASC) • What your TASC Account Manager can do for you • How to reach your TASC Account Manager • Next Steps 4

5. Partnership Plus EN Billing Options 5

6. Ticket Funding & Other funding sources Revenue produced through your EN is flexible funding, and can be used as your EN chooses Training and Employment Notice (TEN) 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) For information about TEN No. 20-07: http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?docn=2563 6

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8. Overview of Billing Options for ENs Note: This Maximus document is located at: http://www.yourtickettowork.com/training_2

9. Evidentiary Payment Request • For this method of billing, you are required to submit evidence of earnings, this can include: • Pay Slips • Employer prepared and signed employee earnings statement • Records from Third Party Source containing monthly wage information, such as The Work Number • For more information about The Work Number: http://www.theworknumber.com/ • This method of payment is the least likely to cause an Overpayment to an EN

10. Certification Payment Request • For this method of billing, use the following guidelines: • Certification payment requests can be made without direct wage verification • Must have had recent dated contact with Ticket holder or employer • May use Earnings Inquiry Request from MAXIMUS (this may be phased out this year) • Self-Employment Income (SEI) Form • Contact may be in-person, by phone or email • EN must sign a repayment agreement if using this billing method

11. Earnings Inquiry Tool • Request earnings information for Ticket-holders assigned to your organization • MAXIMUS will review quarterly wage earnings records available to Social Security and respond in writing indicating whether the requested Ticket-holder has reported earnings at or above three times Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) for each calendar quarter available • Wage earnings at this level in a quarter may mean that the beneficiary earned over SGA for each of the three months within the quarter • NOTE: The information does not guarantee that you are eligible for EN payment. Several other variables apply when granting EN payment • See: http://www.yourtickettowork.com/earningsinquiry • Additional Note: • The Earnings Inquiry Tool will be phased out by August, 2011.

12. Review of Current EN Payment Request Form

13. Discussion Opportunity

14. Universal Auto-Pay…Coming Soon for all ENs • Universal Auto-Pay will take the place of Auto-Pay I and II and will do away with the need for ENs to request an Earnings Inquiry Request (EIR) • Under Universal Auto-Pay, SSAwill pay: • Outcome Payments 1-12 the first week of the fourth month following the claim month (e.g., SSAwill pay the April 2011 claim month the first week of August 2011). • The First Outcome payment is not required to be evidentiary, however, SSAwill process pay ONLY when theysee 3 X SGA earnings and that the beneficiary is in non-pay status due to work or earnings. • Outcome Payments 13 and on, the first week of the month following the claim month (e.g., SSAwill pay the July 2011 claim month the first week of August 2011) Note: Information taken from notes provided by Maximus from All EN Conference call held May 5, 2011

15. Universal Auto-Pay…Coming Soon for all ENs (cont.) • Also under Universal Auto-Pay, ENs will automatically receive a quarterly listing of all their clients indicating whether the Ticket-holder has reported earnings at or above three times Trial Work Level (TWL) for each calendar quarter available • For ENs that choose Universal Auto-Pay, the Earnings Inquiry Request is not necessary, since quarterly earnings of all Ticket holders above three times TWL will be provided

16. Review of Universal Auto-Pay request form

17. Full Auto-Pay One-Stop Pilot The next generation of the Auto-Pay option: • Will provide Auto-Payment for cases from Milestone 1, and ongoing • Will have a longer lag in payments, but reduced administrative burden for billing requests • Currently in evaluation stages • Offered to Four Pilot One-Stop / EN sites: • New York (Tompkins) • Iowa • Texas • Florida

18. EN Services Certification Statement • In addition to your billing request, a Services Certification Statement is required for the following billing requests: • Phase 1, Milestone 4 • Phase 2, Milestone 11 • Outcome 11 • Outcome 22 • This form is required to detail the supports/services you provided per your IWP, and the dates you provided them • By signing this statement, you are agreeing that you have provided at least 50% of the agreed upon services to your Ticket holder • NOTE: This requirement will likely be waived for Workforce ENs when Full Auto-Pay becomes available

19. Milestone Reconciliation Payment • 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

20. Payment Process Resources • The following link to the Maximus site will provide you with many payment resources and forms: http://www.yourtickettowork.com/payment_options

21. EN Ticket holder tracking

22. EN Tracking Tracking the following information, preferably in one place, will help you stay organized and efficient as an EN: • Ticket Holder Demographics • Payment request and received dates • Type of payment request (i.e. Milestone or Outcome) • Method of payment request used • Amount of payment • Total amount of revenue generated by EN • New tools to assist ENs in tracking Ticket holder data are currently in the works. The following EN Tracking Tool created by Challenge / Tompkins Workforce New York is being offered to assist you in the interim.

23. Review of Challenge / Tompkins Workforce New York EN Tracking Tool

24. Additional Reporting Annual Performance Outcome Report A customized report that your agency completes annually, that will capture any changes in contact information, service areas you cover, disability groups you wish to serve, and also addresses information such as: Number of Ticket Holders currently assigned Number of full / part-time staff covering Ticket services, as well as total number of hours spent on program Partnerships you have established Job Placement Data (i.e. Numbers served, placed, awaiting placement, avg. time until placed, average wage, retention rate, etc.) Industries/Sectors Ticket Holders are placed in Timely Progress Reports A review of Ticket Holder’s progress based on established Timely Progress Review standards Reporting 24

25. Discussion Opportunity

26. Additional Resources:Maximus, the Operations Support Manager

28. EN Technical Assistance and Support Center (TASC) • EN TASC was established to address technical assistance needs identified by ENs; to deliver improved training, and; to enhance internal procedures; and increase Ticket assignments and payments • EN TASC technical assistance and support will aid ENs in attaining new competencies and in meeting performance objectives • Each SSA region has a designated team to provide technical assistance and training throughout the EN lifecycle • Teams are lead by a Senior Account Manager to help troubleshoot specific issues and training needs • EN TASC Call Center - 866-949-3687- EN’s can reach an Account Manager anytime between 8AM and 8PM EST

29. How to reach TASC • TASC Call Center • EN can reach an Account Manager anytime between 8AM and 8PM EST, Monday through Friday • 866-949-3687

30. EN TASC Account Managers • Provides technical assistance with EN operations • Ticket Eligibility/Assignment • Individual Work Plan • EN Payments • Outreach/Marketing • EN Customer Support • Explain use of TTW forms • Ticket Training: Ticket Training Tuesdays & Customized Training • Modifications to EN information in directory • Annual Performance and Outcome Report support

31. Account Managers for DEI sites • Alaska: Darnell Clay • DarnellClay@maximus.com; 703.336.8037 • Arkansas: Sheila Etherly • SheilaCEtherly@maximus.com; 703.336.8130 • Delaware: Keitra Hill • KeitraHill@maximus.com; 703.336.8065 • Illinois: Akila Early • AkilaEarly@maximus.com; 703.336.8012 • Kansas: Adrian Catwell • AdrianMCatwell@maximus.com; 703.336.8010

32. Account Managers for DEI sites, continued • Maine: Charles Powell • CharlesPowell@maximus.com; 703.336.8030 • New Jersey: Adelle Barr • AdelleBarr@maximus.com; 703.336.8009 • New York: LaNelle Barber • LaNelleABarber@maximus.com; 703.336.8071 • Virginia: Becky Fay • RebeccaLFay@maximus.com; 703.336.8098

33. Discussion Opportunity

34. Next Steps – NDI Team • NDI team will continue to offer ongoing Technical Assistance to each of the DEI sites in the form of open discussion forums facilitated by subject matter expert(s). • Open Discussion forums will be comprised of individuals involved in EN operations in each of the DEI pilot sites, and may be broken down further, in order to keep these discussion forums to approximately 12 participants • Open Discussion forums will be used to evaluate current progress, assess Ticket holders, streamline EN business models and increase EN revenue • Other Workforce ENs are welcome to join a discussion group. More information will be provided in July regarding these forums.

35. Thank you for attending the Ticket 301 Five Part Series!

36. Contact Information Kevin Nickerson Program Associate NDI Technical Assistance Team knickerson@ndi-inc.org For Ticket to Work Technical Assistance needs, please email questions, or requests to schedule a call. Email requests will be reviewed through out the week