Landmark Ticket to Work Program Starts 

Following are several pieces relating to this week's introduction of the landmark Ticket to Work program for Americans with disabilities. The first is a comment by New York's representative on the Presidential Commission on the Ticket, Tom Golden of Cornell University. The next piece is from Justice for All describing the Ticket's launch this week, and the final 2 are a press release and fact sheet from the Social Security Administration.

NYAPRS' Vice President Gene O'Brien, LI Regional Coordinator Lisa Koop (and new appointee to the State Rehab Council) and Deputy Director Mat Mathai are working to develop a collaborative public education program on the Ticket for providers and consumers that we are hoping to launch shortly, along with our friends in colleague peer and provider service groups and state and local government.

It is important for us to stop, pause, and recognize the importance of this week in the lives of people with disabilities who receive SSI and SSDI. For the first time ever in the history of our great country, people with disabilities who receive SSI and SSDI are being put in control of when, where, what and whom they access vocational rehabilitation, employment services and/or other supports from. While implementation of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act and the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is a huge national undertaking and not without its challenges, it is important for us to remember why we advocated so strongly for reform within SSA's return to work programs--choice, empowerment and removal of disincentives to employment.

Many will argue that the Ticket to Work Program has yet to invoke real choice for beneficiaries with disabilities and falls far short of its mark--citing that the number of service providers are limited, fiscal restraints inhibit participation, and that people with disabilities haven't been prepared adequately to maneuver this new day. Maybe it is true.

However, people with disabilities are saying otherwise! Over 2,000 "Tickets on Demand" requests have come in from initial roll-out states and are beginning to be processed by Maximus--over 500 in NYS alone. Thousands who have returned to work have also already recognized and benefited from the Expedited Reinstatement provision of the law--providing an important safety net that never existed before passage of this law. At the same time beneficiaries now also have two types of protection from medical continuing disability reviews while pursuing their vocational and employment aspirations.

We truly stand on the verge of a new era in how we prepare and support people with disabilities in accessing employment services and supports. Take some time this week to savor the fruit of your past work in advocating for this new day. Sure, we still face many implementation challenges but with the same vigor and enthusiasm with which we sought this new day, lets commit to ensuring its success! Now is the time to stand shoulder to shoulder, dig our heels in, and partner to ensure that beneficiaries with disabilities are afforded the same rights and privileges and access to employment that all Americans are entitled to enjoy!

WE CAN AND WILL DO THIS--TOGETHER!

Tom Golden, Cornell University

SSA Issues First 'Tickets To Work

Today, at Discover Bank in New Castle, DE, SSA Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart delivered the first tickets in the nation as part of Social Security's new Ticket to Work Program.

The Ticket to Work Program, enacted as part of the Ticket To Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, is designed to help people with disabilities go to work.

Under the program, Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income disability beneficiaries in Delaware will receive a ticket that may be redeemed to obtain vocational rehabilitation, job training, and other support services from a network of employment service providers. Delaware is one of the first 13 states to participate in the Ticket to Work Program, which will be implemented nationwide by January 2004.

David Nelms, President of Discover Financial Services, joined Commissioner Barnhart to kick-off the new program. Discover plays an important private sector role in helping people with disabilities return to work through its "BOOST" (Business Organization & Occupational Service Training) Program.

"BOOST" is funded by Discover Financial Services and provides employment services to people with disabilities at no charge to participants.

Source: Justice for All

For Immediate Release SOCIAL SECURITY

News Release February 5, 2002

Social Security Administration Launches New Program to Help People with Disabilities Go to Work

Ticket to Work Program Provides More Choices, Expanded Opportunities

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has launched a new program designed to help people with disabilities go to work.

"Today, only about one percent of the people who get Social Security and SSI disability benefits leave the rolls each year to go to work. We can do better, and we must do better," said Jo Anne Barnhart, Commissioner of Social Security. "President Bush said, ‘My Administration is committed to tearing down any barriers that unreasonably prevent the full participation of Americans with disabilities.’ And he said that he will work ‘to help disabled Americans realize their dreams through meaningful and successful careers.’ And the Ticket to Work gets us there."

Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability beneficiaries will receive a Ticket that may be used to obtain vocational rehabilitation, job training, and other support services. Initially, 13 states will participate in the Ticket Program, which will be in operation nationwide by January of 2004.

Tickets will begin arriving in mailboxes this week. Over the next five months, about 2.4 million Social Security and SSI beneficiaries with disabilities will receive a Ticket to Work. The mailings will be staggered, based on the last digit of a beneficiary’s Social Security number. Anyone who wants a Ticket immediately can call 1-866-968-7842 (1-866-YOURTICKET).

TDD/TTY users should call 1-866-833-2967 (1-866- TDD2WORK).

Individuals may take their Ticket to any of the employment service providers who offer services in their communities. These providers are called Employment Networks. A list of participating networks can be found at www.ssa.gov/work, by clicking on service providers.

Here’s how the program works: a Ticket holder gives the Ticket to an Employment Network. The network and the Ticket holder together design an individual employment plan outlining the services to be provided to assist the beneficiary in reaching his or her employment goal.

The Ticket Program is voluntary. Social Security and SSI beneficiaries who receive a Ticket are not required to work, but may choose to use their Ticket to attempt to go to work. Likewise, Employment Networks are not required to accept Tickets.

The Ticket Program is designed to provide people with disabilities with more choices and expanded opportunities to help them go to work. Individuals will receive services from an Employment Network for free. SSA will pay the Employment Networks for successfully helping a beneficiary go to work.

Employment Networks may choose to be paid based solely on helping an individual achieve self-sufficiency, or they may choose to receive payments when beneficiaries achieve different milestones during their attempt to go to work.

The Ticket Program is the cornerstone of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act, which was passed by Congress and signed into law in December 1999. Other provisions of the law are already in place to help support people with disabilities as they go to work. These provisions include expanded health care coverage.

Many of the barriers that would force people to choose between health care coverage and work have been removed by the legislation. Social Security disability beneficiaries are eligible for Medicare, the Federal health insurance plan. Effective in October 2000, most Social Security disability beneficiaries are protected by Medicare for up to eight years and six months after they go to work. Medicare coverage continues even if an individual no longer receives a monetary benefit from Social Security. Most SSI beneficiaries are eligible for Medicaid, which is a state health benefit.

These individuals should contact the state Medicaid office in their area for more information. For more on the difference between Social Security disability and SSI disability, click on the fact sheet at the end of this press release.

Between February and June, approximately 2.4 million beneficiaries will receive tickets in the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and Wisconsin.

The second phase of the Ticket Program is scheduled for late 2002 in the following states: Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee and Virginia, and in the District of Columbia.

The final phase of the Ticket Program is scheduled for 2003 in Alabama, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming, as well as in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Those who have questions about the Ticket Program should call Maximus, Inc.

Maximus, the organization selected by SSA to administer the Ticket Program, may be contacted toll-free at 1-866-968-7842 (1-866-YOURTICKET). TDD/TTY users should call 1-866-833-2967

(1-866- TDD2WORK). Internet users can visit www.yourtickettowork.com

--Maximus’ website.

For general information about the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act, please go to SSA’s Internet website-- www.ssa.gov/work --The Work Site.

SSA Fact Sheet on Ticket Program

The Ticket to Work Program and Other Provisions of The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act

* The Ticket to Work Program is the cornerstone of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act.

+ People with disabilities now have more choices and expanded opportunities when attempting to go to work.

-- The Ticket Program provides a Ticket to Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability beneficiaries that may be used to obtain rehabilitation and employment services.

-- An individual may choose to receive services from a public or private service provider in their community.

+ Service providers, called Employment Networks, work with Social Security and SSI beneficiaries to provide assistance designed to help with the transition to work.

+ The Ticket Program is voluntary. People with disabilities who receive a Ticket are not required to work, but may choose to use their Ticket to attempt to work. Likewise, Employment Networks are not required to accept Tickets.

+ The program is being phased in nationally, starting in 13 states in February 2002.

-- The 13 states are Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and Wisconsin.

-- Within these 13 states, approximately 2.4 million beneficiaries with disabilities will receive a Ticket. Tickets will be mailed in stages from early February through June 2002.

-- The remaining states will implement the Ticket Program in late 2002 and 2003.

* In addition to the Ticket to Work Program, other provisions of the law are already in place to help support people with disabilities as they go to work.

* The law removes barriers that require people with disabilities to choose between health care coverage and work.

+ As of October 2000, Medicare hospital insurance coverage extends for eight years and six months after most Social Security disability beneficiaries go to work. Medicare coverage continues even if an individual no longer receives a monetary benefit from Social Security.

+ Medicaid coverage for SSI disability beneficiaries may be extended. 

Since Medicaid is a state health benefit, the individual states have the option to expand coverage to SSI beneficiaries who work. State Medicaid offices can provide further information.

* Beneficiaries may request expedited reinstatement of benefits if their disability benefits have ended because of earnings from work.

+ As of January 2001, people who go to work and then become unable to continue working because of their medical condition may have their benefits started again without filing a new application. The request for expedited reinstatement of benefits, including Medicare and Medicaid, must be made within 5 years after benefits are terminated.

* Certain disability reviews are postponed while a person with a disability is using a Ticket.

+ Social Security will not conduct a regularly scheduled medical review of a person receiving disability benefits if that person is using a Ticket.

Benefits can still be terminated if a beneficiary has substantial earnings (currently defined by regulation as more than $780 per month or more than $1,300 per month for individuals who are blind).

+ As of January 2002, Social Security disability beneficiaries who have received benefits for at least 24 months will not have their disability reviewed solely because of work activity. However, regularly scheduled medical reviews can still be performed and, again, benefits terminated if earnings are substantial.

* Social Security established a network of community-based organizations in each state to provide benefit planning, assistance and outreach to disability beneficiaries who want to work. These public and private organizations explain Social Security's work incentive programs and provide direct advice to Social Security and SSI beneficiaries.

* Social Security established protection and advocacy systems in each state to provide legal advice and services to disability beneficiaries.

Source: www.ssa.gov

This "Mental Health E-News" posting is a service of the New York Ass'n of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, a statewide coalition of people who use and/or provide community mental health services dedicated to improving services and social conditions for people with psychiatric disabilities by promoting their recovery, rehabilitation and rights.

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