Collaborating and Communicating with SSA

-Intersections -

Tim Gierke – District Manager, Appleton SSA tim.gierke@ssa.gov

Connie DaValt – Area Work Incentives Coordinator

PASS Specialist connie.davalt@ssa.gov

(866) 807-5995 ext 26030

Collaboration Begins with Relationships with Individuals • Who has a good relationship with

your local Social Security Office?

• Why is it good? • Where did you start?

How SSA is organized Who’s on First…No, Who’s on Second..

• Claims Completed based on the stage when awarded

– Local Social Security offices

SSDI initial claim or reconsideration Plus all SSI at any level of appeal

– Payment Centers

SSDI Hearings level awards

How SSA is organized Who’s on First…No, Who’s on Second..

• Work Reviews are shared too – 7 Payment Centers (PSC’s)

• Mostly PSC 7, Office of Disability Operations (ODO) • Generated from earnings alerts

– 1,365 local Social Security Offices

• Problem cases referred from PSC and • Local reports of return to work by beneficiaries

• Same rules. Same outcomes. Same Appeals

How SSA is organized Who’s on First…No, Who’s on Second..

• Continuing Disability Reviews (medical CDR’s)

– Volume determined by budget allocated to DDS’s – Cases selected and released from Office of Disability

Operations (ODO) (1,3, or 7 year cycles)

– Completed by the local office, primarily mailed out forms.

– Forwarded to DDS for decisions and appeals

How to Contact SSA

• Online

• Phone 1-800-772-1213

• Mail

• Walk in to local office

Social Security Offices in WI

• Service Representatives • Claims Representatives • Technical Experts

Work Incentive Liaisons

Each SSA office has a WIL who provides advice and information about our work incentive provisions and employment support programs to individuals with disabilities and organizations that serve those with disabilities

Reporting Wages

if you receive disability benefits, you must report your earnings or income from work

AND any changes in your work activity • Income Reporting for Social Security

Disability Benefits • Reporting wages when you receive SSI Individual, parent or spouse • SSI Telephone Wage Reporting

SSDI Work Review Reminders

• Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE)

• Subsidy/Special Conditions • SSA 821 – Work Activity Report

Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE)

Three essentials of IRWE: • Related to disability

• Necessary for work

• Paid out of consumer’s pocket

– And NOT reimbursed

Some of the items that can be deducted:

Items Medication Transportation Medical Equipment Prostheses Service Animal Medical Supplies Non Medical Appliances

SERVICES Medical Services

Attendant Care

Diagnostic Procedures

Job Coach

Community Residence Program

Subsidy and Special Conditions

• Support on the job that could result in more pay than the value of the services performed

• Hired through a special program, by a family member, continuing a long term employment situation

• Has a job coach • Has a disability, which makes him/her

significantly slower than other individuals performing the same job

Deducted from gross wages to determine countable income

Work Activity Report – SSA 821

BPQY

An important planning tool that provides information about a beneficiary’s disability cash benefit, health insurance, scheduled continuing

disability reviews, representative payee and work history.

• Benefits Planning Query (if requested by a third party submit two SSA 3288s)

• Handbook (online copy)

Disclosure

• Specific

• Ongoing or one time only

• Free or fee?

Ticket to Work can be used to obtain employment support services from an Employment Network or State Vocational

Rehabilitation Agency

Ticket to Work • SSDI/SSI beneficiaries receive a “ticket” to

purchase employment services from an Employment Network (EN) of their choice

• Voluntary program • An EN can be a state, local or private

organization • Beneficiaries using their “ticket” will not be

scheduled for a Continuing Disability Medical Review

www.yourtickettowork.com

•EN & Ticket Holder Connect

•EN & Ticket Holder

Negotiate a Plan (IWP)

•Ticket Holder Assigns Ticket

•Ticket Holder Goes to Work –

•EN collects evidence (Pay Stubs or EIR)

•EN Sends bill to Maximus =>Gets

Paid

•How the Ticket Works

•EN provides supports to

complete Plan (IWP)

•No Medical •Reviews

BOND Benefit Offset National Demonstration

Project 10 sites including WI (2011 -2017)

Random assignment to control group or benefit offset group ($1 for each $2 earned over the SGA threshold) • Gradual reduction of SSDI benefits • Enhanced work incentives counseling • Information and referral to employment

supports

POMS Online

Key to good communication with SSA

Building Relationships

Questions???