Ticket to Work Boot Camp:
Ticket Overview: Integrating Ticket to Work
into your Job Center
Hosted/Facilitated by: Miranda Kennedy
Presented by Kevin Nickerson & Mary Lynn ReVoir
NDI Technical Assistance Team Members
Fall 2012 Training Series

DEI Projects at the state level and/or local level participating
LWIBs are required to become Employment Networks under
Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work Program.

Training and Technical Assistance to DEI Projects in attaining
Employment Network status and implementing effective EN
operations is provided under U.S. DOLETA contract with NDI
Consulting, Inc. and the National Disability Institute (NDI).

Evaluation of the impact of the DEI Projects implementation
and outcomes as Employment Network will be provided under
U.S. DOL ODEP contract with Social Dynamics.
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Upon completion of this training webinar, DEI grantees
and participants and partners from the public
workforce system will have the following:



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Basic understanding of the Ticket to Work Program
Basic knowledge of EN payment structure
Awareness of Employment Network (EN) models and
partnerships
Information on next steps and how to apply to
become an EN

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Background: Challenge Workforce Solutions and
Iowa Workforce Experience
What is the Ticket to Work Program?
Ticket to Work Basics
Review of the Ticket to Work payment structure
Employment Network (EN) models and
partnerships
What’s my next step? How do we apply?
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Leading You Forward
Challenge Workforce Solutions*
Iowa State Partners
Established as EN 2001
EN on behalf of 7 state partners in 2007
1st Ticket in state New York assigned to
private EN
255 Tickets Assigned as of 6/30/12
Knowledge of SSA benefits noted as key
Incorporated benefits planning into EN
March, 2007, 2nd EN in Nation to achieve $211,432 EN revenue generated as of
60th Outcome payment
6/30/12
In 2011, 5 Ticket holders “graduate”
from the Ticket program successfully,
Current payment status =
65% Outcome / 35% Milestone
Led new state workforce policy for job
seekers with disabilities
Current payment status =
45% Outcome / 55% Milestone
*Challenge Workforce Solutions, a nonprofit, vocational services organization, was
founded in 1968 to offer employment and placement opportunities to individuals who
face barriers to employment. http://www.challengeworkforcesolutions.org/
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What is the Ticket to Work Program?

A Social Security Administration Program

Established through the signing of legislation in
December 1999, The Ticket to Work and Work
Incentives Improvement Act

Provides payments to participating Employment
Networks for assisting Social Security
beneficiary’s in becoming self-sufficient through
employment
What is the Ticket to Work Program?

A program designed to assist Social Security
beneficiaries in the return to work through the provision
of employment services from public and private
providers

Allows Social Security beneficiary’s to receive a Ticket to
Work which may be assigned to a participating
Employment Network for assistance in achieving their
desired vocational goal
What is the Ticket to Work Program?

The goal:
Self-sufficiency.
Decrease the Ticket Holder’s dependence on their
cash benefits by increasing their work effort to
substantial gainful activity, and ultimately, to assist
Ticket holder in achieving self-sufficiency.

A Shift:
Customer Service.
A shift in how Rehabilitation services are offered,
increasing beneficiary choice and customer service

EN’s offer another level of choice to Social Security
beneficiaries

Increased need for exemplary Customer Service in
providing rehabilitation services is important, especially
as more EN providers become available
MBI
VR
EN
Work
Incentives
SBA
ITA’s
PASS
Job
Center
APOR
Annual Performance
Outcome Report
PII
Personal Identifiable Information
BASS
Beneficiary Access and
Support Services
RFQ
Request for Quotation
CDR
Continuing Disability Review
SGA
Substantial Gainful Activity
COS
Certification of Services
SSA
Social Security Administration
EN
Employment Network
SSDI
Social Security Disability
Insurance (Title 2)
eProcess
Electronic process for
workforce ENs only
SSI
Supplemental Security Income
(Title 16)
IEP
Individual Employment Plan
TPR
Timely Progress Review
IWP
Individual Work Plan
TWL
Trial Work Level
OSM
Operations Support Manager TWP
Trial Work Period
PA
(Workforce) Payment
Agreement
Vocational Rehabilitation agency
of the state
VR
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Ticket to Work Program Basics
The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement
Act was passed in 1999 and provided benefits to SSA
Disability beneficiaries & EN’s including:



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Yearly cost of living increases for Ticket Payments to EN’s
Two new work incentives
◦ Extended Medicare benefits
◦ Expedited Reinstatement of Benefits (EXR)
Medicaid Buy-In Programs
Work Incentive Planning and Assistance projects
Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency employment program
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Ticket to Work Program Basics Cont.

Creates an opportunity for any entity (other than a Federal
Department) to become a Ticket to Work ‘Employment Network’
and begin receiving payments for supporting ‘Ticket Holders’ as
they work at increasing their earning capacity.
◦ Ticket Holders are qualified Social Security Disability Beneficiaries
ages 18 to 64, receiving Title XVI and/or Title II benefits (SSI or
SSDI)

Offers long-term funding to ensure Ticket Holders receive
ongoing return to work support.

Funds to the ENs are flexible, and can be used, in part, to
support beneficiary needs
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Ticket to Work – Ticket Holders

This is a voluntary program - as a Ticket Holder, I do not have to
participate.

Provides Ticket Holders with CHOICE – as a Ticket Holder, I
decide who I assign my Ticket to based upon who I feel can best
provide the services I need.

Ensures continued employment support – as a Ticket Holder, I
know you will continue to provide me support beyond the time
that Vocational Rehabilitation permits in some cases.

Actively participating in the Ticket to Work program suspends a
Ticket Holder’s medical Continuing Disability Review – as a
Ticket Holder, I can return to work without fear that I will
medically improve before I am gainfully employed.
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1. Beneficiary
calls BASS to
get
information
about ENs and
services
2.
Beneficiary
chooses EN
and
together
develop IWP
3. Ticket is
assigned and
the EN &
Beneficiary
work on plan
4. Beneficiary
earns income
sufficient for
outcomes or
milestones
5. EN is
eligible for
Ticket
payment
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Having job center as an EN attracts customers who is on
SSA disability benefits plus sends strong welcoming
message to disability community
Strengthens partnership and collaboration with VR for
helps build a responsive service delivery
Promotes use of IRTs which increases successful
employment outcomes for customer and job center
programs
Contributes to the credit of all programs involved in the
employment outcome, WIA, Wagner-Peyser, while also
providing new additional revenue to job center
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
“Our DEI project’s focus is on youth and our youth
predominantly do not have tickets.”
◦ Tickets are issued to beneficiaries starting at age 18 so double-check on this!
◦ All Workforce ENs are encouraged to serve all ages of Ticket holders, not just those
in the youth or adult population they are targeting through the DEI.

“Most of the youth coming into the Job Centers are
working with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and VR has
their Ticket.”
◦ The use of an Integrated Resource Team (IRT) will not only help your customer, but
will allow you to determine if the Ticket holder is a candidate you should serve longterm, through the Partnership Plus model, after VR case closure
◦ The most appropriate, readily available services may initially be VR or it may initially
be through the Job Center, especially in states where there is an order of selection
(waiting list) for VR services

Remember: Becoming and operating as an Employment
Network is a core component of all awarded DEI Projects.
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19

Training and Employment Notice No. 20-07 clarifies that Ticket
funding is an additional revenue source for Job Center delivery
systems and is not considered program income and WILL NOT
replace existing funding sources (i.e. funding is in addition to
current funding sources, to be used how you see fit)

Braiding Medicaid funded services and Ticket to Work funds is
not “double dipping”

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) clarified
this recently in a State Medicaid Director Letter (SMD #10002), See:
http://aaidd.org/media/PowerPoint/Ticket%20to%20Work%20SMD%201-2810%20clean.pdf
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Outcome Payment System
Type
Outcome
Ticket Holder
Earnings
EN Payment for
SSDI
EN Payment
for SSI
Earnings sufficient
for “zero” cash
benefits status
$719/mo. for up
to 36 months
$412/mo.
for up to 60
months
$25,884
$24,720
Total Possible Outcome
Payments
2012 Rates
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Milestone-Outcome Payment System:
Phase 1 Milestones
Type
Ticket Holder Earnings
EN Payment
for SSDI
EN Payment
for SSI
Phase 1
Milestone 1
$720/mo for 1 month (can bill
with wages of $360 within a
two week period)*
$1,288
$1,288
Milestone 2
$720/mo for 3 months within 6
months (cumulative)
$1,288
$1,288
Milestone 3
$720/mo for 6 months within
12 months (cumulative)
$1,288
$1,288
Milestone 4
$720/mo for 9 months within
18 months (cumulative)
$1,288
$1,288
$5,152
$5,152
Total Potential Phase I Milestone Payments
2012 Rates * Subsequent months must be at TWL
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Understanding Phase 1 Payments
There are reasons some, or all of, Phase 1
payments may not be available to an EN:
◦ Recent Work Activity
 Work at or above applicable Trial Work level earnings
($720 in 2012) within 18 months “prior to Ticket
assignment”
 Checkout the 18-Month Prior Earnings Tool to
explore a beneficiary recent work history
https://yourtickettowork.com/web/ttw/en-forms
◦ State VR history with Ticket Holder
Partnership Plus


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VR Cost Reimbursement payments and EN Phase 2 Milestone
and Outcome payments both possible for same beneficiary
◦ SSA will pay for sequential, but not concurrent, services
When VR chooses to serve a beneficiary under Cost
Reimbursement, beneficiary’s Ticket is:
◦ Considered as “in use SVR”
◦ Cannot be assigned to another EN while in use
◦ Extends Continuing Disability Review (CDR) protection to
beneficiary
Beneficiary can assign Ticket to an EN after VR case closure
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Partnership Plus: 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 selfsupporting employment
◦ SSA can pay EN for Phase 2 Milestones & Outcomes
achieved after Ticket assignment for ongoing
employment support to retain employment or build
career
NOTE: More detailed information about Partnership Plus
will be provided in future Ticket to Work training
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Milestone-Outcome Payment System: Phase 2
Payments
EN Payment
for SSDI
EN Payment
for SSI
$387/mo. (up to
$222/mo.
11 mos.)
(up to 18 mos.)
Total Phase 2
Payments
$4,257
$3,996
Total Potential Ticket
Payments
Phases 1 and 2
$9,409
$9,148
Type
Phase 2
Ticket Holder
Earnings
Gross > SGA
($1010/non-blind;
$1,690 for blind)
2012Rates
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Milestone-Outcome Payment System: Outcome
Payments
Type
Outcome Phase
Ticket Holder
Earnings
Net > SGA
EN Payment for EN Payment for
SSDI
SSI
$387/mo. for up
to 36 months
$222/mo.
for up to 60
months
Total Outcome Phase
Payments
$13,932
$13,220
Total Potential Ticket
Payments
$23,341
$22,468
($1010/non-blind;
$1,690 /blind) AND 0
Federal cash benefits
2012 Rates
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Will becoming an EN help me with
individuals that can only work part-time?





NOTE: Based on the clear direction provided recently by SSA, an
EN should NOT assign a Ticket if the Beneficiary has no intention
of, or ability to, work at a level that would eventually allow them to
successfully leave the benefits roles
It is often the case that Ticket holders will return to work part-time,
however, with the goal of moving toward full-time, self-supporting
work
Should a beneficiary start with part-time work, as is sometimes the
case, this can qualify an EN for initial Phase 1 Milestone
payments
Example: Joe is an SSI recipient, and works 20 hours/week and
makes $8.50/hour, monthly average wage=$736
This example would qualify your EN for Phase 1 Milestone
payments
Milestone Reconciliation Payment

Occurs when Beneficiary moves quickly into the
Outcome Payment Period

Includes all Milestones “available” at time of first Ticket
assignment that remain “unpaid” due to the start of the
Outcome payment period

Reconciliation payment made when 12th Outcome
payment is achieved

This payment does not need to be requested, Maximus
will determine the amount owed to the EN after the 12th
Outcome is achieved
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Requesting Ticket Payments
Three options for requesting payment:
1. Evidentiary Payment Request (EPR)
-- Requires primary evidence of earnings
2. Certification Payment Request (CPR)
-- Uses secondary evidence of earnings
3. Workforce e-Process, e-Pay
-- Available to Workforce ENs only, and provides
automated payments from Milestone 1 through
Outcomes

NOTE: Billing options will be covered in detail in
subsequent trainings, and are also covered by the
Operations Support Manager (OSM), through Ticket
Tuesday Training opportunities
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Benefits of becoming an EN include:
1.
2.
3.
Increase your bottom line - Get paid for the work you are
already doing
Ticket payments are your own to use as you wish.
National research at job centers indicate job centers
have potential to generate EN funds to partially or fully
sustain DRC positions. EN funds could also support
service gaps, additional training funds, etc.
Generous funding stream – $23, 341 (SSDI) and
$22,468 (SSI) per successful beneficiary who achieves
all payments
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Q&A
To ask a question/make a
comment please:


click on the “raised hand
icon” OR
submit via the Q&A panel
Note: Both are located on the right hand toolbar
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
Funds through the Ticket program are flexible, to
use as you wish, and so are the Business Models
you may consider in developing your Employment
Network

The following are examples of strategies found in
various locations across the U.S.
Local Level Strategy
Each EN (WIB)
completes a separate
application to operate
as an independent EN
Job Center
/ EN
Job
Center/ EN
Ideally, State
Vocational
Rehabilitation
provides information
about all EN options
when closing a case
for consumers to
receive ongoing
support from EN
Job Center
/ EN
For DEI grantees,
this model would
include the Workforce
Investment Board as
the EN of record, per
the Solicitation for
Grant Application
(SGA)
STATE VR
Partnership
Plus
Job Center
/ EN
Job
Center/ EN
Job Center
/ EN
This example shows a
collaborative web
allowing for referral and
mentoring efforts
amongst separate EN’s
Collaborative Agreement
Strategy
State Vocational
Rehabilitation
Agency
Partnership Plus
Advantages: Sharing of
information &
resources, staffing and
community outreach
EN of record –
Has submitted EN application, In
this example, the local Workforce
Investment Board (WIB)
Ticket Holder receives up front
Job placement supports from Job
Center, and Long-Term supports
from CRP
Specific Advantage of
collaboration with
Community Rehabilitation
Provider: Job Center can
focus on job matching
and placement services
only.
WIB has Local agreement
with Community Rehabilitation
Provider (CRP) to provide Long-Term
supports to Ticket holders
State Administrative
Employment Network (AEN)
Payments divided amongst providers
based on services to Ticket holders that
lead to EN payments
Partnership Plus
STATE VR
State Department(s)
Note:
Could be one,
or a partnership of
State Departments
Example: 20% of payments
for administrative
functions (i.e. billing /
marketing) kept by State
AEN, which is also the EN
of Record
Example: 80% of payments
go to providers per written
agreement with State AEN
Providers of Employment
Services become vendors
under the AEN umbrella
Community
Rehab
Provider
Workforce
Investment
Board
Community
Rehab
Provider
Workforce
Investment
Board
Community
Rehab
Provider
Workforce
Investment
Boar
Becoming an Employment Network



All Employment Networks need a signed formal
contract/agreement with Social Security
Administration
This is a federal contract/agreement and the EN
needs to maintain in compliance
DOL funded Workforce Agencies have 2
Options to apply: Payment Agreement (PA) or
Request for Quotation (RFQ)
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Components required of All ENs

Must have an Employer Identification Number (EIN),
also known as the Tax ID #

Must have general business or professional liability
insurance in effect (minimum of $500,000 per
occurrence)

Must have a DUNS number (contact Dun & Bradstreet
at 1-866-705-5711 or apply online at www.dnb.com)

You must register with the System for Award
Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.
◦ The EN responsible update annually.
◦ There is no charge.
◦ Formerly Central Contractor Registration (CCR) system and the
Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA)
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Request for Quotation (RFQ)
• The method available to ALL agencies to become an
Employment Network; option for workforce.
• The EN Request for Quotation (RFQ) can be found at:
http://www.ssa.gov/work/enrfp.html
• Download and complete on your computer
• The most recent RFQ release date as of this training,
is 8/27/2012
• The RFQ provides detailed instructions about action
required. You will be submitting the RFQ
electronically to SSA.
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Payment Agreement (PA)
• The method available only to DOL funded
workforce agencies to become an
Employment Network.
• Became available in October, 2012.
• Can be obtained from TA Liaison or OSM.
• You will be submitting the signed PA
electronically to SSA.
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What if I have questions regarding
the EN application?

For RFQ ---- Help is available through SSA’s Employment
Network Contracts Team
 E-Mail: ENContracts@ssa.gov

For PA ---- Help is available through SSA’s PA staff
 E-Mail: Enagreements@ssa.gov
Note: Additional training on “Completing the Application
to Become an EN” will be made available by the DEI TA
team on December 13.
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As an EN…
Once you become an Employment Network, the
Operations Support Manager (OSM) for the Ticket to
Work program will:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Handle the process for assigning & un-assigning Tickets
Maintain the list of approved ENs
Process Ticket payments
Conduct timely progress reviews
Staff an EN Help Desk
Provide training & technical assistance to ENs
Visit the Ticket to Work website at www.yourtickettowork.com
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Ticket to Work Resources:

Visit SSA’s Work Site ww.socialsecurity.gov/work

Visit Ticket to Work website www.yourtickettowork.com

Visit the Beneficiary Access & Support Services (BASS)
website to view beneficiary success story and workforce
EN:
www.chooseworkttw.net/about-program/successstories-video.html
You can also find archives of all DEI Ticket/EN trainings
and related resources on the DEI website at:
http://www.dei-ideas.org/chapter6/page0a_enttw.cfm
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
If your Job Center(s) and/or state Department of Labor is
not currently an Employment Network (EN), the NDI TA
Team will be providing information on options for applying
to become an EN in December 13, 2012, which will be
repeated again in January 2013.

A series of upcoming trainings starting in early 2013 will
provide key information and proven strategies, and
showcase promising practices already in use among
existing Workforce ENs, to integrate EN operations into
your Job Centers and other DEI project objectives.

Stay Tuned!!!
Kevin Nickerson
NDI Technical Assistance Team
knickerson@ndi-inc.org
Phone: (607) 272-7570 Ext. 136
Mary Lynn ReVoir
NDI Technical Assistance Team
mlrevoir@ndi-inc.org
Phone: (515) 975-2344
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