Below is the tentative witness list for the 2:00 hearing today before the Social Security Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee on "Employment Support Programs for Disability Beneficiaries:"
- Bobbie Christensen, Ticket to Work Program Participant, Mesa, Arizona
- Robin Clark, Ticket to Work Program Participant, Largo, Florida
- Sue Suter, Associate Commissioner for Employment Support Programs, Social Security Administration
- Cheryl Bates-Harris, Senior Disability Advocacy Specialist, National Disability Rights Network, on behalf of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Employment and Training Task Force and Social Security Task Force
- Susan Webb, President and Co-founder, National Employment Network Association, Avondale, Arizona
- Thomas P. Golden, President, National Association of Benefits and Work Incentives Specialists
- Dr. Bruce Growick, Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Services, The Ohio State University College of Education, Columbus, Ohio
- Dr. John Kregel, Center Associate Director & Director of Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Workplace Supports and Job Retention, Richmond, Virginia
My first question is whether anyone will be politically incorrect enough to say the obvious -- that Ticket to Work is an expensive failure that should be stopped? My second question is whether they really found two sucess stories to present to the Subcommittee? That would not be easy to do.
6 comments:
I never understood the point of ticket to work. With or without it, people who can go back to work at SGA levels, will. So, why throw money at a non-problem? People who need a lot of support to work cannot expect to do well in the work force, and will probably fall out of employment again. I've read the ADA, used to be a VR counselor, and understand reasonable accomodation. As a matter of plain fact, a person who needs any degree of significant accomodation is a person no one will hire. (Federal employment is an exception for obvious reasons.) Advocates see the matter completely differently. That's about all there is to the discussion. Too bad, but there you have it.
Unless they changed it and I missed it is my understanding that the Ticket to Work is only offered to those determined to be among the most disabled and thus it has been doomed to fail. It should be offered to those who are disabled but medical improvement is expected as well if they want to see results.
It is offered to every disabled T-2 and T-16 beneficiary. Regardless, With the hundreds of agencies at the Federal, State and local levels with their billions of dollars of funding, there is no shortage of support for the disabled who want to become self-sufficient. At the field office level, Ticket to Work is a complete joke and entirely a waste of resources.
Actually see below it is not offered to beneficiaries who have medical improvement expected when it is just these people who would benefit the most from it. The most disabled population often cannot work because, duh, they are the most disabled!
Ticket
Eligibility Guidelines
Individuals meeting the following guidelines are eligible to participate in the Ticket to Work Program:
Age 18 to 64
Title II in current pay status based on disability
Title XVI in current pay status and
Have a disability that is not designated as a medical improvement expected diary review case or,
Have a disability that is designated as a medical improvement expected diary review case, and
One continuing disability review has been completed indicating that disability continues.
When SSA approves a case they diary a case to be reviewed in 12 months, 3 years or 7 years. It is my understanding that only beneficiaries who are scheduled for a CDR in 7 years are eligible to receive a ticket imediately. The others (1-3 yrs) are only eligible after the first CDR has been conducted. No wonder it ain't working. Any rehab specialist would state that once a person is out of work for 3 plus years the likelihood of a rtw is greatly reduced.
From May, 2008:
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.
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