Ticket to Work Program
KEY POINTS ABOUT THE TICKET TO WORK PROGRAM
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) ABOUT THE TICKET TO WORK 1. What is the Ticket To Work? The Ticket to Work, which is referred to as the Ticket, is a new Social Security program. It is for people who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits because of their disability or blindness. The program offers people receiving SSDI/SSI more choices in getting the services they need to go to work. 2. Will I get a Ticket? You will receive a Ticket if you are between 18 and 65, receiving SSDI or SSI cash benefits and not expected to medically improve. 3. Do I have to use my ticket? NO! Using the Ticket is entirely up to you. 4. Will using or not using my Ticket affect my cash benefits in any way? NO. If you do not use your ticket, your cash benefits will not be reduced or stopped. The only way your cash benefits will be affected is if you start working and your income is so high you no longer qualify for cash benefits. 5. What if I go off cash benefits by working but later find out that I can't continue to work? The Ticket to Work Program has a provision called "expedited reinstatement". If you have been working for no longer than five years and find that you cannot continue to work, you can ask Social Security to re-start your benefits. They will do so as quickly as possible, usually the following month. You will receive cash benefits for up to six months, during which time SSA will review your case to see if you still meet the eligibility guidelines for the same disability. If you are found eligible for cash benefits, those benefits will continue. If you are not found eligible for benefits again, you will not have to pay SSA back for any benefits you received during the review period. 6. If I go off cash benefits will I lose my necessary healthcare coverage? If you receive SSI and lose your benefits because you go back to work, you can continue to receive healthcare coverage through the 1619B program and earn up to $22,000 per year. If you receive SSDI and begin working, you are eligible for the "Medicaid for the Working Disabled" program which will allow you to keep your healthcare coverage through the Medicaid program even if you go off SSDI. 7. Is there a benefit for me if I choose to use my Ticket? YES! If you assign your Ticket to a State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency such as SSB or another Employment Network, you will not have continuing disability reviews (CDR's) for at least two years. For each year after that you will have to work at a certain earnings level to keep your CDR exemption. 8. If I choose to use my Ticket, who can provide services to me? Under this program you can receive services from the State Vocational Rehabilitation agency (for example: State Services for the Blind) or from an approved Employment Network. 9. What is an Employment Network (EN)? An EN is an agency or organization approved by Social Security to assist you in getting the services you need to return to work and get off cash SSDI or SSI benefits. Any agency or organization that is willing and able to provide employment services and has been approved by Social Security can be an EN. State Services for the Blind (SSB) is also an EN. 10. What if I already have an open case with SSB? SSB would like to continue working with you on your employment goals. We want you to know the Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) that you and your counselor developed or are in the process of developing can continue without change. SSB hopes that you will assign your Ticket to us. However, you have the right to choose any Employment Network that you feel will serve you best. You also have the right to move your Ticket assignment from one EN to another at any time. 11. Does an EN have to accept my Ticket? Only SSB is required to accept your ticket and provide services to you. All other ENs will determine, on a case by case basis, if they feel they can help you. If an EN does not feel it can help you get the services you need to return to work, the EN may refuse to accept your Ticket. Many times the EN may accept your Ticket and then refer you to SSB for the actual services. 12. What services will Employment Networks provide? ENs who are willing to accept your Ticket must develop an Individual Work Plan (IWP) with you that spells out the services you will need to return to work. They will then either provide or arrange for you to receive those services. NOTE: The information provided above is general information only about the Ticket to Work Program. For more specific information about your situation, contact one of the resources listed on the following page. 13. How can I find out more about the Ticket to Work program? You can contact any one of the following entities for further information: SSB Ticket to Work Manager: (651) 642-0504, (651) 603-0043 - TTY, 1-800-652-9000 or 1-888-665-3276 - TTY; Maximus, the Ticket to Work Program Manager: 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 - TTY; MN Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) at the MN Disability Law Center: (612)334-5970 or 1-800-292-4150 or (612)332-4668 - TTY; MN Work Incentives Connection: (651)632-5108, 1-800-976-6728 or (651)632-5110 - TTY; or The local Social Security Administration Office: 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 - TTY. RELATED WEBSITES www.yourtickettowork.org OVERVIEW OF THE TICKET TO WORK AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is the centerpiece of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. The Ticket to Work program is voluntary. In the next few years, the Social Security Administration (SSA) estimates that over 9 million SSA beneficiaries with disabilities will be eligible for this Program. Program Goals:
Ticket Holder eligibility:
Tickets for eligible beneficiaries in Minnesota will be distributed beginning in November of 2003. The ticket will be a red, white and blue document approximately 6" by 9" in size. The ticket number will be the beneficiary's social security number. There are no timelines within which a beneficiary must use his/her ticket. A ticket holder may choose not to use their ticket initially, but then decide to use it several months or even years into the program. SSA has entered into a contract with a private vendor (Maximus) which will act as the Program Manager (PM) of the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program. The PM's responsibility is to recruit and monitor employment networks. Employment Networks An Employment Network (EN) is any qualified entity that has entered into an agreement with SSA to provide and/or coordinate employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, or other support services to beneficiaries. Any agency, state/political subdivision or private entity that can provide or arrange for the delivery of services is eligible to apply to be an EN. Examples include: Independent Living Centers, Educational Institutions, Employment Agencies, public and private employers, State VR agencies, WIA One Stop Centers/Boards, Community and Faith-Based Non-Profit Organizations, etc. Ticket holders who wish to participate in the Ticket to Work program must choose an Employment Network (EN) or must choose the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (VR). Information about qualified ENs in the area can be accessed by calling a toll-free number. Before a beneficiary's ticket can be assigned to an EN or State VR Agency, an Individual Work Plan (IWP) for an EN; or an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) for VR must be signed by both the beneficiary and the EN or VR. These plans must include the beneficiary's vocational goal and outline services necessary to achieve that goal. VR must participate in the Ticket to Work program if they wish to receive payment from SSA for serving disabled beneficiaries. VR can not deny services to any person with a severe impairment that substantially limits their employment and wishes to assign their ticket to you. On the other hand, ENs can pick and choose which ticket holders they wish to serve. Although a beneficiary can assign their ticket to only one vender at a time, an EN can negotiate with VR to provide specific services on a fee for service basis. Each EN must have a written agreement with VR prior to referring one of their assigned ticket holders. If the ticket holder is dissatisfied with services he/she is receiving, that ticket can be "moved" to a different EN or VR. Ticket Holders Medical ReviewTicket Holders Medical Review SSA will not conduct a medical review of the ticket holder as long as he/she is making "timely progress" in meeting the goals and objectives as outlined in the plan with either an EN or a State VR Agency. Timely progress is defined as showing an increasing ability to work at levels which will reduce or eliminate dependence on Social Security entitlements. Ticket Holder Work Incentives Participation in the Ticket Program does not replace the special rules or "work incentives" that help serve as a bridge between Social Security and SSI disability benefits and financial independence. These work incentives include:
TICKET TO WORK EMPLOYMENT NETWORK/SSB CONTRACTS
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