The Ticket To Work Program
and the
New Partnership Plus Option
APSE 2010 Conference
Atlanta, GA
What is the Ticket to Work Program?
• Voluntary employment program administered by SSA
• Offers beneficiaries receiving Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) based on disability increased choices in obtaining
services & supports to enter and maintain employment
• Pays participating Employment Networks (ENs) for
Milestones and Outcomes beneficiaries achieve in
moving towards self-supporting employment
• Ultimate goal: Reduce reliance on Social Security
disability benefits, increase self-sufficiency, and improve
the quality of life for beneficiaries
What Are Employment Networks?
• Private (for profit & non-profit) organizations,
government agencies, service providers (traditional and
non-traditional), educational institutions, and employers
that offer education, training and employment services
• Can be a single entity, a partnership, or a coalition of
providers functioning as a single EN
• Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies are automatic
ENs
• Federal agencies cannot be ENs
Choice: An Underlying Principle of
the TTW Program
Beneficiaries can choose
•
•
•
•
Whether to use their Tickets
When to use their Tickets
Where to assign their Tickets
Whether to work with the State VR agency
ENs Have Choices
• ENs choose a payment system (2 options)
> Outcome Payment System: EN receives
payments when beneficiary’s net earnings are above
SGA and beneficiary is in zero cash benefit status
> Milestone-Outcome Payment System: EN
receives payments when beneficiary achieves
designated Milestones while still receiving an SSA
check and Outcomes after leaving the rolls.
• EN can choose
– Who they serve and What services they provide
• Ticket represents new revenue for some Supported
Employment cases but also two new lines of business;
– ongoing support for non-SE VR closures and
– job placement funding for direct referrals w/o VR SE funding.
How Does the Ticket Work?
EN & Beneficiary
Connect
EN & Beneficiary
Negotiate Individualized
Work Plan (IWP)
EN Submits IWP to
MAXIMUS, Assigning
Beneficiary’s Ticket to EN
EN Provides
Services &
Supports to
Complete
Negotiated IWP
Beneficiary Goes
to Work
& EN Collects
Evidence of
Earnings
EN Submits
Payment
Request to
Maximus &
Gets Paid
(30-45 days +/-)
Key Features of Interest
to Beneficiaries
• The Ticket Program is voluntary and
free to beneficiaries – No penalty for not
participating
• Tickets available to all adult
beneficiaries with disabilities ages 18
through 64
• Using a Ticket and making “timely
progress” towards a beneficiary’s
employment goals will postpone
medical Continuing Disability Reviews
(CDRs)
• If the beneficiary stops working due to
his/her disability, there is an expedited
reinstatement to temporary benefits
while SSA determines eligibility for
ongoing benefits
Phase 1 Milestone Payments
2010 Rates
Type
Ticket Holder Gross
Earnings
EN Payment
(SSDI)
EN Payment
(SSI)
Milestone 1
$360/mo for 1 calendar
month
$1,275
$1,275
Milestone 2
$720/mo for 3 months
w/in 6 months
$1,275
$1,275
$1,275
$1,275
$1,275
$1,275
$5,100
$5,100
Phase 1
(cumulative)
Milestone 3
$720/mo for 6 months
w/in 12 months
(cumulative)
Milestone 4
$720/mo for 9 months
w/in 18 months
(cumulative)
Total Potential Phase
I Milestone Payments
Phase 2 Milestone Payments
2010 Rates
Type
Ticket Holder
Gross Earnings
EN Payment
(SSDI)
EN Payment
(SSI)
Phase 2
Gross > SGA
$382/mo.
$220/mo.
(up to 11 mos.)
(up to 18 mos.)
Total Phase 2
Payments
$4,202
$3,960
Total Potential
Ticket Payments
Phases 1 and 2
$9,302
$9,060
($1,000/non-blind;
$1,640 for blind)
Outcome Payments Under OutcomeMilestone Payment System
2010 Rates
Type
Ticket Holder Net
Earnings
EN Payment
(SSDI)
EN Payment
(SSI)
Earnings > SGA
$382/mo.
for 36 months
$220/mo.
for 60 months
Total Outcome Phase
Payments
$13,752
$13,200
Total Potential Ticket
Payments (Phases 1 &
2, and Outcomes)
$23,054
$22,260
Outcome Phase
($1,00/non-blind;
$1,640/blind) “AND”
0 cash benefit
VR Agencies and Ticket
On a case by case basis, a State VR agency can choose
whether to serve a beneficiary
• Under the traditional Cost Reimbursement program
• As an EN under the TTW Program
What Is the Traditional Cost
Reimbursement Program?
• Reimburses State VR agencies for the cost of services
and supports provided to assist Social Security
beneficiaries with disabilities to obtain and maintain
employment
• To trigger a CR payment, a beneficiary must work 9
months during a 12 month period with earnings above
the applicable SGA level after deductions for subsidies
and IRWEs – often referred to as SGA plus $200
• SGA changes each year
(2010 SGA: $1000 non-blind/$1640 blind)
• Cost Reimbursement payments also include payment of
an approved amount for administrative, counseling, and
placement (ACP) costs for each month a beneficiary’s
VR case was open
New Opportunities for EN/VR
Partnerships
• New TTW regulations (effective 7/21/08) give SSA
authority to address need for post-employment supports
• Old regulations – SSA paid for beneficiary success under
either the traditional CR Program (VR only) or under the
TTW Program, not both
• New regulations – Permit payments under both CR and
TTW programs on behalf of the same beneficiary for the
same Ticket
• When VR serves a beneficiary under the CR program,
the Ticket still has value when taken to an EN after VR
closes the case
> Payments for sequential, not concurrent, provision of
services
> New opportunities for EN/VR partnerships referred
to as “Partnership Plus”
TTW and New
Partnership Plus Option
• Social Security beneficiaries continue to have the
opportunity to work with both VR agencies and local
Community Rehabilitation Providers (CRP’s)
• VR agencies provide valuable training and rehabilitation
services that are intended to get a person in the
workforce
• Most VR cases are closed 90 days after job placement
(longer for Supported Employment)
• Many beneficiaries need job supports beyond VR case
closure
> Traditionally done by CRPs with no additional
revenue
Partnership Plus
New Ticket regulations provide the potential for followalong revenue by making funding available sequentially
to State VR agencies for the provision of up-front
services leading to employment and then to CRPs for
providing ongoing supports to ensure beneficiaries retain
employment after VR case closure.
Power of the NEW TTW
Regulations
National Perspective
• Access to a broader array of supports
• Strong opportunities for collaboration
• Existing providers (including VR vendors) can become
ENs
• VR is one partner in a larger system
How Does Partnership Plus Work?
When VR chooses Cost Reimbursement for a
beneficiary, the Ticket still has value after VR closes the
case
• Beneficiary has option of assigning his/her Ticket to an
EN to receive
> ongoing support services
> job retention services
> transportation
> other services and supports to maintain
employment
Beneficiaries Served by VR
Under Cost Reimbursement
When VR notifies MAXIMUS that a beneficiary will be
served under the CR program, the beneficiary’s Ticket
• Is not available for assignment to another EN while the
VR case is open
• Is placed in the new “in-use SVR” status that extends
protection against medical Continuing Disability Reviews
(CDRs) while the beneficiary is receiving VR services
How Partnership Plus Works
Beneficiary goes to
VR & applies for
services.
Beneficiary & VR
develop IPE for Cost
Reimbursement case.
VR notifies MAXIMUS to
place Ticket into
“In-Use SVR” status
EN provides services
as outlined in IWP to
assist beneficiary
in maintaining
employment.
EN & beneficiary
develop IWP that is
sent to MAXIMUS for
approval which triggers
Ticket assignment to
that EN.
EN submits for
Phase 2 Milestone
payments based on
beneficiary attaining
SGA level earnings.
Beneficiary & EN continue
working together.
EN submits for Outcome
payments when disability
checks stop.
VR provides services as
outlined in IPE.
[VR may purchase
services from vendors
who are approved ENs]
Beneficiary connects
with EN to discuss
need for ongoing
support services.
VR submits CR claim
when beneficiary earns
above SGA for
9 months within a
12 month period.
After you become an Employment Network, you should notify
your local VR agency and discuss working together.
That’s what Partnership Plus is all about…
VR closes case &
notifies MAXIMUS after
beneficiary has been
stabilized in employment
for at least 90 days.
At case closure,
VR counselor advises
beneficiary of option of
assigning Ticket to an
EN for ongoing
support services.
VR and EN get PAID!
Beneficiary increases
his/her self-sufficiency!
Everybody WINS!
Availability of
Phase 1 Milestone Payments
Partnership Plus - When beneficiary assigns Ticket to
an EN after VR case closure
• Phase 1 Milestones not available to EN if VR closed
case with beneficiary employed
> VR provided services leading to initial
efforts at self-supporting employment
> SSA pays EN for Milestones &
Outcomes achieved after Ticket
assignment
Partnership Plus:
Coordinated Efforts Between VR & ENs
Vocational Rehabilitation
• Up front services
• Individualized
services/service plan
[Individual Plan for
Employment – IPE]
• Choice between Cost
Reimbursement and
functioning as an EN
• If functioning as an EN,
choice of EN payment
system
Employment Networks
• Longer term
services/supports
• Individualized
services/service plan
[Individual Work Plan –
IWP]
• Choice between
Outcome only or
Milestone/Outcome
payment systems
Partnership Plus Options
VR
EN
VR
EN
Employer/EN
VR
EN
Example 1: Earnings above SGA
• VR serves beneficiary, chooses CR, closes case with
beneficiary employed above SGA after 90 days, and
beneficiary assigns Ticket to an EN using the
Outcome/Milestone payment system.
• After one calendar month, EN begins collecting Phase 2
Milestone payments for the months the beneficiary
continues working above SGA.
• If beneficiary continues working and goes into zero cash
benefit status, EN begins receiving Outcome payments.
• Based on an agreement, the partnering EN can provide
timely notice and data to VR to submit for CR, or VR
could use its established tracking system to provide
evidence of work and earnings to the EN (both require
written consent of the beneficiary).
Example 2: Earnings below SGA
• VR serves beneficiary, chooses CR, closes case with
beneficiary employed below SGA, and beneficiary
assigns Ticket to an EN.
• Since all Phase 2 Milestone and Outcome payments
could potentially be paid to the EN, the EN has a strong
incentive to get the beneficiary up to SGA earnings.
• Many cases will reach SGA over time and become
reimbursable for VR.
• When the beneficiary’s earnings are above SGA, the EN
can provide timely notice and data to VR to submit for
CR, or VR can use current methods of tracking
beneficiary’s employment after case closure.
Example 3: No Earnings at Closure
• VR serves the beneficiary, chooses CR, closes case with
beneficiary unemployed, and beneficiary assigns Ticket
to an EN.
• The full value of the Ticket is potentially available to the
EN. EN has an incentive to get the beneficiary working
at TW level and eventually to SGA earnings to collect
payments.
• Some cases will reach SGA over time and become
reimbursable to VR.
• When the beneficiary’s earnings are above SGA, the EN
can provide timely notice and data to VR to submit for
Cost Reimbursement.
Creative Partnerships Are Emerging
Some VR agencies are offering incentive payments
when ENs assist beneficiaries in reaching certain levels
of work and earnings
- DARS, the TX State VR Agency, and other states such
as VA and IN have implemented post-employment
benchmark payments that coincide with Ticket
outcomes.
Partnership Plus:
Working with Employers
A chance to approach the employers VR works with
about becoming ENs – One more incentive to work with
VR.
• Beneficiaries can assign their Tickets to employer ENs
after VR case closure and the employer would
subsequently qualify for EN payments under the TTW
program.
• In addition to EN payments, employers can also access
the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) that reduces
an employer’s federal income tax liability by as much as
$2,400 per qualified worker.
Partnership Plus:
Benefits to the Beneficiary
• Individualized, sequential services
• Coordinated system of services with increased access to
employment supports and other types of supportive
services with needs identified by beneficiaries:
Benefits counseling
Follow along services
Ongoing support services
Job retention services
Skill building
Transportation
Job coaching
Mentoring
Benefits to the Beneficiary
(continued)
• Flexibility in employment plan development
• Choice of providers
• Can choose VR for up-front services and EN for longer
term supports
• Protection against medical Continuing Disability Reviews
(CDRs)
Partnership Plus: Benefits to ENs
• Increased collaboration/communication
• Flexible program services and supports
• For most ENs, Ticket payments are unrestricted funds
which can be used to support/expand the infrastructure
of service providers in the state
• Can work with the consumer during a single time period
or during multiple time periods
> EN – VR – EN
• Does not interfere with EN providing services under a
fee-for-service agreement with VR while the VR case is
open and later functioning as an EN for the same
beneficiary
> VR – CRP/FFS Agreement – VR closure – CRP/EN
> SSA does not considered this double dipping
Partnership Plus: Benefits to VR
• Emphasizes collaborative relationships by encouraging
partnerships between VR and ENs [instead of
competition]
• VR does not have to complete the SSA 1365 for CR
cases – Must notify MAXIMUS of date beneficiary sign
IPE
• Increases choice for consumers to access in long-term
employment supports
• Focused on long-term competitive employment
• Strengthens all partners in the system
Benefits to Both VR and ENs
• Assist beneficiaries to maintain and advance in
employment
• Potential to increase funding system-wide
> Increases Cost Reimbursement program
income for VR
> Increases Milestone and Outcome payments to ENs
• Opportunity to minimize/share administrative tasks
associated with tracking work and earnings, and
submitting for payments from SSA
Partnership Plus: Benefits to SSA
• More beneficiaries will have access to employment
supports
• SSA staff can give the message that beneficiaries can
work, and that there are services and supports available
to them
• Increasing knowledge system-wide about work
incentives, reporting procedures, etc.
VR Agencies Can Still Choose
to Function as an EN
On a case-by-case basis, a VR agency can still choose to
serve a beneficiary as an EN under the Ticket to Work
Program
• Ticket is assigned to the VR agency
• The VR agency must operate under same rules as any
other EN
• Creates a competitive relationship since increased
funding available under Partnership Plus is not an option
• If Ticket is reassigned at case closure, VR and EN may
need to share EN payments based on the services each
provided and how they contributed to Milestones &
Outcomes earned
Why Is the New TTW
Better for ENs?
• Social Security is making it easier for ENs to participate
• NEW Ticket to Work is more profitable for ENs
> New Phase 1 and Phase 2 Milestone payments
available while beneficiary is still receiving cash
benefits
• TTW is an additional revenue source
• EN payments are yours to use as you choose
Why Is It Better for Beneficiaries?
• More ENs participating means more choices for
beneficiaries
• New opportunities for EN-VR partnerships means a
better mix of services for beneficiaries and better
coordination of services
• Service provider and beneficiary have more control of
employment services and their flexible design
And Finally…
• More beneficiaries receiving Tickets means more
opportunities for ENs and VR agencies to match
services and supports with beneficiary needs
• More successful beneficiaries means more money
coming into the State to support the service delivery
infrastructure
For More Information
• To become an EN, call CESSI at 1-877-743-8237 (v/tdd)
• After becoming an EN, receive assistance from
MAXIMUS at (866) 949-ENVR (3687)
• For more information on the Ticket to Work Program:
> Visit SSA’s Work Site at:
www.socialsecurity.gov/work
> Visit CESSI’s web site at: www.cessi.net/ttw/
> Visit the Maximus web site at:
www.yourtickettowork.com
• Any questions on the Ticket to Work Program should be
e-mailed to: TicketProgram@ssa.gov