Ticket to Work Basics Ticket to Work is an employment program created by the 1999 Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA). Initial program regulations were published in December 2001. GToo eanlssure that Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities have the services needed to obtain and maintain gainful employment, the two primary goals of the Ticket to Work Program are -to expand the universe of service providers who are available to assist Ticket Holders, i.e., those individuals eligible for Social Security benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), based on disability, and -to offer such individuals greater choice in service providers and access to more employment options. Federal Administering Agency The Ticket to Work Program is funded and administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA). For more information, call toll-free 1-877-743-8237 (v/tty) or visit www.ssa.gov/work. When TWWIIA was being created, Congress envisioned that initial implementation of this new approach to service delivery would generate valuable lessons that SSA could use to refine and improve the program. Based on these lessons learned, SSA issued Notices of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in September 2005 and August 2007 that proposed changes to the Ticket regulations designed to improve the Employment Network payment process and provide greater financial incentives and flexibility. The goal is to make the Ticket Program more attractive to providers and thereby encourage them to become Employment Networks (ENs). When the final Ticket regulations are published in the spring of 2008, the SSA will -launch the Ticket to Work Program by undertaking a major recruitment to increase the number of Employment Networks participating in the program and an outreach effort to encourage increasing numbers of beneficiaries to participate in the program. Basic information on the Ticket to Work Program The Basics Overview of the Ticket to Work Program Design Any entity can apply to become an Employment Network (EN). -Application assistance is provided by CESSI, SSA’s Program Manager for Recruitment and Outreach. -The application is processed and approved by SSA. -Once approved as an EN, Maximus, SSA’s Program Manager for Operations, provides ongoing program support. ENs receive information on Ticket Holders in their area and Ticket Holders receive information on ENs available to serve them. The Ticket Holder and the EN agree to work together and develop an Individual Work Plan (IWP) that outlines the mutual commitment they are making to each other. -Many Ticket Holders will wish to meet with a Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC) through the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program prior to making any agreements. Find the WIPA nearest you by visiting http://www.ssa.gov/work/WIPA.doc. The IWP is approved by Maximus. -The EN provides the agreed upon return to work services. -The Ticket Holder performs the agreed upon actions to return to work. -The Ticket holder is provided with protection from Social Security’s continuing disability reviews. The Ticket Holder and EN stay in contact with each other and share wage information (via monthly contacts or via Unemployment Insurance data). Once the Ticket Holder is working at a level that justifies a payment to the EN, the EN applies for payment from Maximus. -Payments are direct deposited into the EN’s account. If at any point in time, the EN or the Ticket Holder chooses to exercise their right to dissolve the relationship, Maximus is contacted in writing. Overview Centers for Independent Living: Opportunity for Success as Employment Networks As an Employment Network, you can derive income from doing what you already do best, which is to help people with disabilities get back in the rhythm of daily life, and that includes going to work. If you offer any of the services listed here or if you are interested in partnering with someone who does, you could be tapping into a potential source of revenue from the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work (TTW) Program. TTW Milestone and Outcome Payments can help you expand your services and potentially assist more people in obtaining their employment goals and improving their quality of life. Assistance Is Available to Help You Get Started -Obtain an application – it costs nothing to apply. -Complete the application – technical assistance is available to help you every step of the way. -Enjoy all the benefits of being an EN, including free training and technical assistance. Start the process today and gain additional income for your program for the employment-related services you are already providing! “The Independent Living (IL) philosophy is all about self-determination. The IL Program mandates that we advocate with and be a resource for persons with disabilities, including those interested in engaging in or returning to work. The Ticket to Work program gives us one more source of revenue to assist people in accomplishing their employment goals.” Kathie Kearbey, Vocational Advisor, Southeast Missouri CIL -Skills assessment & development -Vocational exploration & career planning -Job search skills -School-to-work transition services -Job training & self-employment consultation -Job coaching & job accommodations -Benefits planning For More Information Contact: Ticket to Work www.socialsecurity.gov/work or 1-877-743-8237 Ticket to Work Supports Social Security has many resources to help make this program work for you. Ticket Training Tuesdays: Interactive training modules designed to assist ENs with the fundamentals of working within the Ticket to Work Program. Use these calls to train new and existing staff, to network with fellow ENs and EN Ambassadors, and to share tips and promising practices. Ticket Training Tuesdays: This series is also available for free on CD-Rom upon request via email to ENOperations@yourtickettowork.com. Individualized Support and Technical Assistance: Account Managers are available at CESSI to provide individualized technical assistance as you go through the EN application process. EN Directory: As an approved EN, your organization will be included in SSA’s EN database and shared with Ticket-Holders in your area when they contact Maximus for information on ENs. Notes Field: Enhance your EN directory listing with a text message up to 270 characters to further define your services, identify your partners, or highlight your accomplishments. A message will appear beneath your organization’s name in the EN Directory and the EN listing mailed to Ticket-Holders. Beneficiary Referral List CD: As an approved EN, you will receive customized CDs including the names, addresses, phone numbers, ages, and recent work histories of Ticket-Holders with unassigned Tickets (or their legal guardians/representative payees) who live in your designated service-delivery area. CDs are mailed monthly only to approved ENs and VR agencies. EN-VR Training Queue: Call 1-866-968-7842, select language and then prompts 2 and 4 to reach an EN-VR Training representative to answer any training questions. EN Capitalization Education: The EN Capitalization Education Program, available on disk and online at www.yourtickettowork.com, helps ENs secure funding for start-up costs by providing detailed information on how to get funding from government grants, foundations, and private financial capital. The program includes a resource directory and a comprehensive fundraising guide compiled by national experts with hundreds of resources and samples.