TICKET TO WORK
Part of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentive
Improvement Act of 1999 (TWWIIA), signed by President Clinton in Dec
1999
What are the Basics?
Title I:
Ticket to Work & Self-Sufficiency
Title II:
Expansion of Health Care
Title III:
Demonstration Projects/Studies
How Legislation Evolved?
Principal Sponsors: Senators Jeffords (VT), Kennedy
(MA), Moynihan (NY) and Roth (DE)
Legislation evolved over 3 years
Passed Senate unanimously, and House by large
majority. Enjoyed broad bi-partisan support.
Most significant disability legislation since Americans
with Disabilities
Goals
of Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Improvement Act Legislation
Lower the barriers to employment for people who receive
SSI and SSDI.
Encourage beneficiaries to access vocational services to
assist them return to work.
Provide more vocational options for
beneficiaries.
Create a
comprehensive set of
supports for employed people with disabilities.
Title I: Who Gets A Ticket?
13 pilot
states
Everyone 18 and
over receiving SSI and SSDI except those expected to make a medical
recovery
Approximately 3
million beneficiaries and recipients in pilot states
Will be sent out
over several months
What Does Consumer Do With
Ticket?
Not required to use Ticket.
If seeking vocational services, can give it to any
registered employment network. (EN)
Can move Ticket between ENs
What is an Employment Network?
An EN is an agency or instrumentality of a state or
private entity that assumes responsibility for delivering services to
individuals who assign them Tickets.
ENs are a
single provider or an association of
providers organized to combine their resources into a single
entity.
May provide services directly or through contracts or
other arrangements.
And EN must have qualifications, serve a prescribed
area, and must do an individual work plan with each consumer served.
How is EN paid?
No consumer control over payment beyond choice of giving
Ticket to EN.
EN must choose on of two systems: Outcome or
outcome-milestone.
Outcome payments occur when consumer earns enough that
they no longer get a cash benefit from SSA. Payment is equal to 40% of
average national payment for SSDI or SSI. Payments can occur for up to 60
non-consecutive months.
Outcome-milestone payments occur at 3 months of work
above SGA, and again at 7 months above SGA. Total milestones are less than
$1400, and maximum total payments are 85% of straight outcome
payments.
Public VR can additionally choose traditional
reimbursement on a case-by-case basis
Agreements- ENs and With VR
VR can be a part of multiple employment
networks
EN must have agreement with VR before
referral
Program Manager will resolve disputes
Program Manager
PM will distribute Tickets
PM will recruit ENs, and monitor performance of
ENs.
PM will facilitate consumer access to ENs and facilitate
movement of Tickets between ENs.
PM will resolve disputes and oversee agreements between
ENs.
Tickets and
Consumers
Consumer is
exempt from continuing disability reviews while using a Ticket (but must make
progress towards employment after 2 years).
Again, the Ticket has no cash value for
consumers!
What Does this Mean for VR??
Don't Panic!!!!
Change in procedure, not practice
Key Issues: Identification, Intake, Choice of payment,
formation of ENs
Challenges and Opportunities
Informing consumers
Educating providers
Forming viable ENs
Changing practice
Tracking Tickets, employment
Be alert for potential abuses
Greater consumer awareness
On-going employment supports
Implications for
Public VR
Agencies
"To Ticket or Not
to Ticket"
Outreach
Identification of Ticket Holders
Relationships with Other ENs
Marketing
Training of
agency and partner staff
Competitive
Edge
Intake
Benefits
Screening
Ticket
Status
Benefit
Status
Assignment
of Tickets
Reassignment of Tickets
External
Partnerships
Plan
Benefits
Advisement
Ticket
Decisions/Informed Choice
Ticket
Registration
Outcome vs.
Milestone
Decision
Makers
Provision
of Services through an EN
Agreements/Dispute Resolution
Closure
Benefits
Management Plan
Long term
follow up
Tracking
Intervention
Changes in
employment generally lead to changes in benefit status.
Earnings
Reporting
Changing Landscape
Comprehensive systems
Changes in
the System
Cash Benefits and Medical Benefits are delinked
SSA Changes
Changes in Medical
Options
Grant
Opportunities
Positive Outcomes
Federal
Focus on Employment of Persons with Disabilities
Long-Term
Follow Up Systems
Partnerships
Comprehensive Work Incentive Systems
Opportunity
to Reevaluate our System
For More Information
Peter Baird, Vermont DVR
(802) 241-2127
Paul Leather, NH VR
(603) 271-3801
Amy Porter, Connecticut VR
(860) 424-4864
amy.porter@po.state.ct.us