Introducing DB101.org
An interactive web site that provides
people with disabilities an easy way
to explore the possibility of work
Pathways to Employment
Strategic Plan
• Many people with disabilities don’t know is an
option
• Paradigm shift is occurring - “You Can Work”
• An infrastructure change is needed to:
– Meet projected growth
– Support providers in implementing the change
– Ensure clear, consistent messaging about work
across the system
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Objective
Competitive employment at full capacity
Invest in sustainable infrastructure to expand
benefits planning and work incentive
education and access so:
• People with disabilities on public benefits get
information when they want it and in the manner
they choose so:
– they can make informed choices about work,
– manage their benefits and earnings, and
– increase their financial well being.
3
Objective
Competitive employment at full capacity
SYSTEMS LEVEL
• Nobody is discouraged from pursuing work based on
misinformation or lack of information
and in time…
• Work becomes part of the plan – people are
encouraged to explore work as a viable option to
build wealth and expand community connections.
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Why Disability Benefits 101 (DB101)?
•
•
•
•
•
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Person-centered
Info under one roof
Sustainable
Web based
Accessible
Can connect into a
more coordinated
system
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Who Can Benefit?
People With Disabilities who
Support Network
– Don’t know they can work
– Vocation Rehab
– Don’t think competitive
employment is an option
– Workforce Centers
– Keep earned income low to maintain
public benefits (SGA)
– Benefit Counselors
– Employment Networks
– Are working but considering a
change in pay or benefits
– Social Security Admin
– Are planning for their future
– Medical community
– Counties
– Family
– Advocacy Organizations
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How it can be Used
Independently
Accessed directly
by people with
disabilities & their
families to:
• explore
• create plans
• identify options
• connect to help &
other resources
Facilitated
Professional
Used by those who
support people with
disabilities to:
A comprehensive
resource to use for:
• gather information
• explore possibility
• debunk myths
• plan for work
• streamline workflow
• staff/agency training
• outreach
• reference
• recruitment
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DB101 supports the Consumer throughout their process
to help move them to gainful employment
Does not
think work
is an option
Wants
enclave
work only
Wants
limited work
so no
benefits
impact
Wants work
regardless
of benefits
impact
Under
Working
Avoiding
changes in
work
(or just enough to
get MA-EPD)
Use DB101 to alleviate fears; educate; identify
scenarios; find resources; build plans; move into action
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Taking a Look at the Tool: What
DB101 Offers
DB101: New Tools for Success
Major Features:
• Content / Information / Resources
– Educational information & case studies
– Links to forms & applications
– Helps learner make connections & find resources
• Estimators
– Interactive tools to help estimate how employment & other life changes impact
income & benefits
– Series of questions, providing tips, resources & other information along the way
– Credible, individualized results
•
Communication Tools
– Tools to support content & technical needs
– Forums to interact with others within the network and to easily share
information
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What DB101 Can Do
• Create an individualized plan to help users prepare for work or
return to work & achieve higher earnings
• Identify program interactions, as well as work incentives for
which consumer may be eligible
• Provide “Next Steps”and relevant information to help the user
know exactly what to do when
• Allow the user to view income over time so as to help foster
longer-range planning & facilitate financial literacy
• Provide objective reinforcement of professionals’ counseling
• Offer a single source for multiple relevant resources &
information
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Help Center
• Phone, Live Chat, E-Mail
• Real Time Support for
– content questions / needs
– technical assistance
– customer benefit data
• Reduces professionals’ call time to agencies, such
as SSA
• Access to broad & powerful resources of DLL &
MNHelp Information Network
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Overview of Content Areas
1.
2.
3.
4.
Program / Topical Information
Glossary
Life Situations
News & Articles
1. Program / Topical Information
•
•
•
Educational reference
source
Links to forms &
applications
Understandable
language – user
friendly
Initial content:
• Income Support
– SSDI
– SSI/MSA
•
Health Coverage
–
–
–
–
MA
MA-EPD
Medicare
Waiver Programs
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1.a Basic & Detailed Information
Excellent as a quick reference or to
research details
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1.B Examples, Resources, FAQs & “Pitfalls”
•Real-life examples &
stories reinforce learning
•Single source for multiple
relevant resources
•Compiles & identifies
common questions &
concerns
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Glossary
• Comprehensive
• Understandable language –
user friendly
• Alphabetical AND by Topic
• Links to other relevant sites
(NOTE: opens separate window)
• Direct links to glossary
definitions throughout site
17
Life Situations
• Case Studies in
narrative format
• Variety of
scenarios: Newly
Diagnosed; Youth &
Disability; Workforce Reentry; Sudden Onset
• Helps users apply
concepts &
understand
potential next
steps
• Clearly identifies
“pitfalls” to help
educate & prepare
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Forums
• Online
discussion
rooms with predefined subjects
• Expands the
way people can
learn
• Opportunity to
share
experiences,
successes &
build
community
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News & Articles
• Easy access to
current news &
articles related to
disabilities &
benefits
• Helps
professionals &
consumers stay
on top of & share
relevant
information
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Integrated links create easy access
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Applications
Forms
Manuals
Resources
Sites
Glossary
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Printer-Friendly / E-mail Page
• “Printer-Friendly” feature - a way to provide
consumers printed information
• “E-Mail Page” function – can email content
to consumer and/or colleagues
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Overview of Estimators
1. MA-EPD Estimator
2. Benefits-to-Work Estimator
Estimators
• Interactive tools to help estimate how
employment & other life changes impact
income & benefits
• Series of questions, providing tips & other
information along the way
• Credible, individualized results
All estimators are user-friendly and let you
• Confirm your answers before you submit
• Allow you to skip questions
• Continually show you where you are in the process
• Provide content and usability “Tips” along the way
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Estimator 1: MA-EPD Estimator
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Enter Individual Information
REMEMBER: All estimators let you
•
Confirm your answers before you submit
•
Allow you to skip questions
•
Continually show you where you are in the process
•
Provide content and usability “Tips” along the way
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MA-EPD Estimator Results
After answering a handful of
questions, the estimator will:
• Tell you if you qualify for
MA-EPD & monthly costs
• Provide Tips & Next Steps
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Benefits to Work Estimator
The Benefits to Work Estimator:
•provides a financial / benefits
picture of different work scenarios
based on individualized
information
•informs you of various work
incentives, health coverage, etc.
available to your specific
situation(s)
•allows you to create & save
multiple plans & compare
different options over time
•references valuable resources and
suggested “next steps”
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Three Easy Steps
1.
Enter individual information
•
•
2.
Household & health coverage information
Income & Resources
Create a Plan
•
•
3.
Potential job income & work expenses
Other work detail
Receive Results
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Estimator combines information to create a financial picture
Directly answers questions such as:


“Will this work help me be better off financially?”
“What do I need to do to become better off?”
Presents benefits and work incentives for which you may be eligible
Save the Plan for future reviewing, revising, comparison to other
options you create
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1. Enter individual information
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Household & health coverage information
Income & Resources
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2. Create a Plan
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•
Hypothetical and/or real
Compare multiple options
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3. Receive Results
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•
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Estimator will calculate robust sets of possibilities
Will provide graphical summary along with more
detailed information
If you are not better-off financially, the estimator
will identify what you need to do to be better off
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Results generate:
• Timeline – to review how
your plan works over time
• To Dos - to help users
remember what they need to
manage their benefits
• Tips – helpful suggestions
• Next Steps – to provide
support for your plan
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Results provide detailed
financial summaries to help
with planning, budgeting &
financial literacy; reports
include:
• Income / Expenses
Spreadsheets –
monthly & annually
• Health Coverage &
Benefits Details
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• Build full reports of all information
in the plan
• Can be saved in pdf format that can
be e-mailed and/or printed
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• Sessions can be saved &
retrieved for later reference
& comparisons
• Sessions & data are private
& saved with
usernames/passwords that
you choose & control
(Note:
username/password are case sensitive)
Username & Password
are case sensitive
36
You can:
• Create a Different Plan
• Compare results between
plans
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Make Changes in this plan
• Add Another Job
• Change plan’s basics
• Add future changes
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If in your plan you are not
better off, the Estimator will
help you:
•identify what you need to do
to be better off financially
•compare the options
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DB101 Development: More to come…
Usability Re-design
• New features, functions, and look based on feedback
Estimators
• Professional Versions of all Estimators
• School to Work Estimator
• Simplified Benefits to Work Estimator
Content
• 10 new content sections
• 4 Life Situations
• 4 Close Ups
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Building the System
Adopting DB101 into business practices
• User Support System
• Service Network Adoption
• Benefits Planning System
Benefits Planning System Design
Goal:
•
Increase capacity of MN’s benefits planning system by
expanding information access, streamlining services, and
building cohesive messaging.
IR&A System Design components:
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MN Work Incentives Connection
Disability Linkage Line
Disability Benefits 101
MnHelp.info
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User Support: Help Center (DLL)
What it provides:
• Real time support for:
– content questions, understanding next steps, interpreting results
– technical assistance
– public benefits data needed for estimators
• Access to broad and powerful resource of DLL and MnHelp
Information Network.
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Live Chat
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Worksheet for
Benefits to Work Estimator
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System Technology
• Built on Revation which
connects the network
through :
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Live Chat
VOIP
secure email
virtual presence to connect
the network
• In 2008 network was
expanded to include:
– Benefits Look Up Group
– Mn WIC
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MNWIC/DLL/DB101 Coordination
Working collectively to identify :
• Where the DLL, DB101 & WIC functions fit into the
continuum of services for people with disabilities exploring
and retaining work
• Create a cohesive, streamlined experience for the consumer
• How the functions can support each other to increase system
capacity
• Shared messaging & protocols
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Field Testing
Understanding tool application and adoption within our work
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VR – Rochester and Winona
RISE
VR Power user group
Others
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Questions
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