SOCIAL SECURITY The Ticket to Work Program

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SOCIAL SECURITYThe Ticket to Work Program

• Joani Werner, Area Work Incentive Coordinator
• 866-667-6032 ext 10661
• Joani.Werner_at_ssa.gov

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SSA is here to help

• Work Incentives provide a safety net to protect
  your benefits while you try to work.
• Ticket to Work offers resources and
  opportunities to help you reach your goals.

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New Ticket to Work2008

• By OBrien
• Robertson

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Your New Ticket Can

• Help you get a job - if YOU want to work.
• Add to your choices of who will assist you
• The people who assist you are called Employment
  Networks
• Their job is to help you increase your income!

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How the Ticket Works
EN Ticket Holder Connect
EN Ticket Holder Negotiate a Plan (IWP)
Ticket Holder Assigns Ticket
EN provides supports to complete Plan (IWP)
Ticket Holder Goes to Work EN collects evidence
(Pay Stubs or EIR)
EN Sends bill to Maximus gtGets Paid
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Are You A Good Ticket Candidate?

• The Ticket isnt for everyone
• Good Candidates will
• Want to work and earn substantial wages
• May need services and support to be able to work.
  
• The Ticket might be for you if you could use the
  services of the Employment Network, EN)

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Whats Changing with the Ticket?

• New regulations make the Ticket program
  more profitable for the Employment Network (EN)
  by
• Offering more up-front to beneficiaries and EN
  payments earlier
• It is now easier for beneficiary to reach
  Milestones
• (milestones are wage markers that indicate
  financial advancement)

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Other Great Ticket Changes

• Part-Time work is now recognized
• DVR can work with you providing services and then
  you can assign your ticket to an EN for
  additional employment supports
• SSDI SSI payments to ENs are higher than under
  old rules

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New Ticket to Work Features

• Your Gross earnings will now be used when
  determining milestone payments
• Other Work Incentives like IRWEs now always help
  you
• Social Security will now use gross wages to pay
  Milestone payments for a much longer period of
  time

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Ticket and Timely Progress

• During successive 12-month periods, you must make
  timely progress toward self-supporting
  employment
• Complete the specified goals of work and
  earnings, or
• Complete post secondary education credits in
  pursuit of a degree or certification, or
• Complete course requirements for a
  vocational/technical training program

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• Selecting and Working with an Employment Network
  (EN)

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Examples of Services

• Skills testing
• Interest testing
• Resume preparation
• Interviewing skills training
• Job search placement services
• Work Incentives counseling
• Job Coaching or other ongoing services

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When you contact an Employment Network

• Discuss work goals disability as it relates to
  reaching your work goal
• What will they do for you and what is expected of
  you?
• Do you feel welcome and comfortable?
• Can you develop a plan together?
• Can you and your EN both follow through on the
  plan?

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You are in charge!

• You can decide to try to work.
• You choose to participate in the ticket program.
• You can decide if an Employment Network is right
  for you.
• You can change your Employment Network.

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Take the next step!

• Talk with your Community Work Incentives
  Coordinator
• About work incentives
• About services available
• Talk with State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
• About services they offer
• About job opportunities
• Talk to Employment Networks
• About services they offer
• About job opportunities

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Questions?

• For more information on the Ticket
• visit www.socialsecurity.gov/work
• Or call
• MAXIMUS (SSA Program Manager)
• WWW.YOURTICKETTOWORK.COM
• 1 866 968 7842