Ticket to Work

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ticket To Work is a back-to-work program for Social Security disability beneficiaries in the United States who desire to return to work.^[1] The United States Congress created the program as part of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999.^[2] This legislation was enacted on December 17, 1999. The program began in February 2002; by September 2004, the program was operational throughout the United States and its territories.

The legislation removed many of the hindrances which caused people with disabilities to lose all or part of their health care coverage if they returned to work. Ticket To Work is designed to help Social Security disability beneficiaries obtain jobs, training, and related services both public and private. The program is entirely voluntary and is provided at no cost to eligible Social Security disability beneficiaries. Participants can continue to receive their health benefits from Medicare for a period of eight years and six months. Participants who return to work but who are unable to maintain their employment do not lose their Social Security Benefits. Most Social Security disability beneficiaries meet the program’s criteria and are eligible for participation. Participants must be at least age 18 and not yet age 65 to be eligible for participation. As of February, 2008, approximately 11 million beneficiaries were eligible for the program, and many had already returned to work.^[3]

How It Works

In Ticket To Work, the Social Security Administration makes available to disability beneficiaries a Ticket they may use to obtain services and/or employment from Employment Networks. Employment Networks are public or private agencies authorized to provide services and/or job placement. Maximus Inc., a private company, has been contracted by the Social Security Administration to administer the Ticket To Work program’s operations.^[4] Ticket To Work is voluntary and offers multiple options to disability beneficiaries.

Employment Networks

Employment Networks can be a single agent, a partnership, or a group of agents combining resources to serve Ticket-holders. State and local government agencies, schools, corporations, employment agencies, outreach ministries, community organizations, and other agencies may qualify as Employment Networks. Because a variety of Employment Networks offering multiple options participate, Employment Networks determine the services they offer, where, and to whom. Ticket holders are free to choose and work with Employment Networks of their choice. Ticket holders and Employment Networks then cooperate to help a ticket holder achieve his or her employment goal.

Employment Networks are paid by the Social Security Administration upon successfully placing a ticket holder in a job. As of February, 2008, 1,223 Employment Networks were part of the Ticket to Work program.^[5]

Role of Maximus Inc.

Congress obligated the Social Security Administration to identify a contractor to assist in the administration of the Ticket To Work Program. Maximus Inc., a Virginia-based company providing management, consulting, and technology services, received contracts to manage and oversee the Ticket To Work Program. For Ticket to Work, Maximus Inc., maintains an information website, maintains a toll-free information line, administers the ticket assignment process, administers the Employment Network payment process, and manages overall operations of the program.^[6]

Improvements to Ticket to Work

On May 20, 2008, the Social Security Administration issued new rules designed to improve the Ticket To Work Program. The new program rules are effective on July 21, 2008. The new rules are designed to accomplish four goals:
1. Include more beneficiaries in the program. Those eligible will now include beneficiaries whose medical conditions are expected to improve.
2. Provide more help and incentives to ENs. The new rules streamline the system for payments to ENs and provide greater incentives for service providers to become new ENs.
3. Increase the value of Tickets. The new rules more effectively combine services from ENs with the services of state Vocational Rehabilitation agencies.
4. Create a synergized approach. The new rules provide for more effective alignment of Ticket to Work with other Social Security work incentive initiatives.

As the new rules were issued, the Social Security Administration also announced its intention to recruit new ENs more aggressively and to broaden efforts to encourage qualified beneficiaries to participate in Ticket to Work.
^[7]

References

1. http://www.yourtickettowork.com/program_info

2. http://www.yourtickettowork.com/program_info

3. http://www.yourtickettowork.com/program_info?select=where-when#where-when

4. http://www.yourtickettowork.com/program_info?select=max-role#max-role

5. http://www.yourtickettowork.com/endir

6. http://www.ssa.gov/work/Ticket/ticket_info.html

7. http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/tickettowork-pr-0508.htm

External links

[1]http://www.yourtickettowork.com/program_info

[2]http://www.ssa.gov/work/Ticket/ticket_info.html

[3]http://www.maximus.com/corporate/pages/aboutmaximus2.asp