The Role of Work Incentive Planning and Assistance WIPA Projects in Supporting the Ticket Program

1
The Role of Work Incentive Planning and
Assistance (WIPA) Projects in Supporting the
Ticket Program

• What Employment Networks (ENs) Can and Should
  Expect

2
Lets Talk about that Elephant in the Room

• Beneficiaries worry about the impact of
  employment on their benefit check(s) and
  insurance
• Beneficiaries receive a lot of misinformation
• Based on the above, beneficiaries often chose not
  to work or work a lot less than they are capable

3
So How Do You Eat an Elephant?

• Employment Networks have the jobs
• WIPA projects understand the impact of work on
  benefits
• So for beneficiaries to seriously attempt work,
  the Employment Networks and WIPA projects MUST
  work together

4
Session Goals

• Provide detailed information on the types of
  services WIPA projects provide to beneficiaries
• How ENs can use these services to assist them in
  delivering employment services to beneficiaries

5
Focus On

• How WIPA projects
• obtain assessment information on beneficiaries
  (BPQY and Benefits Analysis)
• encourage beneficiaries to access appropriate
  work incentives (Work Incentive Plan)
• work with beneficiaries throughout the course of
  their Ticket assignment (Long-term benefits
  management)

6
QUESTIONS?!?!?

• What do you think Employment Networks should
  expect from the WIPA projects?
• What should the outreach look like?
• WIPA to EN
• EN to WIPA

7
So, Who Does the Referring??

• When should an Employment Network refer to the
  local WIPA project?
• When should the WIPA project refer to the local
  EN?

8
COLLABORATION IS KEY!

• Employment Networks and WIPA projects should
  ALWAYS work in collaboration assisting the
  beneficiary in
• Developing/revising plans
• Deciding to pursue employment/Using the Ticket
• Job developing
• Barriers to employment
• Securing employment
• Ongoing employment support and follow-up

9
How CWIC's Support the Employment Support Team

• Information regarding WIPA program eligibility
  criteria and scope of services
• Knowledge about SSA work incentives
• Help to analyze situation and benefits - then
  identify critical timelines in the benefits
  transitions.
• Provide information on other federal and state
  benefit programs
• Assist in the development of previous work that
  may impact future work and benefits through
  direct access to SSA
• Help other partners meet successful placement
  goals

10
How Other Partners Assist CWIC's

• Provide quality referrals
• Have access to information outside of the scope
  of CWIC's
• Education and information about scope of services
  and eligibility criteria from other partners.
• Provide other avenues of outreach

11
Eligibility for WIPA Services

• At least age 14, but not yet full retirement age,
  
• disabled per SSAs definition, and
• already receiving Social Security benefits based
  on disability (SSI or a title 2 disability
  benefit such as SSDI, CDB, or DWB)

12
New WIPA Functions

• Focus on beneficiaries who are employed or
  actively seeking employment
• Active partners in SSAs overall employment
  initiative
• Work in close collaboration with the Program
  Manager for Recruitment and Outreach (PMRO)
• Provide long-term case management services
  throughout the course of a beneficiarys
  employment

13
Prioritizing Services

• First Priority People with job offers, or who
  are already employed with benefits issues that
  could cause employment loss or reduction. This
  would also include existing customers with
  ongoing case management issues.
• Second Priority People who are seriously
  considering employment, including those who are
  considering ticket assignment, or who are already
  employed but are considering a job change.
• Third Priority People who may consider
  employment in the future and those who just want
  general information about the effect of earnings
  on benefits.

14
WIPA Projects Promote Employment

• Help beneficiary
• identify, select, and/or clarify their career
  goal
• determine specific services, supports, or
  accommodations necessary to achieve desired
  career goal
• understand Ticket-to-Work program and the full
  array of vocational services and supports
  available
• connect with specific services and supports
  needed to obtain and maintain paid employment
• resolve problems related to work efforts, higher
  education, occupational training and work
  attainment or continuation of work

15
What Services ENs Should Expect from WIPA
Projects?

• 1.) Obtain assessment information on
  beneficiaries
• BPQY
• Benefits Analysis

16
Where do CWICs Start?

• CWICs collect, analyze, and summarize specific
  data elements.
• Beneficiary Information
• Employment Information and Outcomes
• Benefits
• Work Incentives to be Used
• Services to be Used

17
Verification of Benefits

• Required PRIOR to offering any specific
  advisement.
• There are many ways to verify benefits, but the
  BPQY is the most comprehensive tool.
• Verification includes ALL other Federal, State
  and local benefits that the beneficiary may be
  receiving.
• CWICs should never guess about benefits received
  or make assumptions without verification

18
What is a Benefit Summary Analysis?

• A formal written report that summarizes current
  benefits and offers case-specific information
  about the use of work incentives.
• Outlines the beneficiarys employment options and
  use of work incentives.
• Assesses the potential impact of employment and
  other changes on Federal, State and local
  benefits.

19
Who Receives a BSA?

• BSA is required for any beneficiary receiving
  more than IR services.
• Should be prepared any time case-specific
  information or advisement is given.

20
Elements of a BSA

• MUST be individualized and case-specific!
• Based on VERIFIED benefits information and
  beneficiarys stated plans.
• Separate sections for
• Summary of current situation
• Analysis of current situation and plans
• Important things to remember

21
BSA (continued)

• The BSA is thoroughly reviewed with the
  beneficiary and any other concerned parties that
  the beneficiary desires to be included.
• This is the framework that determines the route
  going forward in development of the Work
  Incentive Plan.
• Review all work options, including pros and cons
  of each.
• Services do not end with the BSA, this is a
  starting point to define services going forward!

22
What Services ENs Should Expect from WIPA
Projects?

• 2.) Encourage beneficiaries to access appropriate
  work incentives
• Work Incentive Plan

23
What is a Work Incentive Plan?

• A written document developed by a CWIC in
  collaboration with the beneficiary, and other key
  stakeholders
• Delineates an individualized action plan for
  utilizing work incentives to further the
  beneficiarys employment and self-sufficiency
  goals.

24
Purpose of a WIP

• Developed after a BSA has been completed and
  reviewed.
• Provides the framework for ongoing direct service
  to guide the effective use of Federal, State and
  local work incentives.
• Specific components address
• Desired return to work and self-sufficiency
  outcomes
• Related steps or activities necessary to achieve
  the outcomes
• Associated dates or timeframes

25
WIP and the Beneficiary

• Directs the action steps and involvement of
  others.
• CWIC facilitate the development, but does not
  prepare the plan independently.
• Presents clear measurable steps with reasonable
  target dates.
• Guides the beneficiary towards the goal and
  refers back to the items identified in the BSA.

26
CWICs Facilitating the Use of Work Incentives

• Strategies for Success
• Regularly update the WIP
• Coordinate with all key stakeholders on the
  employment and support team
• Know the Local Work Incentive Liaison (WIL)
• Project immediate impact of earnings AND
  long-term impact

27
Role of the CWIC in Work Incentives Development

• CWICs consider the following questions
• What happens if earnings increase or decrease?
• If the vocational goal is reached, will benefits
  cease altogether?
• What will be the impact on medical coverage?

28
Role of the CWIC in Work Incentives Development

• If using a work incentive to pay for a work
  expense that is related to the disability, is
  IRWE or PASS more advantageous?
• Will the work incentive allow for long-term
  funding, or will another source be needed?
• If money or resources are accumulated under a
  PASS and the plan is interrupted, how will
  continuing SSI eligibility be affected?
• How will resources or money accumulated under
  PASS affect eligibility for other benefits
  received, such as housing?

29
CWIC Role in Work-Related Situations

• Reporting Earnings
• Notices of Overpayment
• Medical CDRs
• Work CDRs and SGA Determinations
• Age 18 Re-determinations
• Annual SSI Re-determinations
• Changes in in-kind support and maintenance

30
What Services ENs Should Expect From WIPA
Projects?

• 3.) Work with beneficiaries throughout the course
  of their Ticket assignment
• Long-term Benefits Management
  

31
Follow-Up Services

• Services do not stop once the Benefits Summary
  Analysis and Work Incentive Plan are completed!
• Services delivered from this point forward
  involve the actual implementation of the WIP.

32
Who Receives Follow-up Services and for How Long

• Benefits Management in the WIPA program is really
  
• driven by the Work Incentives Plan.
• Intensity, type and duration are driven by the
  WIP.
• Each plan is unique.
• Time and supports depend upon in the agreed
• plan.
• Intensity of assistance varies.
• No minimum or maximum time frame for benefits
• management services depends on needs and
• preferences of beneficiary.

33
When CWICs Follow-up and Why

• Critical touch-points are points in a
  beneficiarys experience at which a transition or
  change may be expected to occur.
• Touch-points vary depending on the individual,
  their employment goal, the type of benefits they
  receive and myriad of additional factors.
• The Work Incentive Plan anticipates these
  touch-points
• The WIP will change throughout a beneficiarys
  journey in employment.

34
You Offer Both EN and WIPA Services

• Clear lines
• CWIC must show no preference

35
THE DREAM TEAM!! Employment Networks and WIPA
Projects

• Individualized assessment, advisement and
  support!
• What an amazing employment team for the
  beneficiary!!
• Lets work together and make magic happen for
  each beneficiary willing to attempt work!!!