Disability Employment Initiative (DEI)

1. Disability Employment Initiative(DEI) Ticket to Work Boot Camp: Ticket Overview: Integrating Ticket to Work into your Job Center Hosted/Facilitated by: Miranda Kennedy Presented by Kevin Nickerson & Mary Lynn ReVoir NDI Technical Assistance Team Members Fall 2012 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 Network will be provided under U.S. DOL ODEP contract with Social Dynamics.

3. 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 • Basic knowledge of EN payment structure • Awareness of Employment Network (EN) models and partnerships • Information on next steps and how to apply to become an EN

4. Agenda • Background: Challenge Workforce Solutions and Iowa Workforce Experience • What is the Ticket to Work Program? • Ticket to Work Basics • Review of the Ticket to Work payment structure • Employment Network (EN) models and partnerships • What’s my next step? How do we apply?

5. Leading You Forward *Challenge Workforce Solutions, a nonprofit, vocational services organization, was founded in 1968 to offer employment and placement opportunities to individuals who face barriers to employment. http://www.challengeworkforcesolutions.org/ 5

6. What is the Ticket to Work Program?

7. 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 beneficiary’s in becoming self-sufficient through employment

8. 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 beneficiary’s to receive a Ticket to Work which may be assigned to a participating Employment Network for assistance in achieving their desired vocational goal

9. What is the Ticket to Work Program? • The goal: • A Shift: Self-sufficiency. Decrease the Ticket Holder’s 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

10. Choice EN’s 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 VR MBI EN SBA Work Incentives ITA’s PASS Job Center

11. Ticket to Work Basics

12. Useful Terms and Acronyms

13. The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act was passed in 1999 and provided benefits to SSA Disability beneficiaries & EN’s including: Yearly cost of living increases for Ticket Payments to EN’s 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 Ticket to Work Program Basics 13

14. 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) Offers long-term funding to ensure Ticket Holders receive ongoing return to work support. Funds to the ENs are flexible, and can be used, in part, to support beneficiary needs Ticket to Work Program Basics Cont. 14

15. 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 Vocational Rehabilitation permits in some cases. Actively participating in the Ticket to Work program suspends a Ticket Holder’s 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. Ticket to Work – Ticket Holders 15

16. Snapshot of Program Overview 4

17. How does the Ticket program tie into the DEI project strategies? Having job center as an EN attracts customers who is on SSA disability benefits plus sends strong welcoming message to disability community Strengthens partnership and collaboration with VR for helps build a responsive service delivery Promotes use of IRTs which increases successful employment outcomes for customer and job center programs Contributes to the credit of all programs involved in the employment outcome, WIA, Wagner-Peyser, while also providing new additional revenue to job center 17

18. How does the Ticket program apply to DEI Youth projects? “Our DEI project’s focus is on youth and our youth predominantly do not have tickets.” Tickets are issued to beneficiaries starting at age 18 so double-check on this! All Workforce ENs are encouraged to serve all ages of Ticket holders, not just those in the youth or adult population they are targeting through the DEI. “Most of the youth coming into the Job Centers are working with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and VR has their Ticket.” The use of an Integrated Resource Team (IRT) will not only help your customer, but will allow you to determine if the Ticket holder is a candidate you should serve long-term, through the Partnership Plus model, after VR case closure The most appropriate, readily available services may initially be VR or it may initially be through the Job Center, especially in states where there is an order of selection (waiting list) for VR services Remember: Becoming and operating as an Employment Network is a core component of all awarded DEI Projects. 18

19. What is all this talk about EN Payments? 19

20. Ticket Funding & Other funding sources Training and Employment Notice No. 20-07 clarifies that Ticket funding is an additional revenue source for Job Center 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/Ticket%20to%20Work%20SMD%201-28-10%20clean.pdf 20

22. Outcome Payment System 2012 Rates 22

23. Milestone-Outcome Payment System: Phase 1 Milestones * Subsequent months must be at TWL 2012 Rates 23

24. Understanding Phase 1 Payments There are reasons some, or all of, Phase 1 payments may not be available to an EN: • Recent Work Activity • Work at or above applicable Trial Work level earnings ($720 in 2012) within 18 months “prior to Ticket assignment” • Checkout the 18-Month Prior Earnings Tool to explore a beneficiary recent work history https://yourtickettowork.com/web/ttw/en-forms • State VR history with Ticket Holder

25. 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, beneficiary’s Ticket is: Considered as “in use SVR” Cannot be assigned to another EN while in use Extends Continuing Disability Review (CDR) protection to beneficiary Beneficiary can assign Ticket to an EN after VR case closure 25

26. Partnership Plus: 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 for ongoing employment support to retain employment or build career NOTE: More detailed information about Partnership Plus will be provided in future Ticket to Work training 26

27. Milestone-Outcome Payment System: Phase 2 Payments 2012Rates 27

28. Milestone-Outcome Payment System: Outcome Payments 2012 Rates 28

29. NOTE: Based on the clear direction provided recently by SSA, an EN should NOT assign a Ticket if the Beneficiary has no intention of, or ability to, work at a level that would eventually allow them to successfully leave the benefits roles It is often the case that Ticket holders will return to work part-time, however, with the goal of moving toward full-time, self-supporting work 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 wage=$736 This example would qualify your EN for Phase 1 Milestone payments Will becoming an EN help me with individuals that can only work part-time?

30. 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 30

31. 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 the Operations Support Manager (OSM), through Ticket Tuesday Training opportunities 31

32. 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. National research at job centers indicate job centers have potential to generate EN funds to partially or fully sustain DRC positions. EN funds could also support service gaps, additional training funds, etc. Generous funding stream – $23, 341 (SSDI) and $22,468 (SSI) per successful beneficiary who achieves all payments 32

33. 33 Q & A To ask a question/make a comment please: click on the “raised hand icon” OR submit via the Q&A panel Note: Both are located on the right hand toolbar

34. Employment Network (EN) Models • Funds through the Ticket program are flexible, to use as you wish, and so are the Business Models you may consider in developing your Employment Network • The following are examples of strategies found in various locations across the U.S.

35. Each EN (WIB) completes a separate application to operate as an independent EN Ideally, State Vocational Rehabilitation provides information about all EN options when closing a case for consumers to receive ongoing support from EN This example shows a collaborative web allowing for referral and mentoring efforts amongst separate EN’s Local Level Strategy For DEI grantees, this model would include the Workforce Investment Board as the EN of record, per the Solicitation for Grant Application (SGA)

36. Collaborative Agreement Strategy Advantages: Sharing of information & resources, staffing and community outreach

37. State Administrative Employment Network (AEN) Providers of Employment Services become vendors under the AEN umbrella

38. Next Steps in Becoming an Employment Network (EN)

39. Becoming an Employment Network All Employment Networks need a signed formal contract/agreement with Social Security Administration This is a federal contract/agreement and the EN needs to maintain in compliance DOL funded Workforce Agencies have 2 Options to apply: Payment Agreement (PA) or Request for Quotation (RFQ) 39

40. Components required of All ENs 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) You must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. The EN responsible update annually. There is no charge. Formerly Central Contractor Registration (CCR) system and the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) 40

41. Request for Quotation (RFQ) • The method available to ALL agencies to become an Employment Network; option for workforce. • The EN Request for Quotation (RFQ) can be found at: • http://www.ssa.gov/work/enrfp.html • Download and complete on your computer • The most recent RFQ release date as of this training, is 8/27/2012 • The RFQ provides detailed instructions about action required. You will be submitting the RFQ electronically to SSA.

42. Payment Agreement (PA) • The method available only to DOL funded workforce agencies to become an Employment Network. • Became available in October, 2012. • Can be obtained from TA Liaison or OSM. • You will be submitting the signed PA electronically to SSA.

43. What if I have questions regarding the EN application? For RFQ ---- Help is available through SSA’s Employment Network Contracts Team E-Mail: ENContracts@ssa.gov For PA ---- Help is available through SSA’s PA staff E-Mail: Enagreements@ssa.gov Note: Additional training on “Completing the Application to Become an EN” will be made available by the DEI TA team on December 13. 43

44. Once you become an Employment Network, the Operations Support Manager (OSM) 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 Ticket to Work website at www.yourtickettowork.com As an EN… 44

45. Ticket to Work Resources: Visit SSA’s Work Site ww.socialsecurity.gov/work Visit Ticket to Work website www.yourtickettowork.com Visit the Beneficiary Access & Support Services (BASS) website to view beneficiary success story and workforce EN: www.chooseworkttw.net/about-program/success-stories-video.html You can also find archives of all DEI Ticket/EN trainings and related resources on the DEI website at: http://www.dei-ideas.org/chapter6/page0a_enttw.cfm 45

46. Next Steps • If your Job Center(s) and/or state Department of Labor is not currently an Employment Network (EN), the NDI TA Team will be providing information on options for applying to become an EN in December 13, 2012, which will be repeated again in January 2013. • A series of upcoming trainings starting in early 2013 will provide key information and proven strategies, and showcase promising practices already in use among existing Workforce ENs, to integrate EN operations into your Job Centers and other DEI project objectives. • Stay Tuned!!!

47. Contact Information Kevin Nickerson NDI Technical Assistance Team knickerson@ndi-inc.org Phone: (607) 272-7570 Ext. 136 Mary Lynn ReVoir NDI Technical Assistance Team mlrevoir@ndi-inc.org Phone: (515) 975-2344