OREGONS

1

• OREGONS
• WORK INCENTIVES NETWORK
• (WIN)
• When you work, you WIN!

This presentation is sponsored by The Oregon
Competitive Employment Project, which is part of
the Oregon State Department of Human Services,
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
funded through a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant
from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CFDA 93.768).


Updated
September 2009
2
The Competitive Employment ProjectMission
Statement

• To enhance the quality of life in Oregon by
  achieving, maintaining and advancing the
  competitive and inclusive employment of persons
  with disabilities.

3
Oregons Work Incentive Network (WIN)

• WIN is a benefits and work incentives planning
  service that helps people with disabilities
• MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS about work and their
  benefits
• USE WORK INCENTIVES to achieve their employment
  goals and
• NAVIGATE THE BENEFITS SYSTEMS when they begin
  working.

4
WIN An Essential Employment Support

• A one stop source of information and
  assistance.
• Reduce fear and misunderstanding about the effect
  of working on benefits.
• Prevents crises that result when change occurs.
• Improves employment and economic outcomes
  through
• Increased employment rates
• Increased earnings and
• Decreased medical expenses.

5
THE WIN MODEL A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES

• Interested in working, but no job goal
• General information and referral.
• Identified a job goal, but not working yet
• Comprehensive Intake and Work Incentive Analysis.
• Secured job
• Implementing work incentive and reporting earned
  income.
• Life changes
• Ongoing support with using work incentive and/or
  wage reporting assistance.

6
THE WIN MODEL A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES

• WORK INCENTIVE COORDINATORS PROVIDE
• General work incentive information and community
  service/vocational referrals
• A Comprehensive Intake when needed
• In-depth benefits and work incentive planning
  assistance, including a written Work Incentives
  plan
• Assistance strategizing the use of various work
  incentives
• Assistance utilizing work incentives and
• Ongoing support to those working and utilizing
  work incentives.

7
IT TAKES A TEAM TO REMOVE THIS BARRIER

• You cant do your job AND be a Work
  Incentive Expert....
• BUT YOU CAN
• Let people know there are WORK INCENTIVES
• that support their employment efforts
• Recognize MYTHS and communicate FACTS and
• Encourage people to connect to WIN for more
• individualized analysis.

8
ACCESSING WIN SERVICES

• If you know someone who could use WIN services
• Fill out and fax the WIN Referral Form or
• Give the person a WIN brochure so he/she can call
  and request services or
• You can call and request services on behalf of
  the person.
• Meet the Work Incentive Coordinators in your
  area
• Contact the WIN staff in your area to do onsite
  informational sessions for your company/agency.
• Contact info for WIN staff can be found at the
  end of this presentation.

9
SOME BASIC TERMS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW

• SSA Social Security Administration
• SSI Supplemental Security Income
• SSDI Social Security Disability Insurance
• WORK INCENTIVES Both federal and state-specific
  programs that are available to people with
  disabilities, even those not on SSI or SSDI in
  return to work efforts.
• HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development

10
THE BASICS SSDI PAYMENT AND HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM

• SSDI Cash Benefit
• Be disabled by SSA definition and
• Be insured or draw off insured worker who is
  disabled, retired, deceased. Amount varies based
  on work history. No asset test.
• SSDI Health Care
• Medicare (after 24 month waiting period).

11
THE BASICS SSI PAYMENT AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

• SSI - Cash
• Disabled by SSA definition
• Little to no assets under 2,000 for an
  individual, 3000 for a couple
• Little to no income and
• Benefit Amount in 2009 is 674, 1,011 for a
  couple, reduced by other income.
• SSI Health Care
• Medicaid.

12
9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS

• Myth 1 I will lose my SSDI if I go to work
• FACT 1 Work Incentives let you keep
• SSDI cash check or status
  when
• you work!
• Trial Work Period (time limited)
• Impairment Related Work Expenses
• Subsidy/Unincurred Business Expense

13
9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS

• Myth 2 If wages cause SSDI cash benefit to
  stop, theres no
• way to get it back
• FACT 2 You can stay in eligibility status
• even when you dont get a
  cash
• check!
• Extended Period of Eligibility
• Expedited Reinstatement

14
9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS

• Myth 3 I will lose my SSI if I go to work
• FACT 3 Work Incentives let you keep SSI
• cash check or status when you
• work!
• Basic Deductions SSI reduced 1 for every 2
  after first 65/85
• Additional Deductions let you keep more IRWE,
  BWE, SEIE, PASS

15
9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS

• Myth 4 If wages cause SSI cash benefit to
  stop, theres no way
• to get it back
• FACT 4 You can stay in eligibility status
• even when you dont get a
  cash
• check!
• 1619(b)
• Expedited Reinstatement

16
9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS

• Myth 5 If I go back to work I will lose my
  medical
• Fact 5 You can keep medical when you
• work!
• SSI/Medicaid--1619(b)
• Employed Persons with Disabilities Program (EPD)
  Oregons Medicaid Buy In program
• Continuation of Medicare
• Medicare for People With Disabilities Who Work

17
9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS

• Myth 6 There is no incentive for students to
  try working
• Fact 6 Students have a special rule that
• lets them keep more of their
  SSI
• when they work!
• Student Earned Income Exclusion

18
9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS

• Myth 7 There arent any resources to help me
  reach
• self-sufficiency
• Fact 7 There ARE work incentives that will
• match funds you set aside to
  pay
• for expenses related to a
• vocational goal!
• Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS)
• Individual Development Accounts (IDA)

19
9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS

• Myth 8 If I work my rent will go up
• Fact 8 HUD has work incentives, too!
• HUDs Earned Income Disregard
• Family Self-Sufficiency Program

20
9 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS

• Myth 9 Working always results in overpayments
• Fact 9 There are strategies to prevent
• overpayments!
• Report regularly
• Get a receipt from SSA to document you reported
• Get assistance from WIN for help developing a
  strategy and reporting earned income

21
ADDITIONAL PARTS OF THE WIN MODEL

• A Training and Technical Assistance (T/A) Center
  that provides ongoing training, certification and
  assistance to WIN Work Incentives Coordinators to
  ensure quality services
• Ongoing outreach and informational training for
  service providers, agency staff, community
  partners and other stakeholders and
• An integrated outcomes research program.

22
WORKING WITH PLANNING FOR WORK PROGRAM

• WIN and Disability Rights Oregons Planning for
  Work project work together to provide quality
  supports and services to people with disabilities
  who want assistance with benefits
• and work incentives planning.

23
AND WHAT THE HECK IS THIS THING?

• ITS A KANJI
• A Kanji is a Japanese Symbol.
• Kanjis have become very popular in the United
  States, especially with youth and young adults.
• The WIN kanji means FLOURISH.
• SO LETS ALL WORK TOGETHER TO HELP THE FOLKS WE
  SERVE FLOURISH WITH WIN!

24
YOUR OREGON WIN STAFF Serving the Following
Counties Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Hood
River, Multnomah, Sherman, Tillamook,
Washington, Wasco

• INDEPENDENT LIVING RESOURCES (ILR)
• 2410 SE 11th Avenue
• Portland, Oregon 97214
• [phone] (voice)
• [phone] (TTY)
• [phone] (fax)
• JAIME HEAD and JAY DYE
• WORK INCENTIVES COORDINATORS
• jaime_at_ilr.org jay_at_ilr.org

25
YOUR OREGON WIN STAFFServing the Following
CountiesBenton, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion,
Polk, Yamhill

• LANE INDEPENDENT LIVING ALLIANCE, INC.
• (LILA)
• 
  
• 605 Cottage Street NE
  99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 117
• Salem, OR 97301
  Eugene, Oregon 97401
• [phone] (voice) or
  [phone] (voice)
  
  
  [phone] (TTY)
• (541)
  345-7021 (fax)
• CAROL SIMILA and EMMA
  LEVERT
• WORK INCENTIVES COORDINATORS
• csimila_at_lilaoregon.org
  elevert_at_lilaoregon.org

26
YOUR OREGON WIN STAFF Serving the Following
Counties Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson

• CENTRAL OREGON RESOURCES
• FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING (CORIL)
• 20436 Clay Pigeon Court
• Bend, Oregon 97702
• (541)-388-8103 (voice/TTY)
• (541)-388-1226 (fax)
• COMING SOON!
• WORK INCENTIVES COORDINATOR
• For immediate assistance contact Jennifer
  Bonnell
• Toll-free at 1-866-248-8369 or
  jbonnell_at_eocil.org

27
YOUR OREGON WIN STAFF Serving the Following
CountiesBaker, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Malheur,
Morrow, Umatilla, Union Wallowa, Wheeler

• EASTERN OREGON CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
  (EOCIL)
• 1021 SW 5TH Avenue
  322 SW 3rd, Suite 6
• Ontario, Oregon 97914
  Pendleton, Oregon 97801
• [phone] (voice/TTY)
  [phone] (voice and fax)
• [phone] (fax) or
• JENNIFER BONNELL or LINDA VALENTINE
• WORK INCENTIVES COORDINATORS
• jbonnell_at_eocil.org
  lindavalentine_at_eocil.org

28
YOUR OREGON WIN STAFFServing the Following
CountiesCoos, Curry, Douglas, Josephine,
Jackson

INDEPENDENT ABILITIES CENTER (HASL) 305 NE E
Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526 [phone]
(voice) [phone] (fax) NELSON
FERGUSON WORK INCENTIVES COORDINATOR Nelson_hasl_at_y
ahoo.com
29
YOUR OREGON WIN STAFF Serving the Following
CountiesKlamath, Lake

• SPOKES UNLIMITED
• 415 Main Street
• Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601
• [phone] (voice)
• [phone] (Fax)
• RANDY SCOOTER MCNAIR
• WORK INCENTIVES COORDINATOR
• randy.mcnair_at_spokesunlimited.org

30

• QUESTIONS?
• CALL THE WIN STAFF IN YOUR AREA!
• For more information on
• the Competitive Employment Project
• http//www.oregon.gov/DHS/vr/cep
• For more information on Disability Rights Oregon
  Planning for Work
• http//www.disabilityrightsoregon.org/programs.php