Making the Ticket to Work Program Work: Recommendations for Next Steps

1. Making the Ticket to Work Program Work:Recommendations for Next Steps Health & Disability Advocates John Coburn

2. HDA Employment Network Survey • 23% of ENs in Region V responded; majority from Phase I and II States • Conclusions: • Need for more benefits planning in the community and peer supports; • Payment structure is inadequate to draw providers into the EN system March 23, 2005

3. Midwest Employment & Training Partnership • Purpose • Create a multi-state policy forum for ENs to create proactive policy solutions for challenges with Ticket to Work implementation; • Facilitate relationship building and information sharing of promising practices; and • Training for ENs on Relevant Workforce Issues March 23, 2005

4. Midwest ETP Policy Recommendations • Recommendation # 1 The Midwest ETP (“Partnership”) wholly supports the AOI Advisory Group’s Recommendation to fund ENs through an up-front payment system and payment for partial self-sufficiency. March 23, 2005

5. Midwest ETP Policy Recommendations • Recommendation #1 Logic • Removes disincentive to serving SSI beneficiaries • Encourages ENs to assist individuals in building work history that will lead to self-sufficiency; and • Removes disincentive to serving individuals who utilize important work incentives (such as IRWEs) March 23, 2005

6. Midwest ETP Policy Recommendations • Recommendation #2 State VR agencies must be allowed to seek cost reimbursement for services WITHOUT requiring the assignment of the individual’s ticket to that state VR Agency. March 23, 2005

7. Midwest ETP Policy Recommendations • Recommendation #2 Logic • Create an equal playing field between state VR and private Ens; • Create an attractive payment system for private ENs –put it on equal par with the standard contracting rate with state VR; • More creative partnerships can be formed by state VR and private ENs to better serve beneficiaries; • Current system places 95% of ticket users outside the Ticket payment system’s goal of long-term self-sufficiency. March 23, 2005

8. Midwest ETP Policy Recommendations • Recommendation #3 The Ticket to Work Panel and/or SSA should commission a study of employment and self-sufficiency outcomes for ticket users assigning their tickets to a state VR agency. March 23, 2005

9. Midwest ETP Policy Recommendations • Recommendation #3 Logic Such a study will provide SSA and Congress with data to determine if the Ticket to Work Program, as currently implemented, will reach its goal of doubling the number of individuals leaving the SSA roles. March 23, 2005

10. Midwest ETP Policy Recommendations • Recommendation #4: SSA must prioritize the development of a new system for collecting employment income and work incentive information. Such a system should implemented immediately. March 23, 2005

11. Midwest ETP Policy Recommendations • Recommendation #4 Logic • Reduction in overpayments will remove a significant barrier for beneficiaries to work. • Reduction in overpayments will improve Ticket claims administration. • Current system completely undermines the goals of the Ticket to Work Program. March 23, 2005

12. Midwest ETP Policy Recommendations • Recommendations #5: SSA should assign each local office Work Incentive Liaison with maintenance of a ticket participant’s work activity. Upon assignment of the ticket, an EN should receive a WIL contact for each participant. March 23, 2005

13. Midwest ETP Policy Recommendations • Recommendations #5 Logic • EN, Maximus and the SSA local office can partner to assume smooth transition from benefits and timely payment of EN claims. • ENs are assigned an identified SSA staff person who can assist in resolving benefits-related issues to support the individual’s employment. March 23, 2005

14. Midwest ETP Policy Recommendations • Recommendation #6: SSA should be required to make payments on EN claims within 30 days of receiving proper documentation. March 23, 2005

15. Midwest ETP Policy Recommendations • Recommendation #6 Logic • Eliminates payment delays. • Creates incentive for WIL and EN to work together to assure timely reporting of employment income. March 23, 2005

16. Midwest ETP Policy Recommendations • Recommendation #7: Training and technical assistance to ENs should be provided regionally (locally when possible) through existing SSA systems. March 23, 2005

17. Midwest ETP Policy Recommendations • Recommendation #7 Logic • Local access to training & TA will assure maximum participation. • Facilitates stronger relationships with of BPAO/PABSS. March 23, 2005

18. Ticket to Work: What is Happening Now? • Draft Regulations submitted to OMB and pulled back for further analysis • Marketing Plan • Re-Application of BPAO Projects and Project Manager • Formation of National EN Association March 23, 2005

19. Chicago Ticket to Work Pilot Project • Proposed Payment System: • $2000 upon placement in competitive employment • $2000 upon placement in competitive employment for 6 months • $1000 upon placement in competitive employment for one year. • Ticket payment system will continue payments for continued placement thereafter March 23, 2005

20. Chicago Ticket to Work Pilot Project • Goals: • Employment and self-sufficiency for 24 beneficiaries. • Demonstrate successful partnership of state VR agency with private ENs. • Encourage meaningful partnerships between traditional vocational rehabilitation service providers and other employment service providers. March 23, 2005

21. Chicago Ticket to Work Pilot Project • Goals: • Increase active ENs in Chicago. • Demonstrate enhanced payment system (similar to the proposed system recommended by the AOI Advisory Group, the EN Summit, and the METP. • Encourage SSA to adopt a new payment system or demonstrate other pilot payment systems throughout the country. March 23, 2005

22. Chicago Ticket to Work Pilot Project • Thresholds • Community Assistance Program • Charles A. Hayes Family Investment Center • At Least Four Job Placements To Date March 23, 2005

23. For More Information Health & Disability Advocates Contact Info: John Coburn jcoburn@hdadvocates.org Ph. 312-223-9600 THANK YOU! March 23, 2005