The Ticket to Work and SelfSufficiency Program

1
The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program

• State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Training
  Training
• Rev. 10.01.2005
• MAXIMUS
• Ticket to Work Operations Support Manager

2
Unit 4

• Recruitment and Enrollment
• of Employment Networks

3
Learning Objectives

• At the end of this unit you will be able to
• Define Employment Network (EN),
• Define the responsibilities of an EN,
• Define the process of evaluating ENs,
• Describe the functioning of a State Vocational
  Rehabilitation (VR) Agency as an EN.

4
Employment Networks
5
Definition of an Employment Network

• Any qualified public or private agency,
  organization, or other entity that enters into an
  agreement with Social Security Administration to
  provide work related services
• Can be a single entity or a group of providers
  who pool their resources
• Provides services directly or in agreement with
  other organizations or individuals

6
Possible Entities that Can Function as ENs

• State agencies,
• One-stop delivery systems,
• Alternate Participants,
• Organizations administering VR Services Projects
  for American Indians with Disabilities,
• Public and private schools that provide VR
  services or job training, and
• Employers that provide job training or support
  services for individuals with disabilities.

7
Entities that are not Qualified

• Entities that have had their license,
  accreditation, certification or registration
  suspended or revoked
• Entities that have surrendered their license,
  accreditation, etc. pending disciplinary action
• Entities precluded from Federal procurement or
  non-procurement programs.

8
Employment Network Responsibilities
9
Overview of EN Responsibilities

• Enter into an agreement with Social Security
  Administration to serve a prescribed service
  area,
• Provide a full range of employment services,
• Verify through MAXIMUS that beneficiary has a
  Ticket that is not assigned elsewhere,
• Provide clients with explanation of services as
  well as clients rights responsibilities,
• (continued on next slide)

10
Overview of EN Responsibilities (continued)

• Develop an Individual Work Plan with the client,
• Ensure privacy and confidentiality of client,
• Elect a payment method for services,
• Report data to MAXIMUS on client outcomes,
• Develop a grievance process, and
• Maintain prescribed qualifications and liability
  insurance.

11
Individual Work Plan (IWP)

• A written agreement signed by both the
  beneficiary and the EN that describes employment
  and support services needed to reach an
  employment goal.

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Components of the IWP

• 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 Ticket to Work
  Program, (continued on next slide)

13
Components of the IWP (continued)

• Remedies available to the client,
• Clients right to privacy and confidentiality,
• Clients right to have a copy of the IWP,
• Only qualified providers can provide services,
  and
• Medical services are provided under supervision
  of licensed personnel.

14
Referral Agreements Between EN and State VR
Agencies

• An EN may refer a client to a State VR Agency if
  the following conditions are met
• The EN and State VR Agency have a signed
  agreement regarding services the State VR Agency
  will provide,
• The agreement is signed prior to the referral,
• The agreement is broad-based to apply to all
  clients that the EN is likely to refer, and
• Signed Agreement must be submitted to MAXIMUS
  within 2 weeks.

15
Beneficiarys Rights

• Privacy of personal information including
  disability,
• Receive explanation of services provided,
• Participate in the vocational goal and
  development of the IWP,
• Appeal ENs refusal to provide services,
• Refer dispute to MAXIMUS and Social Security
  Administration ,
• (continued on next slide)

16
Beneficiarys Rights (continued)

• Receive information on State Protection and
  Advocacy (PA) System,
• Appoint legal representative to represent him,
• Access his information in ENs records
• Receive copy of IWP in accessible format,
• Amend IWP, and
• Retrieve Ticket if dissatisfied with service.

17
Privacy and Security Requirements of the EN

• Limitations on the access and use of beneficiary
  information supplied by Social Security
  Administration ,
• Physical safeguards for protecting the security
  of the information,
• Ensure that all personnel having access to the
  data are advised of confidentiality, and
• Agree that Social Security Administration has
  right to make on-site inspections or other audit
  provisions.

18
EN Reporting Requirements

• EN is responsible for developing 2 reports for
  MAXIMUS, including
• Periodic Outcome Report, and
• Annual Financial Report

19
Periodic Outcome Report

• MAXIMUS will send the report to the EN and State
  VR Agency in January for verification of
  information. ENs must
• Provide copy to new clients,
• Maintain copy in each clients file, and
• Ensure that copies are available to the public.

20
EN Qualifications
21
General Criteria

• Processes for protecting clients personal
  information,
• Nondiscriminatory,
• Adequate resources for fulfilling agreement with
  Social Security Administration ,
• Compliance with terms and conditions of contract,
• Accounting procedures and control operations
  necessary to support the Ticket to Work Program.

22
Specific Criteria

• Applicable certificates, licenses and credentials
  as required by state law,
• Medical and health services provided under
  supervision of licensed personnel, and
• Qualified staff with applicable certification,
  licenses, or registration standards that apply to
  their profession or are otherwise qualified based
  on education or experience.

23
Proof of Qualifications

• ENs must submit one of the following
• Copy of license or certification where required
  by state law, or
• Certification or accreditation establishing the
  entitys qualification to provide services, where
  no state law is applicable.

24
Recruitment of Employment Networks
25
Evaluation ofEmployment Networks
26
Two Areas of Evaluation Criteria

• Program Requirements
• Reporting Requirements

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Program Requirements

• Have agreement with Social Security
  Administration ,
• Serve beneficiaries within specific geographic
  area,
• Provide services directly or with other entities,
• Elect a payment system, and
• Develop and implement an IWP for each beneficiary.

28
Reporting Requirements

• Notify MAXIMUS each time it accepts a Ticket,
• Submit copy of each IWP,
• Submit copies of IWP amendments,
• Submit agreements with State VR Agencies,
• Provide annual outcome data,
• Provide financial report,
• Collect and record data required by Social
  Security Administration , and
• Adhere to all requirements specified in the
  agreement.

29
State VR Agencies and the Ticket to Work Program
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Participation Requirements

• State VR Agencies are required to participate
  in the Ticket to Work Program, in order to
  continue to receive payments for serving
  beneficiaries.

31
Process for Becoming an EN

• Social Security Administration notifies State VR
  Agencies in writing of the Ticket to Work
  Program, including payment options
• State VR Agency selects payment option and
  notifies Social Security Administration in
  writing of its payment selection

32
Three Payment Options for State VR Agencies

• Cost reimbursement payment system
• Outcome Payment system
• Outcome/Milestone Payment system

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• A State VR Agency is not required to function
  as an Employment Network.
• The State VR Agency may choose on a case-by-case
  basis as to whether it will function as an EN
  when serving a beneficiary with a Ticket.
• Beneficiaries may still receive service under the
  cost reimbursement system.

34
Process to Ensure Proper Ticket Assignment

• State VR Agency submit
• Form
• SSA- 1365 to MAXIMUS to accomplish Ticket
  assignment

35
Handling Referrals from ENs to State VR Agencies

• Agreement must be in place between the two
  entities prior to any referrals
• If referral is received without an agreement,
  then an agreement must be developed prior to
  making the referral
• Agreement must be received and reviewed by
  MAXIMUS.

36
Components of the Agreement

• Procedures for making referrals,
• Description of financial responsibilities of each
  party,
• Terms and procedures under which the EN will pay
  the State VR Agency, and
• Procedures for resolving disputes.

37
The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program

• State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Training
• Rev. 10.01.2005
• MAXIMUS
• Ticket to Work Operations Support Manager