Ticket Training Tuesdays Getting Involved

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Ticket Training TuesdaysGetting Involved

• Serving as an Employment Network
• in the
• Ticket to Work and
• Self-Sufficiency Program

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Welcome

• Thank you for joining us for the
• EN Ticket Training Tuesday Series.
• We look forward to working together.

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Agenda

• Basics of Ticket Assignment
• Your request for proposal has been recently
  approved and you are preparing for that first
  caller or you have received those first couple of
  phone calls Now what?
• Ticket Eligibility and Checking assignability.
• Developing an Individual Work Plan (IWP).
• Unassigning a Ticket.
• Compliance/Reporting Requirements
• Getting Involved Promising Practices

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Basics of Ticket Assignment

• What is a Ticket?
• Who is eligible to receive a Ticket?
• How is a Ticket assigned?
• What is an IWP?
• When is a Ticket in use?
• How is a Ticket unassigned?

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What is a Ticket?

• A symbolic document that provides evidence of
  Social Security Administrations agreement to pay
  the ENs or state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
  agencies that have provided employment services,
  VR services, and other support services to a
  beneficiary who has assigned his/her Ticket

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Ticket Eligibility

• Who is Ticket Eligible?
• Any person who is between the ages of 18 to
  64
• And is in current pay status based on
  disability (SSI and/or SSDI)

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Ticket Assignability

• Checking a Tickets Status
• - Call MAXIMUS at 866 949 3687
• - 10 tickets or more please fax to 703 683 0957
• Terminology
• -Assignable, Not Assignable, Assigned, In-Use,
  No longer eligible for Ticket to Work or
  Terminated, Social Security Number not in our
  database, and Assigned but no longer assignable.

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Screening

• Choice
• -TTWP is all about choice, you have the choice
  on what ticket holders to help and ticket holders
  can also choose the best EN for their needs.
• Pre-Screening Survey
• - What is the ticket holder looking for?
  Schooling? Training? Full-time or part-time
  employment?
• - Questionnaire or other tasks prior to Ticket
  assignment (Resume, DMV records,
  Medical releases)
• -Recommend/require benefits consultation
  (WIPA)
• Assessment
• - Can you provide what they are looking for?
• - Let them know what you can and cant do.

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Ticket Assignment

• EN and beneficiary work together to create an
  Individual Work Plan (IWP)
• EN submits the signed IWP to MAXIMUS requesting
  Ticket assignment
• MAXIMUS verifies IWP completion and Ticket
  assignability in order to process IWP.
• SSA approves Ticket Assignment and notifies
  beneficiary MAXIMUS informs EN or VR

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What is an IWP?

• A written agreement signed by both the
  beneficiary and the EN describing employment and
  support services needed to reach an employment
  goal
• Sample document is available.
• ENs can use an existing intake document as long
  as all required elements are present

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Contents of an IWP

• Vocational Goal An occupation needs to be
  listed. We do not accept full-time or
  part-time as a vocational goal.
• Services and supports to reach the goal
• Terms and conditions relating to these services
  and supports
• EN may not request or accept compensation from
  the beneficiary
• Conditions for amending or terminating the IWP
• Beneficiarys rights under TTWP
• Dispute resolution processes available to the
  client
• Clients right to privacy and confidentiality
• Clients right to have a copy of the IWP

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Sample IWP available at http//www.yourtickettowo
rk.com/selftraining/IWPTemplate121508.doc
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18 Month Prior Earnings Toolhttp//www.yourticket
towork.com/selftraining/IWP_Look-Back_Tool_121008.
xls
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Important Points to Remember

• Make sure IWP is signed by all parties--beneficiar
  y (or representative of the beneficiary) and
  representative of EN
• Await notification in 7-10 business days or call
  MAXIMUS to confirm Ticket assignment before
  beginning services. A report containing current
  ticket assignments to your EN is available upon
  request
• Include relevant terms and conditions
• Include required contentsmost common IWP mistake
• Opportunity for employer records with signed
  release from beneficiary
• Completed 18 month prior earnings tool.

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Beginning Ticket Use

• Ticket is in use once the IWP (or SSA Form 1365)
  is processed by MAXIMUS and approved by SSA
• - The ticket assignment is effective on the date
  the IWP was signed.
• - If the beneficiary signs on a different date
  than the EN representative then the IWP will be
  assigned effective from the ENs signature date.
• While using a Ticket, beneficiaries will not be
  subject to medical Continuing Disability Reviews
• Beneficiary must be making timely progress under
  the IWP/IPE during the first 24 months after the
  Ticket is assigned
• After the first 24 months, beneficiary must meet
  work guidelines and earnings at the SGA level as
  specified under each year of the Ticket to Work
  Program
• - These guidelines can be reviewed under the
  Training Section of our website but are subject
  to change because they have not been finalized by
  SSA.

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Unassigning a Ticket

• This may be necessary when you are trying to
  assign a ticket to your EN but the ticket is
  currently Assigned or In-Use with another agency.
  
• The EN to whom the ticket is currently assigned
  to or the Ticket holder may unassign the ticket
  at will.
• - No reason required however we do encourage for
  you work with each other before unassigning the
  Ticket.
• - Some common reasons to unassign the Ticket
  include Ticket holder is dissatisfied with
  services from an EN or State VR Agency, EN wishes
  to terminate services with Ticket holder, EN goes
  out of business (MAXIMUS will notify
  beneficiaries effected), EN terminates contract,
  etc.
• Unassignment effective the first day of the
  following month

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Unassigning a Ticket Cont.

• If the Ticket holder is unassigning the Ticket
• - Have them call MAXIMUS at 866 968 7842 for
  further information if necessary.
• - Written request to MAXIMUS Ticket holders
  name, Social Security Number, Name of EN or VR in
  current assignment with, todays date and Ticket
  holders signature.
• If the EN or VR is unassigning the Ticket
• -EN Letter to MAXIMUS Ticket holders SSN and
  name, name of your agency, EIN, letter must be
  signed and dated by you.
• - VR Can do so in monthly data transfer files
  or send written request to MAXIMUS Ticket
  holders SSN and name, name of your agency, EIN,
  case closure date, letter must be signed and
  dated by you.

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Address

• Mail
• MAXIMUS Ticket to Work Program
• Attn Unassignment Request
• P.O. Box 1433
• Alexandria, VA 22314
• Fax
• 703 683 3289 Attn Unassignment Request

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Ending Ticket Use

• End of the 60th month for which an Outcome
  Payment is made to the EN for Supplemental
  Security Income (SSI) or the 36th month for
  Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or
• Day before effective date of the decision that
  the beneficiary is no longer making timely
  progress toward self-supporting employment or
• Close of the 3-month period that begins with the
  first month in which the Ticket is no longer
  assigned to an EN (Referred to as a 90 day
  extension period) or
• Month when benefits end, or day on which the
  Ticket terminates

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Continuing Disability Review (CDR)

• Reviews conducted by Social Security
  Administration to determine if beneficiary is
  still disabled under Social Security guidelines
• Medical CDR determines whether beneficiarys
  medical condition continues to meet disability
  eligibility requirements
• Work CDR determines whether disability has ended
  because of SGA
• If a Ticket is currently assigned, the Social
  Security Administration will not begin a Medical
  CDR during the period the Ticket is in use
• Services may begin and the Ticket may be assigned
  if a CDR has already begun

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EN-VR Partnership

• Previously, VRs and ENs had trouble working with
  the same Ticket-holder due to conflicting payment
  methods
• VRs and ENs will now be able to serve same
  Ticket-holder (one after the other) VR retains
  traditional cost reimbursement and EN receives EN
  payment

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State VR Agreements

• A copy of a signed agreement should be provided
  to MAXIMUS when an EN wishes to assign a ticket
  to themselves and also seek services for the
  Ticket holder through the State VR
• Broad-based agreement
• Agreement states conditions under which State VR
  will provide services to beneficiary
• If referral is made with no agreement, then State
  VR may contact EN and notify MAXIMUS
• No agreement required if no referrals are made

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Resources Available at www.yourtickettowork.com

• Employment Network Handbook
• Management of the Ticket Process
• Resource for Developing an Individual Work Plan

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Reporting Requirements

• Agreements with state VR Agencies, if applicable
• Annual Periodic Outcome Report (Mail date for
  2008s report to be determined, pending final
  review from SSA)
• Timely Progress Review (Currently on-hold)

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Annual Periodic Outcome Report

• Contractual requirement
• Prepared by MAXIMUS and sent to all ENs in
  January
• Outcomes achieved by ENs with respect to services
  offered to beneficiaries
• Carefully review the report and update incorrect
  information as instructed  
• Required to make the APOR available to all
  Ticket-holders served

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Getting Involved

• Promising Practices

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Connecting with Ticket-holders

• Referrals from MAXIMUS and yourtickettowork.com
• Cross-reference beneficiary referral list with
  current Ticket-eligible clients
• Use beneficiary referral list for phone or mail
  campaigns for background check information
  please visit http//www.yourtickettowork.com/self
  training/EN_Employee_Background_Checks_Interim_Pro
  cedures_2-2-09.doc
• Network with local organizations and resources

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Intake

• Dedicated phone line/voicemail message for
  Ticket-holders
• Web site
• Dedicated staff for Ticket to Work
• Establish responsibility at beginninggoal of
  self-sufficiency
• Host weekly/monthly Ticket-holder orientations
  (invite WIPA)

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Services

• Be honest about what you are willing and able to
  provide
• Ability to change services start small
• Do what you do best existing services
• New services
• Referrals, partnerships for services (training,
  placement, etc.)

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Employment

• Standard job search and development
• Employer partnerships
• Subcontractors
• Job clubs
• Employer databases
• DOL EARN
• Local, like MissouriCareerSource.com
• WOTC, Disabled Access, Architectural/Transportatio
  n Tax Reduction

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Tracking and Follow-up

• Conduct routine follow-up for information and
  support
• Weekly
• Monthly
• Quarterly
• Annually
• Partners, subcontractors
• Commercial tools
• Existing tools required for other programs
  including state government, Workforce Investment
  Act system

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Contact Us

• MAXIMUS Ticket to Work
• 1-866-949-3687 Toll Free
• 1-866-833-2967 TDD
• www.yourtickettowork.com
• ENOperations_at_yourtickettowork.com

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Questions?