THE TICKET TO WORK

March 2004

Introduction

The Ticket to Work Program is a Social Security Administration (SSA) initiative to help people with disabilities that are receiving SSI or SSDI return to work. The Ticket Program is designed to provide consumers with greater choice in receiving the employment services they need. The goal of the program is to help consumers earn enough money so that they will not need to depend on Social Security cash benefits. People on SSI or SSDI who are between the ages of 18 and 65 are eligible to receive a Ticket. The Ticket has the individual’s name on it and some information on how to use it. It is mailed or issued to consumers. An individual can assign their Ticket to an EN (Employment Network) of their choice to receive employment services that are needed to return to work.

Information for Consumers

• The Ticket Program is voluntary: if a consumer doesn’t want to, they don’t have to use their Ticket; a consumer can keep their Ticket and use it some time in the future
• One can request a Ticket from MAXIMUS (see contact information below) if a Ticket has not been received or issued through the mail
• A consumer can take their Ticket back and stop working with an EN if dissatisfaction is experienced, even after a plan has been signed; the consumer has the control
• If a consumer is unhappy with their EN and they have not been able to work things out, they can call their local Protection &Advocacy System (see contact information below)
• An EN can choose not to work with a consumer
• Whether one chooses to use their Ticket or not, additional SSA work incentives now exist to help consumers return to work while protecting their health benefits

Employment Networks (ENs)

Employment Networks can be a government agency, a private agency or even a business willing to assist a consumer in obtaining and maintaining employment sufficient enough to leave the benefit rolls. ENs elect which specific services they want to offer, which people they are capable of serving, and in which geographic area. ENs are organizations that are responsible for providing the services an individual needs to become employed at no cost. Getting a Ticket doesn’t mean that a consumer will have to change where they’re receiving employment services. If the current employment program is an EN, the consumer can use their Ticket at that program.

Examples of ENs include: VESID (Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities), One Stop Centers, Community Mental Health Employment Programs and other agencies and offices. Consumers can contact and talk to as many ENs as desired, without having to give up the Ticket. An individual can choose the EN that they think will be most helpful to them in reaching their career goals.

When the consumer first meets with someone who works at an EN, staff at the EN will want to ask various questions about work history and disability history. An agreement is reached between the consumer and the EN. Once the EN is selected and the Ticket has been assigned, the EN will help the consumer develop a plan that describes goals, the services the EN will provide, and the consumer’s rights under the Program. When the consumer signs their personal plan, the consumer has "deposited" or assigned their Ticket.

Expedited Reinstatement or EXR

Another important variable with the Ticket is the Expedited Reinstatement or EXR. EXR was established by SSA as a fail-safe for individuals to return to the disability rolls if employment did not work out. This was established so that individuals previously covered under SSI or SSDI could regain their benefits after a failed attempt at employment due to a return of symptoms. To view the proposed rules on EXR and for a summary with commentary on EXR from Paul J. Seifert, Director of Government Affairs, International Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services (IAPSRS) go to: [more information on EXR]

Organizations That Can Help

The Social Security Administration has established community based programs to provide accurate information about work incentives called Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach Projects or BPA&O’s. BPA&O’s can be helpful in assessing consumers’ benefits status and guiding consumers toward informed decisions. If individuals have a difficult time making a selection, one can contact The Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS). MAXIMUS can also be of help in providing information on ENs, updates and choices for Ticket holders. All contact information for these organizations is listed below along with other sources of assistance.

Ticket Utilization

As of February 11, 2004 the breakdown is as follows:

In New York State:

• 717,730 tickets have been issued to consumers via the mail and are not being used as of yet
• 109 ENs have been established
• 403 Tickets have been assigned to an EN and the consumer is officially developing an individual work plan with the EN

Nationwide:

• 6,946,302 Tickets have been issued
• 1,112 ENs have been established
• 3,769 Tickets have been assigned

Clearly utilization of the Ticket to Work Program is still low in New York State.

Complications with the Ticket

Public testimony and the "word on the street" suggest that many beneficiaries who receive a Ticket to Work are unable to find an EN that will accept their Tickets. The limited participation of providers in New York State to date has many causes related to the payment system, the complexity and administrative burden of the program, and a lack of knowledge on the part of stakeholders about how to operate successfully under the program. In order to address this issue on a national level the EN Summit was held in May 2003 in Washington, D.C. to provide a forum for providers, consumers, and government and academic experts to convene in order to explore the challenges faced by ENs and to develop recommendations regarding provider participation. [more on the EN Summit]

A report was produced by the AOI Work Group (Adequacy of Incentives Advisory Group) commissioned by the SSA to provide recommendations to enhance and improve the Ticket to Work Program and ensure equitable participation of all individuals with disabilities. View the report (Word format): http://www.ccer.org/twwiia/Documents/Interim%20Regs%20ReportSept22,2003.doc

Some useful contacts and information links on the Ticket to Work are:

• MAXIMUS provides complete program management and operations for the Ticket to Work program.
  1-866-968-7842 (TDD 1-866-833-2967) or www.yourtickettowork.com

• The New York State Office of Mental Health informational page on the Ticket to Work:
  http://www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/ticket/index.htm

• The Social Security Administration’s informational page on the Ticket to Work:
  http://www.ssa.gov/work/Ticket/ticket_info.html

• The Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) provides a full range of technical assistance, information and referral, and advocacy and legal representation services to individuals who currently receive SSI and/or SSDI cash payments and have employment-related concerns.
  http://www.ndpanda.org/programs/beni/pabap0302.html or 1-800-624-4134

• Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach Projects (BPA&O’s): http://www.ssa.gov/work/ServiceProviders/bpaofactsheet.html or: The New York Work Exchange's The Workbook (PDF, pages 20-21)

• Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. (NLS) provides free legal services to persons with low-income and persons with disabilities and a wide range of technical assistance and support services including help with the Ticket to Work. Call 1-888-224-3272 or e-mail nywisc@nls.org or go to: http://www.nls.org/