VERMONT DET
Department of
Employment & Training
we help vermont
work
Ticket To
Work
This document contains materials provided by
Jim Dorsey, Project Administrator of the Vermont Work Incentive Grant. The Law, Health Policy & Disability Center
of the University of Iowa College of Law has reproduced these materials for the
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center On Workforce Investment and
Employment Policy For People with Disabilities (RRTC). The RRTC is funded by the National Institute
on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education
under grant number H133B980042-99. The
opinions contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the
Department of Education.
These materials have been reproduced to
provide examples and to assist other projects to establish, work with, and to
administer the Ticket to Work program.
While many of these materials are indicative to the state of Vermont,
they can provide samples of the kinds of documents that can be reproduced and
catered to your state and project.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Memorandum---Initial
Program Implementation 3
Social
Security Benefits Overview 6
SSDI 6
SSI 8
Benefit Counseling 10
Ticket to Work Program 11
DET
Staff Protocol 12
DVR
Ticket to Work (Facts-Answers-Questions) 13
Recommended
Flyers to be used in the Career Resource Centers 15
Statement
of Rights, Benefits, Conditions (TtW-11) DET (New Form)
To
be used with Ticket to Work Clients 17
Points
to Note---Mock Application (Information for Case Managers) 20
Participant
Record (ET-614) Sample Copy with associated paperwork/notes 21
Social
Security Form, Form SSA-1365 (10-2001)
State
Agency Ticket Assignment, Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program 27
Addendum
to Vocational Rehabilitation Ticket to Work Assignment Form 29
Sample
Ticket to Work 20
Vermont Department of
Employment & Training
MEMORANDUM
THRU: Bob Ware, Director, J&T
TO: All Career Resource Center
Managers
FROM: Jim Dorsey, Work Incentive
(Disability) Grant
SUBJECT: Ticket to Work---Initial Program
Implementation
DATE:
January 16, 2002
OVERVIEW:
Ticket
to Work is an incentive program developed by the Social Security Administration
(SSA), whereby service providers will be paid for successfully returning
beneficiaries to the workforce and thus closing their Social Security
benefits. The payment would be
equivalent to 40% of an average benefit amount, and will be paid for every
month that the client does not receive SSA benefits for up to 60 months.
MAXIMUS,
a private company contracted by Social Security, will oversee the program. Their role includes recruitment and
authorization of Employment Networks, referral and resource for clients looking
to receive services, and oversight of service plans and provider operations.
Any
person or organization can apply to become an authorized Employment Network as
long as they can meet the guidelines.
At present, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is authorized to
operate as an Employment Network to provide services independently or in
partnership with other providers. Other
Networks are Rutland Mental Health, Vermont Division for the Blind and Visually
Impaired, Take Charge Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Jim Hartley, and
Ability Forum.com. Additional networks
may be approved at a later date.
The
Department of Employment and Training is currently a partner Provider with the
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).
In this agreement, actual client services can be provided solely by DET
or jointly with DVR and/or other providers.
In order to participate in the Ticket Program, each Area Resource Center
must have a designated liaison that will review and approve plans and assure
that paperwork is appropriately forwarded to the DET point of contact. Because Social Security will pay based on
outcomes, it is important that DET has well developed and documented plans and
enough follow-up to ensure that the client remains employed. If multiple partners provide services, the
payment will be prorated. A portion of
the payment received by DET will be provided to the servicing CRC. All Ticket related paperwork will be
forwarded to---DET Ticket to Work Coordinator.
PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES
a.
Answer
all telephone inquiries to the extent possible using the prepared protocol
sheet furnished by the Work Incentive (Disability) Program Project Specialist.
b.
If
after an initial interview, the client appears to warrant further services,
refer her/him to an appropriate case manager.
c.
The
ticket should only be accepted after extensive assessment and agreement between
the client and the case manager(s) as to the steps needed to reach the
employment goal. When service steps are
completed they must be documented on the ET-614 as they are accomplished.
d.
Prior
to accepting the Ticket call MAXIMUS (800-986-7642) to verify status. If the ticket is not assigned and you and
the client agrees that DET should be the Ticket holder, complete the forms
listed below, have the Ticket liaison review the plan, and proceed with
services as needed.
If DET elects to accept the Ticket the following
must be completed:
The ET-614 (Participant Record) including a
description of the specific employment goal, an all-inclusive description of
services to be provided leading to that employment, and signatures of the
client, case manager, and CRC liaison that agree to the plan.
The new General Provisions Form, which includes how
the program works, how the plan can be amended or agreement terminated,
description of confidentiality, the fact that there is no cost to the client to
participate, and information to the client's right to protection and advocacy
services. The client, case manager, and
the CRC liaison all must sign.
Complete the State Agency Ticket Assignment Form
(Form SSA-1365) dated October 2001.
Have the Ticket Holder or Representative sign and date the form at the
bottom in the designated space. DVR
will sign as the State VR Agency Representative.
e.
When
plans are completed, they will be reviewed and approved by the CRC Manager or
her/his designated staff person that is the liaison for the Ticket to Work
Program. Approval will be indicated in
the "Additional Signature" portion of the ET-614. The original Ticket with the authenticated
forms (also originals) will be forwarded to the DET Ticket to Work Coordinator
who will review and subsequently forward to DVR. Copies of all documents will be retained in the local CRC files.
f.
Beneficiaries
will be monitored by SSA for five years after the client stops receiving SSA
benefits. CRC case managers will
provide sufficient follow up to assist the client in maintaining their
employment status during the Social Security maintenance period (at least once
a month for the first year).
g.
A
DET Project Specialist is available to render technical advice in developing or
reviewing Individual Work Plans.
SOCIAL
SECURITY BENEFITS OVERVIEW
(Information
current as of January 16, 2002)
SSDI - Social Security
Disability Insurance
Eligibility:
The
person must have worked and paid into the Social Security tax (FICA) or they
can collect off a parent who has a disability or is retired (adult child with a disability) or deceased
spouse.
Has
a medically documented impairment that is expected to result in death or to
last for at least 12 months.
Is
not able to perform Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). This is the ability to earn $780.00 a month
($1300.00 for people with blindness).
Benefits
may also be paid to the dependents (spouse or child) of an insured person.
There
is a five-month waiting period, from the onset of disability, before benefits
will start (unless imminently terminally ill).
Benefit Amount:
Benefit
amount will vary depending on how much the recipient has paid into the
insurance fund.
Continuing Disability Review:
Continuing
Disability Review may be accomplished at six-month to seven-year intervals,
depending on the recipients' diagnosis and likelihood of recovery, to determine
if the disability still exists.
Impact of Employment on SSDI:
Trial Work Period (TWP): A trial work period is any month that an
SSDI recipient earns $560.00 or more. A
recipient is allowed nine trial work months (not necessarily consecutive) in a
rolling period of 60 consecutive months.
During TWP the recipient will receive their full SSDI benefits.
Once
the recipient has completed their nine-month trial work period, Social Security
will conduct a Continuing Disability Review to determine if the person is
working at a level of SGA ($780.00 or $1300.00 for people with blindness per month). If they are exceeding SGA, they will receive
benefits for three months, but the benefits will cease on the fourth month if
they continue to work at SGA, or the first month thereafter that they reach
SGA.
Extended Period of
Eligibility (EPE): The Extended Period of
Eligibility applies to individuals who still possess their original
disability. They will begin an extended
period of eligibility the month after their trial work period ends. This will last for 36 consecutive
months. During that time they will receive
a benefit check whenever their earnings fall below SGA ($780.00 or $1300.00 for
people with blindness per month) for that month.
Special Conditions and
Impairment Related Expenses: Special
conditions and impairment related expenses might be deducted from earnings in
determining if someone meets SGA. This
may include items such as using a job coach to complete the job or adaptive
equipment needed to enable the person to work.
Medicare:
Medicare
may continue for up to 91 months after the trial work period if the person is
still eligible for SSDI. If the person
becomes ineligible for premium free Medicare, they may be able to continue
coverage by paying the premium themselves.
Some people who receive SSDI can receive Medicaid for employed individuals
with disabilities
SSI - Supplemental Security
Income
Eligibility:
Has
a medically documented impairment that is expected to result in death or to
last for at least 12 months.
Is
not able to perform Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). This is the ability to earn $780.00 a
month. (For people who have blindness there
is a level of blindness test instead of an SGA test. There is a separate criteria for people under the age of 18.)
Meets
an economic needs test.
Benefit Amount:
The
standard rate of Vermont is currently $604.04 a month effective January
2002. However, the actual benefit may
be reduced due to earned income, unearned income, deemed income, in-kind
support, or resources that the recipient has.
Deemed Income and In-Kind
Support are contributions made by someone living in or out of the
recipient's household to cover all or part of the recipients living
expenses. Resources are cash or anything that can be converted to cash
(with few exceptions). The current Resource Limit is $2000.00 for an
individual or $3000.00 for a couple. If
the recipient exceeds the resource limit they will not be eligible for benefits
during that month.
Continuing Disability Review:
A
Continuing Disability Review may be accomplished at six month to seven-year
intervals, depending on the recipients' diagnosis and likelihood of recovery,
to determine if the disability still exists.
Impact of Employment on SSI:
Income Exclusions: Social Security gives a $20.00 general income exclusion (earned or
unearned) and a $65.00 earned income exclusion before making adjustments in
benefits. Impairment Related Work
Expenses and payments made into a PASS plan may also be excluded. The remainder is considered to be countable
income. The SSI benefit will be reduced
$1.00 for every $2.00 of countable income.
Impairment Related Work
Expenses: Impairment Related Work Expenses can be
anything that a person pays for specifically related to their disability that
allows them to work. This can include
things such as adaptive equipment or hiring a job coach.
PASS (Plan for Achieving
Self-Support): A Plan for Achieving
Self-Support is an formal agreement that the recipient enters into with Social
Security, where by the person sets aside a portion of their income to cover
specific work goals such as education costs or support services that will allow
the person to work.
Medicaid:
The
recipient may continue to be eligible for Medicaid even after they are no
longer eligible for SSI benefits if the medical coverage is necessary for them
to work under legislation called 1619b. The Medicaid
for Working People with Disabilities program allows people to pay the
Medicaid premium and buy into coverage if they don't qualify for other
coverage.
BENEFIT
COUNSELING -- DISABILITY GRANT
There
are disability counselors at Vocational Rehabilitation offices throughout the
state who can help social security recipients understand what will happen to
their benefits if they go to work or change their employment status. They are also knowledgeable about how
changes will impact other benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid and section 8,
housing. It is advisable to put clients
in touch with the benefit counselors prior to implementing any vocational
services plan.
If
someone is formally enrolled in the Benefit Counseling Disability Grant they can
be excused from Continuing Disability Reviews for the duration of the
grant. The Benefit Counselors will
decide if enrollment is advisable.
NOTE: The specifics of each case can have many
variables. Under certain circumstances
people can be eligible for both SSDI and SSI, or if eligibility for one runs
out they may be eligible for the other benefit. Therefore, it is advisable to inform clients of the Benefits
Counselor roles and how they can be reached.
TICKET TO WORK
PROGRAM
The
Ticket to Work Program is another incentive offered by the Social Security
Administration (SSA) that is expected to start in February 2002.
SSA
recipients will be given "tickets" that will allow them to negotiate
with various employment networks to obtain job training or rehabilitation
services. Once the person is employed
and off Social Security benefits, SSA will pay the network a portion of the
benefit savings.
The
"ticket" has no cash value to the recipient. The clients will be excused from Continuing
Disability Reviews during the duration of their employment services plan as
long as they are making steady progress on the plan.
PROTOCOL
FOR ANSWERING TICKET TO WORK
QUESTIONS
FOR FRONT LINE STAFF
1)
WHAT IS THE TICKET TO WORK?
This is a program that Social Security has developed
to let you know that there are services to help you with employment if you are
interested in going to work.
2)
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT USE
IT OR AM NOT INTERESTED IN GOING TO WORK?
Nothing.
This is a voluntary program. If
you choose not to participate in the program, it will not affect your SSI or
SSDI benefits.
If you are not interested in working right now but
may want to in the future, you can save the Ticket and use it at a later date.
3)
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO USE IT?
You would have to meet with one of our Career
Development Facilitators to determine what type of employment would be good for
you, and what steps would be needed for you to reach that goal.
If you are already working with staff, we would
suggest that you start by discussing your options with them.
If you are not currently working with anyone, I can
schedule an appointment for you with one of our staff.
Once you agree on a plan of action, you would be
formally enrolled in Ticket to Work.
While participating in the program, you can be exempt from your
Continuing Disability Reviews with Social Security.
4)
WHAT IS MAXIMUS?
That is a company that has been hired by Social
Security to help get this information out to people, and to monitor the success
of the program. You can call their toll
free number (866-968-7842) to get more information.