WIPA Training for AWICs
Session 1
April 22, 2015
1
Social Security’s Commitment and
Role in Operating WIPA Services
2
WIPA Program History
• The initiative was created as part of the Ticket to Work and
Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. Services began in
2000.
• After a one year absence, the WIPA program resumed in
August 2013.
• The WIPA projects serve about 35,000 per year.
3
WIPA Program Structure
• WIPA is a key component of Social Security’s strategy
to promote employment among beneficiaries and
reduce dependence on SSI and Title II cash benefits.
• Over the past 14 years, more than 2,300 individuals
have been trained and certified to provide work
incentives counseling services
• These highly skilled and dedicated individuals have
met the needs of over 750,000 individuals in all 50
states and territories.
4
WIPA Program Partners
• Social Security Administration Office of Research,
Demonstration, and Employment Support (ORDES)
• VCU National Training Center – Training & Technical
Assistance
• Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. – Social Security Beneficiary
Access and Support Services (BASS) Contractor and
Administrator of WIPA Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) data
system
• Xerox Corporation – Operates Ticket to Work Help Line and
ETO Help Desk for the WIPA initiative
• Social Solutions – Efforts to Outcome (ETO) beneficiary
referral and case management data system
5
VCU National Training Center Provides:
• Social Security Approved National Training
Curriculum
• CWIC Training and Certification
• Individual and Organizational Level Technical
Assistance
• Ongoing Professional Development Training
• Archived Training and Resource Materials
6
CWIC Training and Certification Requirements
• Certification process consists of five components:
– Five-day face-to-face initial training
– Self-study activities to prepare for and complete required
certification assessments
– Completion of Part 1 of the assessment process Competency-based assessments addressing each of the
modules in the National Training Curriculum
– Completion of Part 2of the assessment process Submission of three case files in a 12-month period for
review and evaluation.
– Participation in ongoing supplemental training and
technical assistance activities
7
Community Work Incentives Coordinator
(CWIC) Competencies
• Six major competency areas
– Promoting and Supporting Employment Outcomes for
Social Security Disability Beneficiaries
– Partnering with Community Agencies and Conducting
Community Outreach
– Understanding Social Security Disability Benefits, Other
Federal Benefits, and Associated Work Incentives
– Providing Healthcare Planning and Counseling
– Insuring the Provision of High Quality WIPA Services
– Providing Effective WIPA Services
8
Work Incentives Planning & Assistance
(WIPA)
WIPA supports beneficiaries to:
• Obtain employment;
• Return to work;
• Improve their employment situation;
• Access or maintain health care coverage; and
• Achieve their employment and financial
stability goals
9
WIPA
WIPA is a crucial service that counsels and
supports beneficiaries as they identify their
lifestyle and financial goals. It assists beneficiaries
in obtaining the financial education and planning
supports available in their communities.
10
WIPA is all about WORK!
Understanding the CWIC’s Role in
Promoting Employment and
Enhancing Financial Stability
11
CWIC Role
in Promoting Employment
1.
Helping beneficiaries clarify their career goals
2.
Helping beneficiaries determine what services, supports
or accommodations may be necessary to achieve the
desired career goal
3.
Explaining Social Security’s Ticket to Work program and
the array of employment services & supports available to
individuals with disabilities in the local service area
12
CWIC Role
in Promoting Employment
4.
Connecting beneficiaries with the specific services
and supports needed to obtain and/or maintain paid
employment; and
5.
Assisting beneficiaries with disabilities to resolve
problems related to work efforts, higher education,
occupational skills training and work attainment or
continuation of work.
13
CWIC Role in Supporting Reduced
Reliance on Federal Cash Benefits
• Address benefit myths that prevent a beneficiary
from establishing a goal of increased earnings and
reduction in cash benefits
• Support beneficiaries in establishing financial goals
• Provide advisement on work incentives that can
support beneficiaries in achieving financial goals
14
Myths that Prevent Financial Stability
• Benefit myths do more than just prevent
beneficiaries from making informed choices about
work. Benefit myths keep people in poverty!
• Beneficiaries are told:
– You need to keep all your benefits even if you work
– You cannot make it without all your benefits
– You will be worse off if you work too much
15
WIPA Strategies to Address Myths that
Prevent Financial Stability
• CWICs are prepared to respond with encouraging
phrases when myths arise, such as:
– “Special rules allow you to work, financially get
ahead, and maintain access to benefits if you
need them.”
– “The benefit programs are complicated, but
my job is to help you use work incentives to
become financially stable.”
16
The WIPA “Message”
•
Social Security disability benefit programs have work
incentives that help beneficiaries transition to work
•
It is possible to work and keep Medicaid or Medicare in
almost every case
•
It is possible to work and come out ahead financially even
if benefits are reduced or terminated
•
The object of the WIPA program is to promote
employment and enhance financial independence
•
The WIPA initiative is NOT intended to force people off
benefits, nor is it intended to help people maximize their
benefits
17
Understanding WIPA Project Services and
Collaboration with Key Disability Service
System Partners
18
Critical Elements of the WIPA Program
•
Emphasis on serving beneficiaries who are employed or
actively seeking employment
•
WIPA projects function as active partners in Social Security’s
overall employment initiative
•
CWICs work collaboratively with community partners to help
beneficiaries achieve employment outcomes
•
Outreach is coordinated with Beneficiary Access Support
Services (BASS)
•
WIPA services are delivered in an individualized manner
involving long-term benefits-related case management
19
WIPA Eligibility Criteria
• Age 14 to Full Retirement Age
• Disabled per Social Security’s definition
• Receiving or approved to receive SSI or Title II based on
disability
• Receiving Medicaid under 1619(b)
• Receiving only SSI State Supplementary payment
• Receiving Medicare under EPMC as former Title II
disability recipient
20
WIPA Service Priorities
• CWICs must determine where the beneficiary is in the
employment process and assess the importance and
urgency of their presenting needs.
• CWICs screen to answer the following questions:
– Is the caller eligible for WIPA services?
– How close are they to work?
– What services are needed?
21
Two Service Categories
Individualized Work Incentives
Planning & Assistance
• Requires an in-depth intake
• Long-term services
• Services rendered in variety of
ways
• Requires verification of
benefits and past work
• Includes benefits summary &
analysis and work incentive
plan development
• Continued follow up services
Basic Information & Referral (I&R)
• First contact with WIPA or Help
Line
• Can often be handled via
phone, mail, and email
• Basic information about
benefits, work incentives,
programs & services
• Beneficiary may not be ready
to pursue employment
• Majority will move on to
receive intensive WIPA services
22
Partnerships are Critical to Success!
• To support the work efforts of beneficiaries, WIPA
services should be fully integrated with employment and
support services in the community.
• CWICs must be familiar with the employment services and
resources in the community, and should partner and
maintain strong working relationships with these
agencies.
23
Working with Social Security
• CWICs should maintain relationships with their local Social
Security offices, regional PASS cadres, and the Area Work
Incentive Coordinators (AWICs).
• CWICs can also establish relationships for reporting
protocols with Claims Representatives and Work Incentive
Liaisons (WILs).
24
Collaborating with Agencies Providing
Employment Services and Support
• "Employment Support Team"
– American Job Center (formerly DOL One Stop
Career Center)
– Vocational Rehabilitation agencies
– Employment Networks (ENs)
– Public Schools
– Centers for Independent Living
– Community Rehabilitation Providers
– Private Rehabilitation Companies
25
How CWICs Support Other Members of the
Employment Support Team
• Offer knowledge about Social Security work incentives &
employment initiatives
• Offer information regarding WIPA program eligibility criteria and
scope of services
• Help to analyze situation and benefits and then identify critical
timelines in the benefits transitions.
• Provide information on other federal and state benefit programs
that interact with employment
• Assist in the development of previous work that may impact
future work and benefits through direct access to Social Security
• Help other partners meet successful placement goals
26
What is the BASS?
• BASS = Beneficiary Access and Support Services
• Social Security has established a contract with Booz Allen
Hamilton to provide support to beneficiaries to encourage
and facilitate participation in the TtW and WIPA.
• The BASS markets Social Security’s work incentive
programs (including TtW) to beneficiaries
• Facilitates beneficiary access to Employment Networks
• Operates the TtW Help Line to ensure accurate and timely
information to Social Security beneficiaries with
disabilities
27
How the BASS Assists WIPA Projects
• The BASS is responsible for helping WIPA projects market
their services directly to Social Security disability
beneficiaries
• BASS manages the Help Line, and Choosework.net
• The BASS holds nationwide Work Incentives Seminars
(WISE)
• WISE events focus on providing beneficiaries with
information about the Ticket to Work, local ENs, other
Social Security work incentives and WIPA services
28
Ticket to Work (TtW) Help Line Background
• BASS operates the TtW Help Line – a toll-free call center
staffed by Customer Service Representatives (CSRs).
Initially, the Help Line services focused solely on helping
beneficiaries make informed choices about using their
Tickets and selecting a State VR or EN.
• Beginning in 2009, Social Security expanded the role of
the Help Line by establishing a special cadre of CSRs
specifically trained and certified to provide basic work
incentives information to beneficiary callers.
29
TtW Help Line Background
• Help Line CSRs also screened and referred beneficiaries in
need of intensive work incentives counseling to WIPAs.
• These referrals address the continuing need of
beneficiaries for a more advanced level of counseling
beyond what the Help Line provides.
• Approximately 10,000 beneficiaries are referred from the
Help Line to the WIPA programs each year.
30
TtW Help Line – WIPA Connection
• The Help Line is the first point of contact for many
beneficiaries.
• Help Line CSRs will screen all beneficiary callers to
determine eligibility for WIPA services.
• Beneficiaries determined eligible will be referred to the
appropriate WIPA using established referral protocols.
• All referrals will be generated by the Help Line and
received by the WIPAs in the Efforts to Outcome (ETO)
program.
• Help Line referrals receive priority services from the WIPA
provider.
31
The WIPA-Related Purpose of the
TtW Help Line
• One purpose of the BASS TtW Help Line is to more
effectively process and respond to beneficiary inquiries
related to work incentives.
• The services delivered by the Help Line are not intended or
designed to replace WIPA services.
• The Help Line functions as an intermediary service,
screening and refining referrals to WIPA projects to ensure
that beneficiary referrals are appropriate.
32
Conclusion
• The mission of the WIPA initiative is to promote employment,
and to help beneficiaries achieve financial independence.
• WIPA services have been refined to include more individualized
services targeted to beneficiaries who are closer to employment.
• A critical component of WIPA is collaboration with all key
partners and members of the Employment Support Team to help
beneficiaries achieve their employment goals.
• The BASS and the TtW Help Line not only collaborate with WIPAs,
but also complement the service through beneficiary outreach
and information and referral screening and triage.
• No one entity can be all things to all beneficiaries; it takes a team
to help beneficiaries to achieve their goals!
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