Click HERE to Visit the VESID Web Site
Goal:
Provide staff support for Ticket to Work and Social Security work incentive activities within VESID.
Objectives
of the Social Security Information Unit:
The Social Security Information Unit
will increase SSDI, SSI, and SSDI/SSI beneficiaries’ access to VR services and
other related support services.
The Social Security Information Unit
will set up and maintain toll free phone numbers across New York State to inform
beneficiaries about the Ticket to Work program. They will help process VESID
applications, Ticket to Work assignment, and be available to advise regarding
benefits, work incentives and related issues.
The Social Security Information Unit
will also assist in the coordination of cost reimbursement payment, Employment
Network (EN) payments, as well as assisting with data collection, reporting, and
program evaluation.
The Social Security Information Unit
will coordinate the assignment of Tickets to VESID for SSI/SSDI beneficiaries in
the current VESID caseload.
General
Functions of the Social Security Information Unit:
1. Information dissemination
2. Ticket assignment
3. Ticket to Work verification
4. Benefits advisement
5. Cost reimbursement payments, and
Employment Network (EN) payments
6. Case closure
7. Reporting/Program evaluation
Function #1 Information Dissemination
Activities:
a.
Establish toll free telephone lines in Buffalo, Albany, and Manhattan
where Social Security Information Units will be located. The units will likely
be located in VESID District Offices with the exception of Albany, where the
Unit will be located in Central Office.
b.
Social Security Information Unit staff will talk directly to ticket
holders about the Ticket to Work program. They
will discuss Maximus (Program Manager) and the Employment Networks (EN) other
than VESID. They will inform ticket holders that they have the option to
consider other Employment Networks before committing their ticket to VESID.
Telephone calls to the toll free numbers may be initiated by ticket holders,
referrals from VESID district offices, or referrals from the program manager.
c.
If a ticket holder requests VESID services, Social Security Information
Unit staff will confirm with a Program Manager that the caller has an assignable
ticket.
d.
Social Security Information Unit staff will provide an over the telephone
overview of VESID services. If the individual is interested in applying for
VESID, Social Security Information Unit staff will coordinate the referral of
the individual to the appropriate District Office.
Function #2 Ticket Assignment
Activities:
a.
Social Security Information Unit staff will confirm with the Program
Manager that all Ticket holders have an assignable ticket.
b.
Social Security Information Unit staff will generate all Ticket to Work
Assignment Forms.
c.
Social Security Information Unit staff will fax all Ticket to Work
Assignment Forms to the Program Manager.
d.
Social Security Information Unit staff will enter the date of ticket
assignment into the Ticket to Work database.
Social Security Information Unit staff will also enter payment selection
into the database (default is cost reimbursement).
e.
Social Security Information Unit staff will verify that the Program
Manager received the fax and that the ticket has been assigned to VESID.
f.
If the Ticket to Work assignment was not confirmed, Social Security
Information Unit staff will contact Maximus to determine what the problem is.
g. Social Security Information Unit staff will coordinate the ticket assignment for the VESID caseload.
Function #3 Ticket to Work Verification
Activities:
a. Social Security Information Unit staff will continually review the Program Manager’s listing to ascertain changes in the status of ticket assignment to VESID.
b.
Social Security Information Unit staff will enter the date the ticket was
rescinded from VESID into the Ticket to Work database.
c.
If the Ticket holder should be assigned to VESID and has been
inadvertently removed from the Program Manager’s list, Social Security
Information Unit staff will contact the Program Manager to solve the problem.
d.
If the Ticket holder has rescinded their Ticket from VESID, the VRC will
be informed.
Function #4 Benefits Advisement
Activities:
a.
Social Security Information Unit staff will be trained on the work
incentives provisions.
b. Social Security Information Unit staff will provide preliminary benefits advisement as well as information on appropriate local work incentive information resources such as Benefits Planning and Assistance Outreach agencies or Independent Living Centers to ticket holders as needed.
Function #5 Cost Reimbursement Payments, Employment Network (EN) Payments
Activities:
a.
Social Security Information Unit staff will record selection of payment
system in database. Cost
reimbursement will be the default.
Function #6 Case Closure
Activities:
a.
Upon status 26, 28, or 30 closure of Ticket to Work case, Social Security
Information Unit staff is to enter appropriate data.
Function #7 Reporting/Program Evaluation
Activities:
a.
After case closure, continued contact should be maintained. This contact
will assist our long-term research effort to determine who should be served
using the Employment Network payment model.
b.
Social Security Information Unit staff will collect information and
provide reports to the Program Manager as needed.
c. Social Security Information Unit staff will collect program evaluation information and provide to the Program Manager as required.
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Click HERE to Visit the VESID Web Site |