Ticket Holder Assessment & Individual
Work Plan (IWP)
Hosted/Facilitated by: Miranda Kennedy with the NDI Technical Assistance Team
Presented by: Kevin Nickerson and Mary Lynn ReVoir with the NDI Technical Assistance Team,
and guest presenter, LaWanda Hawkins with the Operations Support Manager (OSM)
U.S. Department of Labor
2013 Ticket/EN Series
Questions/Comments
If you have a comment or
question we encourage you to
submit it to the host in writing via
the Chat or Q&A Box to the right.
Your question will either be
addressed during the training,
responded to in the Chat or Q&A
Box, or followed up on after the
training.
Disability Employment Initiative
(DEI)
• 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.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this training webinar, DEI grantees
and participants and partners from the public
workforce system will :
• Understand Ticket Holder assessment strategies
• Have a better understanding of all the elements involved in assessing
Ticket holders, including the following:
• Educating staff on how to identify Ticket holders
• Evaluating Ticket holder service needs
• Understanding the connection between assessment and revenue
• Know how to assign a Ticket to your Employment Network and the
available Individual Work Plan (IWP) Forms that are required
• Next Steps
Ticket/EN Subject Matter Expert
Kevin Nickerson
E: knickerson@ndi-inc.org
P: (607) 272-7570 Ext. 136
5
Agenda
• Introduction to Ticket Assessment
• Review of the Ticket Assessment Guide
• Overview of Maximus’ Operations Support
Manager (OSM) Individual Work Plan (IWP)
• Overview of the Customized Workforce
IWP
• Time for Q & A
Ticket Assessment Strategies
7
To Assess or not to Assess…
the Ticket that is…
The Two Schools of Thought…
Assign all Ticket Holders who are interested in working with
you and hope some will yield a payment for the EN
Assign only those Ticket Holders who you feel can benefit
from your EN services, and who you think will yield a
payment under the TtW Program
Assessment:
Assigning All Ticket Holders
• Using this approach, an EN simply assigns as many Ticket
holders as possible that have interest in working with the EN
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
– No need to assess whether
the Ticket holder will yield
any results to the EN
– Many of the Ticket holders
assigned will never yield any
revenue to the EN
– Requires less time up-front
in assessing each Ticket
holder
– Much more paperwork involved
in this process as many more
IWP’s are developed
– Staff simply need to know
what services are provided
by the EN, & how to assign
the Ticket
– Overall revenue produced is
less, and placement rates will be
lower, despite the increased
number of staff hours required
Refining the Number of Ticket Holders
Served, Individual Assessment
In this process of assessment, each Ticket holder is
reviewed based on the following:
– Services Needed : Do they fit our EN Business Model?
– Employment Goals : Are projected earnings consistent with
required Milestones and Outcomes?
– Benefits Evaluation : Is the Ticket holder ready to move forward
with gainful employment? (i.e. SGA level employment)
– Skills / Education / Experience : Is this consistent with Ticket
holder employment goals, and with the current workforce need?
– Projected Revenue : Will we produce revenue if we serve this
Ticket holder as an EN?
– Other : Health status at intake and restrictions, apparent
motivation to return to work?
Assessment Resources
• O*Net Online: http://www.onetonline.org/
– Compare current skills with required skills of various
occupations
• Other DOL sponsored Online resources such as Job
Zone (NYS): https://jobzone.ny.gov/views/jobzone/guest.jsf
Ticket/EN Subject Matter Expert
Mary Lynn ReVoir
P: (515) 975-2344
E: mlrevoir@ndi-inc.org
12
A Review of the Ticket Assessment
Guide
13
Ticket/EN Guest Expert
LaWanda Hawkins
Program Integrity Manager
Operations Support Manager
Social Security Ticket to Work Program
P: (703) 336-8076
E: lawandaahawkins@maximus.com
14
A Review of Individual Work Plan (IWP):
Maximus (OSM) Version
15
What is an
Individual Work Plan (IWP)?
The IWP, is a written agreement between the beneficiary and the EN. It
is developed in partnership with each beneficiary in a manner that
affords the beneficiary the opportunity to exercise informed choice in
selecting an employment goal and specific services needed to achieve
that goal.
Basically, the IWP is an agreement between the two parties that lays
out the actions both will take to assist the beneficiary to obtain
economic financial independence through gainful employment. The
IWP details the beneficiary’s vocational goals and the services and
supports the EN is agreeing to provide to assist the beneficiary to
achieve those goals. This document is intended to be an active and
living agreement between the beneficiary and the EN.
What is the
Individual Work Plan (IWP)?
WHAT IT IS
 Written Agreement
 Contract between Beneficiary
and Employment Network (EN)
 Details Goals of the Beneficiary
 Details Services Provided to
Meet those Goals
WHAT IT IS NOT
x Application
x One Time Piece of
Documentation
x Pre-Printed Goals
x Pre-Printed Services
 Intent /Use
 Living Document or “roadmap”
to Track
 Signed by Both Parties in
Partnership of Informed Choice
17
Request for Quotation (RFQ)?
• RFQ - Understanding of
Policies and Procedures
• http://www.ssa.gov/work/enrfq
.html (p. 15-18)
• Beneficiary and Employment
Network Relationship
• Higher Standard of
Documentation
• 9 Mandatory Components
18
And Enhanced Approach:
Back to the Basics
GOALS:
• Clarify IWP Standard
• Enhance EN Performance
Expectations
• Moving to Successful
Outcomes
• Accountability
• Business Ethics
• Good Faith Practices
• Protect and Maintain
Integrity
19
1: Adequate Documentation
• Documentation of One-OnOne Discussion
– Date
– Modality
– Summary
– EN’s Assessment of
Vocational Goals
– How Services and
Supports Will Assist
• Statement Acknowledging
Ticket Assignment
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
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2: Description of Employment
Goal
• Describe in detail the goal developed with
beneficiary
• Goal must be clear, measurable and consistent,
and Ongoing
– Avoid Ambiguity
• Over arching goal- helping beneficiaries
advance and obtain self-supporting employment
or self-sufficiency
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
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Goals should be:
Specific – Answers the question… What?
Measurable – Answers... How?
Attainable – Can the goal be achieved?
Realistic – Something the beneficiary can
achieve?
Timely – Maintains Focus
22
3: Description of Services and
Supports
Initial Job Acquisition and
Retention Phase
• Describe Services
Ongoing Support Phase
• Describe Services: Likely
to change over time!
– Ongoing Job Supports
– Assistance to Maintain and
Advance
– Further Job Placements
– Quarterly Contact
– Employer Contact
– Career Planning
– Coaching
– Training
• Trial Work Level Earnings
• Substantial Gainful
Activity Level Earnings
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
4 and 5: Terms, Conditions and
Permissions
4: Include a description of any terms and
conditions related to the provision of the services
and supports
5: Include a statement whereby the beneficiary
gives permission to the EN to contact employers
on the beneficiary’s behalf to verify or obtain
evidence of work and earnings
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
6: Description of Beneficiary
Recent Earnings
• Description of a Beneficiary’s Recent Earnings
• 18/6 Months
• 6 Months is the Minimum Requirement for Ticket
Assignment
• Phase 1 Milestone Payments can be affected by
earnings above the Trial Work Level
• 18 Month Lookback Form NOT Mandatory but Work
History Documentation IS Mandatory
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
7: Statement Acknowledging TPR
• Inform Beneficiary of Timely
Progress Review (TPR)
– A way to track Ticket holder
progress
– Occurs every 12 months
• Service Providers
– Explain during IWP
– Understand the process
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
PARKING
The EN shall not say or
imply to any Ticket Holder:
• You can work part time
indefinitely with the support of
the EN.
• The EN will support or enable
parking (i.e., artificially
manipulating a beneficiary’s
work and earnings to remain on
cash benefits).
27
8 and 9: EN Responsibilities and
Ticket Assignment
• 8. EN and Beneficiary have
responsibility to each other.
• Speak in clear language
• Ensure understanding/expectations
• Refer to pg. 17-18 in RFQ
• Statement that the beneficiary
acknowledges assignment of
his/her ticket.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
• MAXIMUS bases the IWP review on requirements noted in
the RFQ, August 2012 which details the most recent
requirements, that you can use, or you can create your
own IWP if you prefer
• The IWP includes Ticket Holder demographics, statements
required by the RFQ, and guides you with documentation
regarding vocational goals and services and supports that
you will provide to and/or assist with obtaining for the
Ticket Holder
• The Maximus IWP template can be found here:
http://www.yourtickettowork.com/selftraining/NEW%20IWP.doc
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IWP SPECIFICS
Let’s discuss a few items
Checking Ticket Assignability
1. Interactive Voice Response (IVR
System)
• 24/7 Days a Week
• No Limit to How Many Tickets Can
Check at One Time
• Dial In: 1-866-949-3687
• Must have DUNS, PIN, and Social
Security Number!
2.Secure Provider Portal @
http://www.yourtickettowork.com
Common Errors
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Beneficiary’s name is missing
Beneficiary’s name does not match the SSN provided
Short/Long term vocational goal is missing
Expected monthly earnings are missing or insufficient
Services and Supports are missing
Beneficiary earning history not provided
Statement of any additional terms or conditions is missing
Statement indicating EN will not receive compensation is missing
Statement indicating EN may Amend IWP or Unassign the Ticket is missing
Ongoing employment support is missing
Statement of beneficiary’s rights under the Ticket to Work Program,
including the right to Unassign is missing
Statement of remedies available to beneficiary, including availability of State
Protection and Advocacy is missing
Common Errors cont.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
34
Statement to inform beneficiary of annual progress reviews and Timely
Progress Review guidelines is missing
Statement of the beneficiary’s right to privacy and confidentiality is missing
Statement advising beneficiary IWP may be amended is missing
Statement that EN will only use qualified employees and or providers to
provide services to beneficiary is missing
Statement of the beneficiary’s right to have a copy of the IWP in accessible
format is missing
Signature of Beneficiary is missing
Signature of EN Representative is missing
Record of Career Counseling is missing
Beneficiary may not be eligible to participate in the Ticket to Work Program
The IWP was signed prior to the Unassignment Date
Beneficiary’s Ticket is not currently Assignable
Protect Personally Identifiable
Information
• Suitability clearance
• Protect electronic documents
• No Post-Its
• No name and Social Security
Number in email
• Keep documents secure
• Lock your computer
35
• ENs have the option to customize the IWP to meet their
own needs
• Must contain all required components
• You may add information beyond the required
components, for example:
– Additional services
– Additional tracking information (i.e. job classification, distance
willing to travel to job)
• A customized IWP has been developed, as an
alternative to the standard Maximus IWP, for Workforce
ENs
36
A Review of the Customized Workforce
IWP
37
Summary
In today’s presentation we covered the
following:
• Assessment of Ticket holders, whether to
individually assess and how, or to assign en mass
• Overview of the Maximus (OSM) IWP template, and
updates on the IWP process
• Overview of the customized Workforce IWP
Next Steps
Join us for our next training in the Ticket to Work Series on Tuesday, April
16th 2013 from 3:00pm to 4:00pm EST.
Part 7: Ticket to Work and Partnership Plus
This training will be presented by Mary Lynn ReVoir and will be hosted by Miranda
Kennedy with the NDI Technical Assistance Team.
This webinar will provide:
• Knowledge of the state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs participation in
the Ticket to Work program
• Information on how Partnership Plus can be used as an opportunity to address
beneficiary needs for ongoing supports after job placement
• Information on how State VR agencies and Workforce entities can collaborate to
expand the scope of services available to beneficiaries and improve services
coordination
• Examples of how Job Center Employment Networks can partner with other
community agencies
Questions/Comments
If you have a comment or
question you can:
A: Submit it to the host in writing
via the Chat or Q&A Box to the
right, or…
B: Click on the “raise hand” icon
to have your line un-muted and
ask your question/make your
comment.
Contact Information
Mary Lynn ReVoir
NDI Technical Assistance Team
P: (515) 975-2344
E: mlrevoir@ndi-inc.org
Kevin Nickerson
NDI Technical Assistance Team
E: knickerson@ndi-inc.org
P: (607) 272-7570 Ext. 136
LaWanda Hawkins
Program Integrity Manager, Operations Support Manager
Social Security Ticket to Work Program
E: lawandaahawkins@maximus.com
P: (703) 336-8076