The Social Security Administration issued final rules designed to improve the Ticket to Work program. The changes will improve the effectiveness of the Ticket program in assisting beneficiaries with disabilities who want to work.
“These rules outline a new and improved Ticket to Work program and are based on learning from our experiences, listening to input from interested parties, and responding to their suggestions,” said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. “Beneficiaries with disabilities will have greater flexibility and expanded choices in obtaining the services they need to attain their employment goals.”
The new Ticket to Work program rules:
- Include more beneficiaries under the Program--The population of individuals eligible for a Ticket is expanded to include beneficiaries who are expected to medically improve.
- Increase incentive payments for Employment Networks (ENs)--The new rules modify the EN payment systems to create greater financial incentives for service providers to participate, which will improve beneficiary access to services and expand the pool of quality providers available to serve beneficiaries.
- Increase the value of the Ticket--The rules for Ticket assignment are changed to enable beneficiaries with disabilities to take advantage of a more effective combination of services from both State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies and ENs.
- Synergize efforts--The new rules promote better alignment of the Ticket to Work Program, the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program, the Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security Program, and other Social Security work incentive initiatives.
"Thus far, the results of the Ticket to Work program have been less than everyone expected and clearly less than Congress intended," Commissioner Astrue said. "We need to monitor the results of today’s regulation closely, but it is highly likely that Congress will need to revisit the statute in the next few years in order to achieve the goals that Congress intended."
In preparation for the new Ticket to Work program, Social Security is undertaking a major recruitment effort to increase the number of organizations functioning as ENs. Social Security also is initiating targeted outreach to promote the Program to more beneficiaries and to encourage their participation. In addition, Social Security is presenting at national and state conferences and bringing beneficiaries and ENs together at local Work Incentives Seminars (WISE events) throughout the country.
The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 established the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program. The purpose of the Ticket to Work program is to expand the universe of service providers available to beneficiaries with disabilities who are seeking vocational rehabilitation, employment and related support services. These service providers are available to assist beneficiaries in obtaining, regaining and maintaining self-supporting employment. Available in all 50 States and the US territories, the Ticket to Work program is an important component in a coordinated series of work incentives and initiatives that are designed to help overcome barriers to employment often experienced by beneficiaries with disabilities.
The final rule can be accessed through the Federal Register online at www.regulations.gov .
May 21, 2008
Press Release On Ticket To Work
A Social Security Administration press release:
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2 comments:
Include more beneficiaries under the Program, Increase incentive payments for Employment Networks, Increase the value of the Ticket.
Thus far, the results of the Ticket to Work program have been less than everyone expected and clearly less than Congress intended," Commissioner Astrue said."
Government program isn't working, we'll just make it bigger and that will fix it.
I tried to use the Ticket To Work Program in Florida. I was one of the very first in the state to sign up.
It was a disaster for me because the different parts of Social Security do not share information.
The small amount of money I was making while training sparked a fraud investigation to see if I really had been disabled for the past 21 years.
I had to undergo a medical review I was told would not happen during TTW use.
My monthly check and my Medicare were stopped for over 2 years during the "fraud" investigation.
I was threatened with criminal prosecution and jail time for working while on disability.
All my medical reviews of the past 21 years that determined I was still disabled were retroactively changed to not disabled after all.
I had to re-prove my high level of disability from 1984 until 2007.
Every bank account I have had in that time was treated as a job at that institution that I had not reported.
Getting statements that I have never been employed at banks where my disability check was deposited was a nightmare since all such institutions had been sold to others at least once since 1984.
I had to work with an abusive ex-spouse to prove my son's child support for the last 20 years was not another "hidden" job. Having to do that put me at exrteme risk for more violence.
I am now more disabled than I have ever been. That is due to 2 years of no disability money or Medicare.
Not a single thing I was told about TTW turned out to be true.
In Florida people with disabilities who try TTW are matter of factly investigated for Social Security fraud. The alledged "proof?"...just signing up for TTW.
Social Security itself believes the number of people who can successful use TTW will never be more than 1/2 of 1% of all of us getting disability support.
Had I known how low a "success" rate Social Security itself expected I would never have even tried it.
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